Reading goalkeeper Joe Lumley takes time-wasting to new heights against Stoke

Reading goalkeeper Joe Lumley took 'sh*thousery' to new heights in the latter stages of Sunday's 2-1 win against Stoke. You can watch that incredible moment below.

A brace from birthday boy Lucas Joao handed Paul Ince's side a narrow victory as they maintained their unbeaten home run in the Championship this season.

Joao, who joined Reading from Sheffield Wednesday in 2019, opened the scoring with two minutes played before Ben WIlmot equalised for the Potters.

Stoke enjoyed large spells of possession throughout but after Wilmot's rash challenge on Joao in the area, the Angola striker converted from the penalty spot to help Reading climb to third.

The assist from Joe Lumley 🧤🎯

The composure from Lucas Joao 😎⚽

What a way to start the game against Stoke! #REASTK pic.twitter.com/EhytGblvDp

— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) September 5, 2022

It was a nervy end to the Championship clash as Stoke tried to level the scores late on. And to waste time, Reading goalkeeper Joe Lumley decided to pull out some unorthodox moves.

After one of the stewards threw the ball towards Lumley, the 27-year-old decided to head the ball away – a moment that brought plenty of laughs from the Madejski crowd.

He then climbed over the advertising boards to retrieve the ball before hovering with his arms outstretched for a few seconds.

After the full-time whistle, Reading boss Paul Ince praised both Lucas Joao and Joe Lumley for their efforts.

“The first goal was a great pass from Joe," he said. "It was down to a real awareness of where people are on the pitch. And then Lucas in a one v one… he’s a goalscorer.

“He’s not one of those strikers who likes to run around a lot, but he knows he also has to work hard for everyone else and today he did that. He scores you goals – that’s what he’s here for.

"But today he dug in for the team and his work rate was exceptional. And he got his reward because he was sharp."

🎙 "I do the running, he does the finishing, everyone's happy"

Thomas Ince 🤝 Lucas João pic.twitter.com/MGQmTC1q3s

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 4, 2022

Ince added: “We had enough chances to put the game to bed. But in a nervy end, we kept our composure. You feel with these players that they are starting to learn how to see out games, the gamesmanship needed to deal with it, to get up the park and see out the final stages of matches like today.

“If we’re going to stay in this league, we’ve got to win our home games. And it’s great to have the fans onside. They’ve got to be on our side when we’re not winning games too because that is going to happen at some stage. But we’ve just got to amass as many points as we can while we can.”