READING FC suffered a 5-3 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in Premier League 2 after conceding two early penalties.

Royals were edged out by Rovers in an eight-goal clash at Hogwood Park last Friday.

The hosts got off to a nightmare start after gifting Rovers two penalties inside the opening five minutes, both of which were converted.

The first came with less than three minutes on the clock when Reading keeper George Legg brought down Joseph Nuttall who also tucked in the resulting spot-kick.

Rovers doubled their lead less than two minutes later, Nuttall slotting home from the penalty spot again after a foul on Stefan Mols in the box.

However, Royals quickly recovered and reduced the deficit when Ramarni Medford-Smith netted from close range from a corner following a strong burst by Tyler Frost.

But Rovers restored their two-goal advantage when Joseph Rankin-Costello headed home from a Lewis Travis cross midway through the first half.

Reading refused to lie down and they pulled another goal back in the 25th minute with the game’s third penalty.

It came after 16-year-old Danny Loader had been tripped by Charley Doyle before dusting himself down to score from the spot for 3-2.

Yet Rovers had the last say of a thrilling first period when Mols blasted home for a 4-2 lead after Legg had denied Nuttall with a superb point-blank save.

Heavy rain meant the second half failed to live up to the first, though that didn’t stop Matthew Platt from making it 5-2 to Rovers with a smart header from a teasing cross in the 72nd minute.

And even though Platt also netted an own goal by turning in a Josh Barrett cross-shot for 5-3, there was no coming back for the Royals.

Reading U23s: Legg, Howe, Osho (c), Andresson, Medford-Smith, Holmes (Barrett 53), Frost, East, Smith, Holsgrove, Loader. Subs not used: Driscoll, House, Rollinson, Shokunbi. Booked: Loader, Smith.

Blackburn Rovers U23s: Fisher, C.Doyle, J.Doyle, Tomlinson (Thomson 82), Platt, Grayson, Travis, Hardcastle, Nuttall (Mansell 90+3), Mols, Rankin-Costello (Butterworth 78). Subs not used: Magliore, Albinson. Booked: Nuttall, Tomlinson, C.Doyle, J.Doyle.