Report | Reading 2-0 Hull City

Royals beat the Tigers in pre season finale

In our seventh and final pre season fixture, Rubén Sellés' Reading put on an impressive display to beat second tier Hull City at the Select Car Leasing Stadium

Goals in each half from Ben Elliott and Sam Smith were enough to secure victory and cap off the club's matchday preparations before next Saturday's Sky Bet League One opener at Bimringham City.

The full match report can be found below.

First Half

The visitors got the game underway as the Royals and the Tigers commenced their final pre season action ahead of their respective campaigns. As was the case on Wednesday's trip to Cardiff, the heat of the afternoon sun was an ever present as the teams entered the Select Car Leasing turf.

Unlike Wednesday evening however, the Royals defence stood firm against some early pressure from Tim Walters' Tigers. The visitors were restricted to balls across the box but were unable to connect with them. Down the other end, Reading's press tried to cause the Tigers' defence problems.

The breakthrough came in the 35th minute with a superb goal from the Royals. Lewis Wing picked up possession on the edge of his own box and was able to feed the ball out to the right hand side to Michael Craig.

The right back set off on a run exchanging a 1-2 before feeding Sam Smith, with the forwards pass aimed in the direction of the on-rushing Azeez. The winger settled and picked out a pass into the box, which dropped to Ben Elliott who was able to finish with aplomb!

A cagey half came to a close with the Royals in front!

Half Time: Reading 1-0 Hull City

Second Half

The second half leapt into life from the off, with Estupiñán of Hull a whisker away from restoring parity after a left win cross.

Down the other end, Femi Azeez had a chance to double his team's lead after a shot from Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan was palmed into the direction of his wing counterpart.

The Royals didn't have to wait long to put themselves 2-0 however, with Sam Smith notching his first goal of pre season. In a crowd of players, Smith was able to leap the highest to head home after a menacing cross from the right hand side. The goal was given thanks to confirmation from the Assistant Referee that the ball had indeed crossed the line.

Despite the balmy summer heat, you could see two sides at optimum fitness as they head towards their respective season openers, and it made for an entertaining match as both sides pressed to trouble the scoreboard. Colombian Estupiñán of Hull kept the Reading backline busy throughout, whilst Xavier Simons struck the base of the post for the visitors.

In the closing moments of the game, Amdaou Mbengue was agonisingly close to capping off a strong display, with his effort from the edge of the box well saved by Pandur in goal.

The final whistle sounded to call an end on the fixture and indeed our pre season fixtures as a whole. Attention now turns to next Saturday's opener with Birmingham City, and the Royals heading to the midlands in good spirits.

Full Time: Reading 2-0 Hull City

Reading: Pereira, Elliott, Craig, Knibbs, Ehibhatiomhan, Smith, Azeez, Mbengue, Wing, Garcia, Kanu
Substitutes: Boyce-Clarke, Dean, Savage, Wareham, Camara, Holzman, Sackey, Osho
Goals: Elliott (35'), Smith (52')

Hull City: Pandur, Drameh, Jones, McLoughlin, Jacob, Mehlem, Slater, Simons, Omur, Estupinan, Longman
Substitutes: Foster, Giles, Vaughan, Fleming, Seri, Smith, Hall, Sellars-Fleming, Ashbee, Tinsdale