Royals end pre-season with win

Brian McDermott was not able to call on the services on Jimmy Kebe or Noel Hunt through injury but still named a strong side, very similar to the one expected to begin next weeks season opener against Scunthorpe.

Gylfi Sigurdsson gave the Royals the lead with a neat finish early on but Saints were level by half time when Lee Barnard scored. Just after the interval Dean Hammond put them 2-1 up and we were struggling but soon turned things around.

Jay Tabb was fouled in the area and Simon Church stepped upto score the equaliser before putting us 3-2 up when he got a touch to Jobi mcAnuff’s cross.

The scoring was completed in the final stages when former Southampton loanee Michail Antonio volleyed home Andy Griffin’s cross to put the gloss on the brilliant comeback.

Attention’s now turn to Scunthorpe next weekend and the performances from the likes of Church and Antonio have given McDermott food for thought ahead of the new Championship season.