READING FC look to be a long way off challenging for a top-six Championship spot after their 4-0 defeat against Crystal Palace.

Royals have a quality team on paper but there is still plenty of work to be done to get them firing on all cylinders.

Pre-season friendlies are academic and the fall-out from Saturday’s game will all be forgotten if Royals come away with a win against Derby County next Friday.

That said, it appears there is plenty of work to do on the training ground next week if Paul Clement is going to get one over his former side.

Reading are still lacking that killer ball in the final third, which was much of the story last season.

There were some short spells of the attacking style of play that Clement promised to introduce in the upcoming campaign, but not enough to fill anyone with confidence that Royals will put Derby to the sword.

Liam Kelly was excellent in midfield and David Meyler looks to be a good acquisition. The 29-year-old looked solid sat in front of the back four and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Marc McNulty seemed to link well up front and I would like to see Clement take the game to Derby next week by playing two strikers up front.

And, subject to medical, the manager suggested he could have plenty of firepower to choose from when he welcomes his former employers to Berkshire.

But one thing he has to his advantage is that all eyes will be on the Rams next week and in particular their new boss, Frank Lampard.

The England and Chelsea legend, who Clement will know well from his time at Stamford Bridge, will make his management debut at Madejski Stadium.

INTERESTING NOTES:

Reading FC: Mannone, Gunter (Richards,33), Yiadom, McShane, Meyler, Swift (Bodvarsson, 63), Aluko (Clement,68), Barrow (Blackett, 68), Ilori, Meite (McNulty, 63), Kelly

Subs not used: Evans, Walker

Attendance: 5,158 (1,540 away)