Reading FC: Under 23s into last eight of competition after hard-fought win over Dutch visitors

Goals from fit-again Dave Edwards and striker Ben House capped an impressive night’s work at Madejski Stadium as Royals ended their group campaign unbeaten to reach the last eight.

And in a further boost for the club, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Omar Richards and Vito Mannone all got valuable minutes under their belt as they come back from injury, while forgotten man David Meyler stood out in midfield.

It was Bodvarsson who threatened first for the hosts who were managed by Under 18s coach David Dodds while Scott Marshall continues to lead the first-team in a caretaker basis.

The Icelandic striker met a Jack Nolan cross with a powerful header at the back post, but Ramon ten Hove pushed it around the post.

But it wasn’t long before Royals got their noses in front, Edwards bundling the ball over the line via a deflection off the Feyenoord keeper from a Josh Barrett corner in the 19th minute.

The visitors had offered little at that point, but they threatened an equaliser when Daude van der Kust was through on goal, only for Andre Burley to make a perfectly-timed tackle.

David Dodds took charge of the Under 23s again.

Ten Hove was forced into another save to deny Ryan East, while Jari Schuurman went close for the visitors and Avhraf El Bouchataoui fired a freed-kick narrowly over Mannone’s crossbar.

Dodds replaced Bodvarsson and Richards with House and Ramarni Medford-Smith at the break, with Edwards going off five minutes into the second half.

Reading almost grabbed a second goal on the hour when Ten Hove showed sharp reflexes to keep out Burley’s header.

However, moments later they relied on two brilliant stops from Mannone to deny Shuurman then make a save on the line from the resulting corner to remain in front.

The lively Shuurman also smacked an effort against the post midway through the second period.

But Royals stepped it up and grabbed a vital second goal with nine minutes to go, House heading into the far corner from a pin-point Michael Olise cross.

The Dutch visitors threw everything at the hosts in the final stages, but Dodds’ men held firm to secure their place in the next round.

Reading finished top of their group on seven points after two wins and a draw from their three fixtures ahead of Feyenoord (3), Leicester City (3) and Sparta Prague (1).

Reading U23: Mannone, Balogun, Richards (Medford-Smith 46), Odimayo, Burley, East, Meyler, Edwards (Olise 51), Nolan, Barrett, Böðvarsson (House 46). Subs not used: Desbois, Pendlebury, Howe.

Jong Feyenoord: Ten Hove, Reith, Lewis, Van Mullem, Knoester, Bouchataoui, Van der Kust, Gunduz, Toure (De Mooij 79), Schuurman, Vicario (Kalentjev 61). Subs not used: Yates, Evora, Loshi.