Royals comeback to rock Robins

Reading came back from 1-0 to beat Paolo Di Canio’s Swindon Town 2-1, in a well-contested game at the County Ground.

Royals boss Brian McDermott named his strongest possible XI against their local rivals, which included a first start for new signing Bongani Khumalo.

McDermott’s men controlled the early play but the first real chance fell to Swindon’s striker De Vita, who mis-controlled at the far post, as Griffin was caught napping.

However, Reading came the closest in the opening exchanges with Robins goalie Paul Smith tipping Ian Harte’s goalbound 25-yard free kick onto the post.

The Royals were then to rue their luck as Swindon took the lead on 20 minutes as a ball into the Reading box took a deflection off defender Alex Pearce and looped in past the despairing Federici.

Reading almost hit back immediately as captain Jobi McAnuff raced through the Robins defence, only to hit his shot wide of Paul Smith’s goal.

There has been a lot of press about Shane Long over the past week and the Republic of Ireland international almost equalised after he got the ball on the edge of the box but only to be denied by Smith again.

Matt Ritchie then had two decent chances to extend the Robins lead after he missed a far post header and hit an effort straight at Federici as it was pulled back to him.

Royals keeper Federici was then made to work as Matt Ritchie again was involved, as his long range drilled shot was palmed away by the Australian international.

Similarly to the first half, Reading started the better and got what their play deserved as Jobi McAnuff was hacked down by Paul Caddis in the box. Shane Long duly stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to put the Royals on level terms.

Reading continued to dominate the game from there and completed the comeback on 70 minutes as substitute Mathieu Manset headed in from 5 yards, from Jimmy Kebe’s cross.

Swindon did not offer much in the second half and Manset had a great chance to double his tally as good work from Harte and Obita lead to the ball being crossed in, only for Manset to head wide.

It finished 2-1 to Brian McDermott’s side, which in reality was a game of two halves with the Royals having the better of the latter. Many would argue a good pre-season with 4 wins out of 5 but next week is the one that really counts!

Reading: Federici, Griffin, Khumalo, Pearce, Harte, Kebe, Gunnarsson, Karacan, McAnuff, HRK, Long

Swindon: Smith, Caddis, Devera, Flint, Kennedy, Ritchie, Smith, Risser (C), Timlin, De Vita, Connell