Reading beat Charlton Athletic on penalties to progress into the last 16 of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, but a 24-year-low crowd were there to witness it.

A competition predominantly for lower league sides, the decision to include Category One academy sides has seen mass protests from many fanbases.

For instance, Carlisle United saw their lowest-ever crowd last month as only 716 watched them beat Harrogate in the EFL Trophy, while only 1,809 braved the cold for the win over the Addicks, including 249 from South-East London.

This is the club's lowest crowd for a competitive game in the 21st century, with the SCL Stadium's lowest turnout coming in the same competition against Leyton Orient in 1999 with 1,561.

Reading's group stage derby meeting with Swindon Town attracted over 6,000 supporters- the second highest of the whole competition this season to date.

On the whole, the average crowd of nearly 12,000 is still among the highest in the third tier- only below the likes of Derby County, Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers.