MATCHWATCH : Portsmouth (a)

[parky]

Excellent performance and well deserved win. All did well but as others have said, special mention must got to Ahmed. Looks like he has filled out over the summer and when you force the opposition winger to swap wings you know you are doing something right.

Both goals well taken. Excellent double save by Stephens in the first half.

The only negatives were losing the clean sheet and the transphobic chanting from the Reading fans.

What was the transphobic chanting?

"Who's the t***** in the pink?"

To a woman in the Home end.

Made all the worse by them not looking over 18.

[The Cap]

Could well be a repeat of Millwall a couple of years ago. Struggled at the start of the season, then went to Millwall and won 4-0(?).

It may not have been 4-0, but I’ll take the regardless.

Lost 4-0 at home in a PSF against them 3 weeks ago, now win 2-1 at Fratton. Think we can say that, at the moment, Noel and his management team are improving the squad.

And when considering the percentage figures in the prediction table, also known as 'keeping the faith'. Great performance from the lads last night, fully deserved and, as mentioned in other quarters, good to see the strength in depth on the bench.

[Hound]

Another reminder for me that we should be looking to the academy lads first to fill gaps not just crave signing average players from elsewhere

[skipper]

I did not see that result coming. Well done lads. Let's convert that to league form!

[Royals and Racers]

Draw tonight on SKY at around 7.20pm before the Birmingham v Sheff Utd game. Draw still regionalised.

[Sutekh]

Draw tonight on SKY at around 7.20pm before the Birmingham v Sheff Utd game. Draw still regionalised.

Reading lost at home to Stevenage after beating Millwall the last time they reached the second round so let’s hope both the draw and result this time are rather more uplifting.

[From Despair To Where?]

Another reminder for me that we should be looking to the academy lads first to fill gaps not just crave signing average players from elsewhere

That is surely the purpose of the academy, 1 or 2 a year stepping up to the 1st team squad at 18/19 with a view to being regulars at 20/21.

It's why I'm not too worried at CB, we have O'Connor, Burns and Dorsett with youngsters stepping up but we do need a forward.

[RG30]

Bromley or Brentford (A) please for the new grounds

Enjoyed that thought we were good value for the win against a heavily rotated Pompey side. Ahmed the standout player. He looks a very good prospect and would hope he can back that performance up going forward.

[hughsies no.1]

Don’t think anyone was expecting that tonight - the confidence we will take from it will be massive.

Many lauding the away end tonight too, for the most part top drawer - then anyone signing OWTS ruined it, nothing more embarrassing than an away end singing another teams song to wind up home fans, happened at Millwall before to with some singing bubbles. Admittedly it’ll probably just be the kids who don’t get it, but never again please!

[traff]

Bromley or Brentford (A) please for the new grounds

Enjoyed that thought we were good value for the win against a heavily rotated Pompey side. Ahmed the standout player. He looks a very good prospect and would hope he can back that performance up going forward.

Sods law its Plymouth away!

[JedMaxwell]

I thought it was fantastic last night.

Seeing the young lads play without any pressure and lots of freedom was really good. I don't think anyone had a poor game but Ahmed was the real standout. Looks like he's our next breakout star.

Also, I think Ryan needs to be starting at left-back from now on. He was on course over the past couple of seasons to be in the squad but had bad luck with injuries. He just looks a natural to me, with good defensive instincts and sensible going forward.

[andrew1957]

Bromley or Brentford (A) please for the new grounds

Enjoyed that thought we were good value for the win against a heavily rotated Pompey side. Ahmed the standout player. He looks a very good prospect and would hope he can back that performance up going forward.

Sods law its Plymouth away!

That would be perfect for me.

[Royals and Racers]

Bromley or Brentford (A) please for the new grounds

Enjoyed that thought we were good value for the win against a heavily rotated Pompey side. Ahmed the standout player. He looks a very good prospect and would hope he can back that performance up going forward.

He certainly does go forward a lot

[Royals and Racers]

Draw tonight on SKY at around 7.20pm before the Birmingham v Sheff Utd game. Draw still regionalised.

Reading lost at home to Stevenage after beating Millwall the last time they reached the second round so let’s hope both the draw and result this time are rather more uplifting.

11 Premier League clubs enter in Round 2

[traff]

I know I am going early with this but can Ahmed play CB?
Looks like a natural successor to Cheeseburger to me?

[Royalwaster]

Another reminder for me that we should be looking to the academy lads first to fill gaps not just crave signing average players from elsewhere

That is surely the purpose of the academy, 1 or 2 a year stepping up to the 1st team squad at 18/19 with a view to being regulars at 20/21.

It's why I'm not too worried at CB, we have O'Connor, Burns and Dorsett with youngsters stepping up but we do need a forward.

But I'd much prefer us to sign a young forward than a journeyman

[The Cube]

Noel Hunt interview after the match - "If you run as fast as you can for 4 or 5 seconds, you can cover 50 or 60 metres."

Before last night, the 60m world record was 6.34 seconds, and that wasn't on grass.

[Sutekh]

Believe Reading's 2nd round opponents will be one of this lot.

Swansea City
Bristol City
Millwall
Cambridge United
Charlton Athletic
Coventry City
Cardiff City
Southampton
Wimbledon
Wycombe Wanderers
Norwich City
Oxford United
Plymouth Argyle
Derby County
Bromley
Cheltenham Town or Exeter City
Bournemouth
Brentford
Brighton
Fulham
West Ham United

[Sutekh]

Hull City led at Wrexham 3-1 in the 90th minute. At the end of 9 minutes of injury time it was 3-3 and Wrexham won 5-3 on penalties.

[Snowflake Royal]

Believe Reading's 2nd round opponents will be one of this lot.

Swansea City
Bristol City
Millwall
Cambridge United
Charlton Athletic
Coventry City
Cardiff City
Southampton
Wimbledon
Wycombe Wanderers
Norwich City
Oxford United
Plymouth Argyle
Derby County
Bromley
Cheltenham Town or Exeter City
Bournemouth
Brentford
Brighton
Fulham
West Ham United

Cambridge away please. Or Bromley. Or Cheltenham/Exeter

Or West Ham or Brighton