Written by Matt Brown
Reading put on a dominant display as they comfortably knocked fellow League One side Stevenage out of the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 win at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Tuesday night.
The two sides have had similar starts to their league campaigns, with both picking up just a single point from their opening two games. Stevenage knocked Wycombe Wanderers out in the first round of the cup, while Reading needed penalties to see off Bromley in their opener.
Both managers rotated their squads, with 15-year-old Charlie Brown named on the bench for the host side, while Reading threw Conor Masterson straight into the starting line-up following his signing earlier in the day.
It was the home side who started the brighter as they looked to set the pace. However, they couldn’t break down the Royals’ defense and failed to trouble goalkeeper Joel Pereira in the opening stages.
The game soon had its opening goal, though. Stevenage were caught napping when the ball found its way to Paddy Lane, who supplied a delightful cross for Jacob Brown to head home—his first goal for the club since joining on a free transfer from Luton Town this summer.
Stevenage pushed for a quick equalizer, but their attack struggled to click, thanks in large part to Masterson, who looked instantly commanding at the back for Reading.
Reading doubled their lead in the 24th minute. Capitalizing on a loose header, Lane chipped the ball delicately over the onrushing Filip Marschall. It was Lane’s first goal since February and a well-deserved reward for an active performance.
The visitors nearly had a third five minutes later when a low, whipped free-kick targeted the near post, forcing a smart save from Marschall.
Stevenage carved out a few opportunities of their own before the break. Their best chance came from a free-kick on the right edge of the box, but Phoenix Patterson pulled his effort wide of the post. Olly Sanderson also had a shot blocked by a resilient Reading defense.
Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Stevenage needed a response, yet Marschall was called back into action almost immediately after the restart following a swift Reading counter-attack.
Alex Revell’s side thought they had halved the deficit when the ball was bundled over the line, but Sanderson was flagged for offside following a chaotic scramble in the box.
Both sides wasted chances as the second half wore on, and a third goal looked increasingly unlikely until Pereira was forced into a vital reflex save—denying an inadvertent goalbound block from his own defender, Ben White.
Two minutes later, Reading sealed the result. With just five minutes remaining, Stevenage were caught open as Kyreece Lisbie burst through on the break before squaring the ball for Randell Williams to tap home. It was a milestone moment for Williams following a long injury layoff, and a boost for Lisbie—son of former Charlton and Leyton Orient striker Kevin—who had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes following his summer transfer from Colchester United.
The match ended with a slight flashpoint as tempers flared between both sets of players, resulting in yellow cards for Ward and Carl Piergianni.
The final whistle confirmed Reading’s place in the third round of the Carabao Cup—and secured their first 90-minute victory of the season.
Speaking after the game, Reading coach James Beattie expressed his delight with the squad's display and voiced his hopes for a major tie in the next round.
For Stevenage, attention quickly shifts back to League One action as they look for an improved performance when they host Doncaster Rovers on Saturday afternoon.
Add comment
Comments