Royals into knock-out stage of EFL Trophy
The Royals secured passage to the knock-out stages of the EFL Trophy with a convincing victory over local rivals Swindon Town on Tuesday evening.
A hat-trick from Harvey Knibbs - two before the break and another just after - sent us on the way to a big win against our neighbours from down the M4, and ensure our passage to the next stage. Paul Mukairu and Harlee Dean each added their names to the scoresheet in stoppage time to leave us 5-0 winners.
There were due to be ten changes from the XI which began against Leyton Orient on Saturday, with Harvey Knibbs the sole survivor for our EFL Trophy encounter. However Coniah Boyce-Clarke sustained an injury in the warm-up, meaning David Button was recalled to start and 18-year-old Tom Norcott filled the space on the bench.
And a lively start from the Royals. 12 seconds were on the clock when we registered our first chance as Paul Mukairu stole into the area, but he prodded his shot wide. Two minutes later, and Jayden Wareham received into feet from a smart pass by skipper Andy Yiadom - one touch off his thigh, and another to flash a volley just wide of the near post.
It was one-way traffic - Swindon offering next to nothing in attack, with the Royals taking all the initiative. A smart combination down the left allowed Knibbs to flash over a cross... Wareham showed terrific agility as he attempted a bicycle kick, but couldn't make contact as it flew through the crowd.
And then the skipper was denied. More brilliant link-up in the inside-right position allowed Caylan Vickers to scoop through for captain Andy Yiadom, but he was denied by the outstretched leg of former Royals goalkeeper Lewis Ward. 10 minutes played, no breakthrough, but unrelenting in pressure.
But then, finally, the breakthrough came. Nesta Guinness-Walker cut inside from the left and delivered a cross - it got stuck inder the feet of a defender, allowing Knibbs to collect, take a touch, and hack into the net from inside the six-yard box for 1-0. Overdue, and more than deserved.
The settled into a bit of a lull after the opening goal. Reading kept attacking but couldn't quite find a final pass; at the other end, Tyrese Shade cut in off the left in a rare Robins attack but bent the ball well beyond Button's goal.
Mukairu's high pressing allowed him to win a ball high upfield near the right byline; Tivonge Rushesha flicked into Wareham's path, who drilled an early ball into Caylan Vickers' feet... just dispossessed at the vital moment.
Then Yiadom went close again. Linking up with Mukairu outside the area, he cut into the D and struck powerfully on his left foot. The slightest of nicks took it over Ward's crossbar.
Shortly before the break, another chance for Wareham. Smart play from Vickers allowed him to muscle in to win the ball high on the left and lay off to Knibbs; Wareham was afforded room to turn on the ball outside the area, but his effort was down the throat of the goalkeeper.
With the game drifting towards half-time, it looked like it'd be just a single goal between the teams at the break. But Knibbs had other ideas. With seconds remaining of the two added minutes, a lovely link-up down the left gave Guinness-Walker the time and space to float in a well-weighted cross. Knibbs was unmarked at the near post, and found the top corner with a perfectly placed header. 2-0 at the interval.
Half-time | Reading 2-0 Swindon Town
And barely had the second period kicked off before Reading - and Knibbs - had a third. Mukairu received to feet in the box and took a touch... in came a badly timed tackle which sent the Nigerian forward sprawling. Knibbs was given the responsibility from 12 yards, and calmly slotted his penalty into the corner. 3-0!
It could have been four before the hour. Vickers' dancing feet down the right saw him play a one-two, send in a low delivery, only for Mukairu to see a point-blank shot blocked by a last-ditch challenge.
As the game ticked into the final quarter, Shade chanced his arm from the best part of 30 yards with a free-kick. It swerved and dipped, but Button got his body behind it and gathered comfortably.
At the other end, Femi Azeez picked up outside the area and opted to lay off for Mukairu to hit early; he couldn't generate enough power to beat Ward down to his left.
A triple change near the end allowed Michael Stickland to make a long-awaited return to senior action after a lengthy injury lay-off, as well as a debut for Norcott in between the sticks and more minutes for Lewis Wing.
A pair of goals in stoppage time put the cherry on top. Ward did well to touch a delightful Vickers free-kick onto the bar but was powerless to prevent Mukairu from following in, and then Dean completed the rout with a far-post header, low into the corner.
5-0 against our neighbours... a good night all round.
Full-time | Reading 5-0 Swindon Town
Reading: Button (Norcott 88), Mola (Stickland 88), Holmes (Dean 67), Knibbs (Azeez 56), Mukairu, Yiadom ©, Guinness-Walker, Wareham, Craig (Wing 88), Rushesha, Vickers.
Unused subs: Carson, Ehibhatiomhan.
Goals: Knibbs (19, 45+2, 49), Mukairu (90+4), Dean (90+6).
Yellow: Craig, Holmes, Knibbs.
Swindon Town: Ward, McEachran © (Gray 56), Genesini (Keyes 86), Uwakwe, Kinsella, Dworzak (Hubbard 79), Shade (Hutt 79), Minturn, Obodo, Adams (Alston HT), Hart.
Unused subs: Fox, Gray, Evans.
Yellow: Shade.
Attendance: 6,121 (1,435 away)