READING FC Under 23s kicked off 2018 by edging out Norwich City in a seven-goal thriller.
Scott Marshall was back in control of the U23s yesterday after his spell as first-team interim boss.
And the Scotsman will have been delighted with his young side’s performance after they fought back from a goal down to win in style at Hogwood Park.
Reading contained four Under 18 players for the Premier League 2 Division 2 clash in Jokull Andresson, Michael Olise, Conor Lawless and Jack Nolan, while Gabriel Osho skippered the side and Ryan East returned in midfield having made the first-team bench at Manchester United on Saturday.
After an even start, Norwich went in front midway through the first half when Anthony Spyrou stabbed home from a goalmouth scramble.
East equalised in spectacular style on 36 minutes with a stunning strike from 25 yards into the top corner.
But Marshall’s men burst out of the traps after the break and were rewarded when Conor Lawless fired home for a 2-1 lead on 52 minutes.
The home side then added two more goals in quick succession with Teddy Howe setting up Jack Nolan for 3-1 on the hour and Josh Barrett squeezing home from a tight angle for Reading’s fourth.
Canaries hit back and replied with two more goals late on when Spryou slotted past Andresson on 87 minutes before Adam Idah made it 4-3 two minutes later.
But Reading held on and remain second in the table ahead of a trip to leaders Wolves this Friday night (7pm ko).
Reading U23: Andresson, Howe (Balogun 75), Osho (c), Burley, Green, East, Nolan, Lawless, Olise (Rollinson 81), Barrett, Liddle. Subs not used: Boyce-Clark, Odimayo, Shokunbi.
Norwich City U23: McCracken, Odusina, Jones, Vaughan, Kamal, Spyrou, Scully, Thorvaldsson, Coley (Dronfield 79), Payne, Idah. Subs not used: Johnson, Barkarson, Keller, Omobamidele.
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