Could the Royals have had a much better final week of pre-season? It’s hard to think so. Following victories against Woking last Saturday (0-2), Newport County on Tuesday (0-4) and Crawley Town on Friday (0-1), Reading made it four clean-sheet wins in four on Saturday afternoon by seeing off Charlton Athletic 0-3 at The Valley.
Lewis Wing was the star man, beginning and ending the scoring with a pair of excellent strikes. Perhaps Boyd Beacroft’s halfway-line lob over the ‘keeper at Crawley inspired
Wing to go one better?
Either way, this was Wing at his very best. He gave the Royals the lead just before half-time when he slammed in a free-kick, later making absolutely certain of the result by curling the ball beautifully into the far top corner after getting a shot corner back from David Hicks.
Reece Evans will be having words about which goal was the highlight of the afternoon though. He opened his account for the first team to make it 2-0 in the second half, heading the ball powerfully past the ‘keeper at the end of an incisive, fluent counter-attack. Hicks played a neat pass down the right and into the area for Kyreece Lisbie, who checked back onto his left foot and crossed cutely for Evans.
Even outside those goals though – and stop me if you’ve read this before about Reading’s 2026 pre-season friendlies – the Royals looked confident and well structured. Inventive, energetic and dynamic, this was a display that simply wouldn’t have happened last season.
That’s nothing new for me to write about this current Reading side. Today’s game was a real test however – for a couple of reasons – but it was one the Royals came through with flying colours.
For a starter, this was the toughest match of our pre-season. I’d put this one ahead of the Getafe fixture as it came much later in the summer, with the Addicks at a similar stage of their pre-season development to us (Getafe understandably appeared to be lacking physical sharpness in comparison to Reading, although they managed a 1-0 win).
So Reading’s ability to scale up their previous performances to a more difficult encounter, applying the qualities and traits we’d seen against Getafe, Woking and Newport, proves this summer’s progress has been built on strong foundations. That’s not to say we’re guaranteed a good season when competitive action resumes next weekend, but it’s a mightily encouraging sign.
A rejigged side
Further, this wasn’t even Reading’s best XI. Some players were already known to be unavailable or making their way back from injury: Haydon Roberts got 45 minutes at Crawley and Jack Marriott didn’t feature today but should be back for the visit to Bromley. Added to that though were absences for Paudie O’Connor, Josh Stokes and Jacob Brown, amid an outbreak of illness in the squad this week.
That also meant a start for a surprise trialist, who was accidentally named on commentary as Conor Masterson (it happens to the best of us, Phil). Academy players Hicks and Evans took up the number 10 and striker roles respectively, with a very young bench largely made up of those who’d featured at Crawley.
Reading (4-2-3-1): Pereira; Godwin-Malife, Trialist, Ward, Dorsett; Wing, Rinomhota; Lisbie, Hicks, Kyerewaa; Evans
Subs: Rowley, Harrison, Duah, St Louis, Spencer, Sackey, Howard, Osho, Dashi, Jones
First half
The first half was another bright period for the Royals. Reading looked well drilled, confident and positive throughout, looking to press high and get the ball forward quickly.
Quality chances at either end were thin on the ground though. Evans had an early effort blocked from inside the area, Hicks followed suit with the same outcome (from the edge of the box) and Wing dragged a long-range strike wide of the post.
That’s no bad thing from a defensive point of view, of course. Reading restricted the hosts effectively before the interval, with Joel Pereira not needing to make a save.
With the game seemingly heading towards a goalless stalemate at the break, Wing had other ideas. Dokes was taken down not too far outside the area and to the left of the goal – prime real estate for free-kick specialist Wing – who finished into the top corner expertly for 0-1 (see the goal here).
Half time: 0-1
Reading started the second half quickly and purposefully, penning Charlton back in the early stages after the restart. Lisbie had a couple of efforts from distance blocked, while Daniel Kyerewaa came close when cutting infield from the left and forcing a save at the near post.
The Royals’ momentum eventually stalled however and the match became a more even encounter. Charlton then had a couple of chances of their own, with a forward getting in behind and forcing a strong, low save out of Joel Pereira. He had to be on his guard again soon after, clearing the danger after a loose pass from Philip Duah (who’d replaced Masterson just before the hour mark).
But it was Reading who struck next. Andy Rinomhota carried the ball forward on the counter and played it to Hicks, then to Lisbie, who set up Evans excellently for 0-2 (see the goal here).
That goal seemed to kill off the hosts’ fight, with the game looking reassuringly quiet from a Reading perspective for a while afterwards. But Wing put the icing on the cake in the 83rd minute, playing a one-two with Hicks from a short corner before whipping the ball into the far top corner. 0-3. (See the goal here).
There was time for a few more substitutions. Emmanuel Osho and Luke Howard replaced Hicks and Evans respectively, with T’Shay St Louis later coming on for Lisbie.
Full time: 0-3
You couldn’t ask for a much better confidence-booster ahead of the new season or endorsement of the improvements made over the summer than this result and performance. Reading were excellent across the pitch – including the young attacking duo of Hicks and Evans drafted in to start – and scored some outstanding goals.
There’s a lot more to come in the way of squad building in the transfer market of course. Joe Jacobson admitted as much on co-comms this afternoon, noting that Reading are after another striker and centre-back, although he was coy enough with his answer that you’d expect there’s more on the list than just those two positions.
But Leam Richardson has done an excellent job on the training ground in the last couple of months. This is a Reading side bursting with energy, intensity and positivity, making it a real force both in and out of possession, and I’m able to honestly say the most important thing I could say at this stage of the football calendar:
I’m looking forward to the new season.
Up the ‘Ding!
