Reading’s two week pre-season training camp in Spain is well underway as Jose Gomes’ side smashed ten past Gibraltar in the first of four friendly matches.
The Royals were narrowly beaten by Spanish giants Sevilla on Saturday before they faced a tough test with a double header fixture on Tuesday, as they faced Malaga B in the morning and then played Extremadura in the evening.
Reading 10-0 Gibraltar
The Royals made the perfect start to their pre-season camp in Spain as they smashed ten goals past Gibraltar.
Gomes fielded a young looking side with plenty of academy players featuring from the start and took an early lead through Jordan Holsgrove.
Andrija Novakovich doubled the lead as he finished from close range before Holsgrove grabbed his second of the match driving the ball into the bottom corner to put the Royals firmly in control before half-time.
Reading ran riot in the second-half with a completely changed eleven as young striker Danny Loader sealed a hat-trick. Yakou Meite scored a brace, while academy prospects Tom McIntyre and Josh Barret put the Royals into double figures to seal a comprehensive victory.
First half XI: Andresson, Watson, Osho, Odimayo, Richards, East, Trialist, Olise, Holsgrove, Novakovich, Baldock.
Second half XI: Walker, Howe, Moore, McIntyre, Blackett, Rinomhota, Swift, Barrow, Barret, Meite, Loader.
Goals: Holsgrove (6, 34), Novakovich (32), Meite (55, 83 pen), Loader (57, 69, 87), McIntyre (75), Barrett (88).
Reading 1-2 Sevilla
An experienced Sevilla side proved to be too much for the Royals as the Spanish side clawed back a one goal deficit to win the match in a valuable contest.
Reading fought well against a Sevilla side littered with international players, including former Royal, Daniel Carrico.
Gomes again changed the side going into the break at 0-0 and the young Reading side took the lead as Novakovich headed past Sergio Rico.
Goalkeeper Jokull Andresson was called into action and made two fine saves to keep Reading’s lead intact but was unable to prevent Sevilla from equalising from the penalty spot just moments later as Nolito converted.
The La Liga side scored the winner just four minutes from time as Lara finished from close range to put the Spanish side in front in what was a fantastic test for Gomes’ team.
First half XI: Walker, Howe, Moore (c), McIntyre, Blackett, Rinomohta, Swift, Olise, Barrow, Meite, Loader.
Second half XI: Andresson, Watson, Odimayo, Osho, Richards, Trialist, East, Holsgrove, Frost, Baldock, Novakovich.
Goals: Novakovich (57), Nolito (66 pen), Lara (86).
Reading 0-0 Malaga B
The first part of Reading’s Tuesday double header fixture finished in a stalemate for the young Royals side.
A side filled with academy players gained another valuable 90 minutes worth of action in a game which saw chances limited at both ends as it eventually ended in a goalless draw.
New signing Joao Virginia, who will spend the season with the Royals having joined on a season-long loan from Everton, made his first appearance and pulled a number of impressive saves on his first outing.
Reading: Virginia, Watson, Osho, Odimayo, Richards, Swift, East, Holsgrove, Trialist, Frost, Baldock.
Reading 1-0 Extremadura
A more experienced Royals side turned out for the second fixture and came away with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of a second half penalty from Danny Loader.
It was a tightly contested match between the two sides as Gomes fielded a mix of more experienced senior players with some younger influence, including a second-half substitute appearance from Andy Yiadom who recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Loader converted the only goal of the game as he calmly slotted his spot-kick into the bottom corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Reading: Walker, Hower, Moore (c), McIntyre, Blackett, Rinomhota, Barrett, Olise, Swift (Holsgrove 15, Osho 45, Yiadom 65), Meite, Loader (Frost 83).
Goal: Loader (60 pen)
