Bristol Rovers 0 Reading FC 2
Dominic Samuel and substitute Nick Blackman struck in both halves as Reading continued their pre-season preparations with victory at The Memorial Ground this evening.
Striker Samuel, reportedly wanted back on loan at Coventry City – where he spent a large part of last season on a temporary deal, scoring six goals – broke the deadlock five minutes before half time.
Having been initially denied by Rovers ‘keeper Steve Mildenhall, the 21-year-old made no mistake with the rebound.
Blackman, one of numerous replacements made by Royals boss Steve Clarke after the break, made the game same midway through the second half, converting from close range when laid on by Tariqe Fosu.
It was the forward’s second goal in as many pre-season fixtures, having netted during the club’s 2-2 draw with the Thai All Star XI earlier this month.
While sterner close-season challenges against Swansea City and Espanyol await, the visitors were still pushed hard by a side preparing to make their return to the Football League in just over two weeks’ time.
Ali Al-Habsi, who completed his free transfer switch to Madejski Stadium last week, was regularly called into action, with a first-half stop to keep out a long-range Chris Lines effort arguably the pick of the lot as the Oman international recorded a clean sheet.
Reading are back in action this Friday, taking on Premier League Swansea City at Wycombe Wanderers’ Adams Park.
Kick-off is 7.45pm.
Reading FC: Al Habsi; Long (Gunter 61), Keown, Ferdinand (Griffin 75), Obita; Tshibola (Williams 75), Quinn (Norwood 61), Akpan (Blackman 61); Fosu (Hyam 75), Taylor (Novakovich 85), Samuel (Pogrebnyak 61).
Unused subs: Bond, Kuhl.
Goals: Samuel (41), Blackman (68).
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