Reading FC Match Report: 2025/2026 Season - FL Trophy
SWINDON 3 READING 2
Reading: L Ward (og 36), J Marriott (44)
Swindon: P Ehibhatiomhan (11), O Palmer (24), W Wright (47)
Post Match Fans' Opinion
Whore Jackie
» 03 Sep 2025 13:01
Anyone who went to the game thinking Hunt was going to go strong, really hasn't paid much attention to how he approaches cup games. Personally I enjoy seeing the Academy boys and new recruits play. Positives for me were Marriott and Ritchie. And shout out to Reece Evans, who looked a real handful. Looks a much better prospect than Okine-Peters, wouldn't be surprised if he challenges O'Mahoney for that alternate striker spot.
After the first two games this season thought Stickland was looking the most likeliest candidate to partner Paudie. But since that performance against Bolton, he's properly dropped off. Real shame, but he now looks like 5th choice. Hope Abrefa can find that early-season spark too, Ahmed looking more and more the first XI right-back.
Haven't been to Swindon for probably 25 years. The Old Town is nice, really decent bars and pubs, well worth the walk up the hill. But blimey the rest is a proper dump.
After the first two games this season thought Stickland was looking the most likeliest candidate to partner Paudie. But since that performance against Bolton, he's properly dropped off. Real shame, but he now looks like 5th choice. Hope Abrefa can find that early-season spark too, Ahmed looking more and more the first XI right-back.
Haven't been to Swindon for probably 25 years. The Old Town is nice, really decent bars and pubs, well worth the walk up the hill. But blimey the rest is a proper dump.
Snowflake Royal
» 03 Sep 2025 13:02
Hi Mags
Was at the game and was astonished at the reaction of Reading fans both during and, particularly, after the game. Firstly, it's the mickiest of mickey mouse tournaments, secondly, we fielded a young and inexperienced team and thirdly, we didn't play that bad.
I felt so sorry for the youngsters making their debut that they will probably remember it most for being told they are not fit to wear the shirts. Absolute shame on anyone singing that, I really hope it doesn't destroy their confidence or love of the club. There is an argument that Hunt should have played a stronger side as it was Swindon and the fans wanted to win, but that's not the fault of the players he picked and seeing them taking abuse was horrible to watch.
I know you can't constantly harp back to where we were a year ago but I'm willing to bet a lot of these clowns were expressing their love of the club back then and saying how they just want a club to support. Well that wasn't support and the club would be better off without them travelling. The club has been heading full steam in the wrong direction for years, it is going to take more than a few months to turn that around and the owners, manager and players should be given some latitude and patience.
Welcome back Schards, well said.
RG30
» 03 Sep 2025 13:07
Feels like a lot of the fanbase are suffering with PTSD post Dai Yongge and everything that the last few years has brought about.
I had a ticket for last night but couldn’t be arsed going so gave it away. The chants were very OTT but like others have said, Hunt should have at the very least had more experience on the bench. He should have also read the room a bit. This was a sold out away end for a first competitive visit to the County Ground since 2002. For a large proportion of that away end, they will have never seen us play at Swindon so of course it was bigger than your usual cup game.
I had a ticket for last night but couldn’t be arsed going so gave it away. The chants were very OTT but like others have said, Hunt should have at the very least had more experience on the bench. He should have also read the room a bit. This was a sold out away end for a first competitive visit to the County Ground since 2002. For a large proportion of that away end, they will have never seen us play at Swindon so of course it was bigger than your usual cup game.
Mid Sussex Royal
» 03 Sep 2025 14:10
Agree - Hunt didn't read the room....this game was sold out in hours and we would have taken double if able to.
As others have also said we have no game for 2 weeks and putting a few more seniors out there would have done no harm instead of selections that aren't anywhere near the first team.
Lower West
» 03 Sep 2025 14:25
Swindon were 92nd at one point in the football league last season. The transformation underway with Holloway is what all football fans dream of. Worth noting that Swindon also finished the game without a centre half/centre back. Three fullbacks aged 19, 20 and 21. Not just big chequebooks that matter.
stealthpapes
» 03 Sep 2025 15:14
I know you can't constantly harp back to where we were a year ago but I'm willing to bet a lot of these clowns were expressing their love of the club back then and saying how they just want a club to support. Well that wasn't support and the club would be better off without them travelling. The club has been heading full steam in the wrong direction for years, it is going to take more than a few months to turn that around and the owners, manager and players should be given some latitude and patience.
Didn't go to too many games last season but the season before - there was always a sizeable minority that would give the side pelters after a defeat. It was especially pointed at the start as Selles was insisting the players go to the fans at the end and, as we all know, we lost a whole chunk of away games in a row.
But you can see it on here.
I'm genuinely amazed the new owners are getting the criticism they are, it's been barely a third of a year and we've had to play catch-up.
I'm less amazed that Hunt is getting some stick, that's maybe to be expected, but the level is surprising and the sense it could turn vicious is definitely there.
South Coast Royal
» 03 Sep 2025 15:44
Didn't go to too many games last season but the season before - there was always a sizeable minority that would give the side pelters after a defeat. It was especially pointed at the start as Selles was insisting the players go to the fans at the end and, as we all know, we lost a whole chunk of away games in a row.
But you can see it on here.
I'm genuinely amazed the new owners are getting the criticism they are, it's been barely a third of a year and we've had to play catch-up.
I'm less amazed that Hunt is getting some stick, that's maybe to be expected, but the level is surprising and the sense it could turn vicious is definitely there.
The only stick that I see the owners getting is over the hype saying what kind of transfer window we can expect.
If they had just said that the club is aiming for stability this season on and off the pitch I don't think there would have been much made of the transfers in or indeed any criticism.
As it is they have to go all Yankee on us and treat us as kids needing everything to be overhyped when it was completely unnecessary , just like the fire and smoke last Saturday.
Hound
» 03 Sep 2025 15:49
There’s a world of difference between calmly criticising Hunt’s decision making and the behaviour of that bunch of clowns who seem to turn up at away games and their behaviour
I don’t think there is much inflammatory in that Hunt out thread tbh - more speculation on what time he’ll get and what he can do to turn things round. We all know the business - you can win the league one season then lose 5 in a row next and you are out on your backside. That’s the modern game rightly or wrongly and Hunt probably isn’t that far away from being called into the office for a stern chat. I mean we’ve not been good this season by any measure really
I don’t think there is much inflammatory in that Hunt out thread tbh - more speculation on what time he’ll get and what he can do to turn things round. We all know the business - you can win the league one season then lose 5 in a row next and you are out on your backside. That’s the modern game rightly or wrongly and Hunt probably isn’t that far away from being called into the office for a stern chat. I mean we’ve not been good this season by any measure really
Sutekh
» 03 Sep 2025 16:52
He’s having to build a new side from largely a load of inexperienced youngsters and older new faces, not an easy thing to do for even the most experienced manager let alone someone new to it all. Anyone demanding his head after a handful of games therefore isn’t in possession of a fully pronged fork.
As long as improvement is generally seen from game to game, or month to month, then that should be fine.
Hound
» 03 Sep 2025 17:24
He’s having to build a new side from largely a load of inexperienced youngsters and older new faces, not an easy thing to do for even the most experienced manager let alone someone new to it all. Anyone demanding his head after a handful of games therefore isn’t in possession of a fully pronged fork.
As long as improvement is generally seen from game to game, or month to month, then that should be fine.
Well that’s him and everyone else in the league
But I’m sure JJ and Couhig will take it all into account. Personally I’d love to see him do well but I’ve been pretty disappointed so far tbh. Just the basic set up and lack of chance creation really. Games have been pretty dull as well largely because of that
There’s glimmers there but I wouldn’t say we’ve improved too much from game to game either
Snowflake Royal
» 03 Sep 2025 17:28
Agree - Hunt didn't read the room....this game was sold out in hours and we would have taken double if able to.
As others have also said we have no game for 2 weeks and putting a few more seniors out there would have done no harm instead of selections that aren't anywhere near the first team.
I don’t really see what we gain other than maybe a better chance of beating Swindon... it's not exactly a useful tool for improving L1 performance and results.
Would I have liked a stronger bench or a more senior winger... yeah sure. Would it have affected the result... maybe. Does it help our league form... not at all
Mr Angry
» 04 Sep 2025 09:27
Hi Mags
Was at the game and was astonished at the reaction of Reading fans both during and, particularly, after the game. Firstly, it's the mickiest of mickey mouse tournaments, secondly, we fielded a young and inexperienced team and thirdly, we didn't play that bad.
I felt so sorry for the youngsters making their debut that they will probably remember it most for being told they are not fit to wear the shirts. Absolute shame on anyone singing that, I really hope it doesn't destroy their confidence or love of the club. There is an argument that Hunt should have played a stronger side as it was Swindon and the fans wanted to win, but that's not the fault of the players he picked and seeing them taking abuse was horrible to watch.
I know you can't constantly harp back to where we were a year ago but I'm willing to bet a lot of these clowns were expressing their love of the club back then and saying how they just want a club to support. Well that wasn't support and the club would be better off without them travelling. The club has been heading full steam in the wrong direction for years, it is going to take more than a few months to turn that around and the owners, manager and players should be given some latitude and patience.
Spot on.
Snowflake Royal
» 04 Sep 2025 12:46
Who was on co-comms on RoyalsTV for the game, Ryan someone?
I got the impression they may have been a player... but could have been media team.
Was interesting hearing them talk about how much emphasis and importance Hunt places on pressing in training.
It's the sort of thing that can be really effective, but can also go really wrong. As we saw sometimes under Selles before him.
I also wonder if its why the Academy sides often seem to either get strong results or a bit of a pasting... if they're doing the same thing. When it works it really works and when it doesn’t it really doesn’t.
I got the impression they may have been a player... but could have been media team.
Was interesting hearing them talk about how much emphasis and importance Hunt places on pressing in training.
It's the sort of thing that can be really effective, but can also go really wrong. As we saw sometimes under Selles before him.
I also wonder if its why the Academy sides often seem to either get strong results or a bit of a pasting... if they're doing the same thing. When it works it really works and when it doesn’t it really doesn’t.
stealthpapes
» 04 Sep 2025 14:27
Doesn't every team press but some more energetically, effectively and for longer than others?
There's also variations in where teams start to press and with how many players.
I'd go so far as saying not every team presses - if you're sitting back in a 4-5-1 or similar, the aim is reduce the area behind you and put bodies in the way, rather than put pressure on the ball. A player out of position is extremely detrimental here.
Match Stats
Teams
Reading: J Stevens, J Dorsett, K Abrefa, J Ryan, M Stickland, T Sackey (S Spencer, 79), L Fraser, K Doyle, J Marriott (R Evans, 71), J Okine-Peters (J Borgnis, 79), J Barough (M Ritchie, 55).
Swindon: L Ward, F Mabete (G Kilkenny, 45), R Delaney (F Munroe, 45), W Wright (J Snowdon, 74), D Butterworth, J McGregor, B Kirkman, O Clarke (P Glatzel, 80), P Ehibhatiomhan, O Palmer (J Tabor, 63), B Bodin
Bookings / Red Cards
Reading: K Abrefa
Swindon: --
FL Trophy on 02 September 2025
This FL Trophy game took place 9 days ago in the 2025/2026 season.