Reading FC put in a supremely meek performance as Luton Town ran out 2-0 winners at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Wednesday night.
After a fairly even first half Tom Homes headed into his own net to give Luton the lead at the break and Nathan Jones’ side dominated the second half, making it 2-0 in the 58th minute before easily hanging on for all three points.
Veljko Paunovic made three changes from Saturday's team that was beaten at the death by Middlesbrough.
With the expiry of Andy Carroll's contract following the weekend's away trip, the striker was not eligible to be in the squad and instead it was much-maligned forward George Puscas taking his place.
In better news, experienced centre-back Michael Morrison was fit enough to start, wearing the captain's armband with Liam Moore stripped of the honour over the weekend.
The return of Morrison meant that Josh Laurent started in his more natural central midfield position alongside Danny Drinkwater and Andy Rinomhota.
Luton had the first chance of a quiet opening ten minutes, Elijah Adebayo latching onto a knock-down before blazing over the bar from the edge of the box.
Kal Naismith, who scored Luton’s late winner against Bournemouth on Saturday, had the visitors’ next effort, curling well over the bar with a free-kick.
Reading’s first real chance of the night came through Andy Rinomhota, playing somewhat out of position at right wing. Rinomhota drove to the byline and beat a pair of Luton defenders before looking for Puscas with his his cut-back only for it to be cleared behind.
In a first half of half-chances, Clark had the next one, seeing an effort from the edge of the box deflected over the bar.
And in a half where neither side could create much of note, the breakthrough came in the form of an own goal. Amari’i Bell put in a dangerous cross and in a desperate attempt to clear, Tom Holmes nodded into his own net.
Reading huffed and puffed searching for an equaliser but went into the break a goal behind and with very little in the way of attacking optimism.
The second half began with a slightly higher tempo than the first ended with, Drinkwater seeing a tame header caught before Naismith and Ruddock each tried speculative efforts from distance. Southwood saved the first before the second was blasted over the bar.
Puscas had the next Reading ‘chance’ (we use that term loosely) but he was always falling backwards as his weak header was easily saved.
Luton had looked the better side from the moment they grabbed their first and it did eventually did come in the 58th minute. Reading were carved open as Ruddock fed Adebayo in the box and the striker squared to Campbell for the simplest of finishes.
Bristow then had a shot from distance deflected over the bar before Luton had two great chances to further stretch their lead. First, Peter Kloso got free on the right side of the box but couldn’t get enough power on his shot to beat Southwood before Campbell went even closer, scuffing one from six yards out after being fed by Adebayo.
In truth, Luton looked the far likelier side in the closing stages as Reading threw cross after cross into the box but failed to create any real chances with the visitors running out comfortable 2-0 winners at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
READING FC XI: Luke Southwood; Tyrell Ashcroft (Mamadi Camara 79'), Michael Morrison, Tom Holmes, Ethan Bristow; Josh Laurent, Danny Drinkwater, Andy Rinomhota; Tom Dele-Bashiru (Jahmari Clarke 69’), John Swift; George Puscas (Lucas Joao 59’)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here