A READING FC side featuring plenty of youth fell to a pre-season defeat at Bearwood against Championship team Queens Park Rangers.
In a match split into three 30 minutes sections, a youthful looking Reading side was put out by Ruben Selles for the opening hour before more senior players featured in the last half an hour.
Reading had some early chances as Michael Craig headed into the side netting before Illias Chair went close for QPR.
Charlie Kelman opened the scoring for Gareth Ainsworth’s side when he headed in from close range after 24 minutes.
Goalkeeper Jokull Andresson was kept busy as he made a smart stop to keep out a well struck free-kick from Chair.
Rangers keeper Asmir Begovic then came to his team’s rescue to deny Adrian Akande.
Andresson continued to impress with a quickfire double save to prevent Lyndon Dykes from adding to the score.
After 45 minutes, new signing Charlie Savage was brought on for his first appearance in a Royals shirt, while striker Sam Smith and goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis also came on.
Smith caused some issues for QPR’s defence and almost scored after chasing down a loose ball and Begovic’s clearance cannonned off the striker and fell narrowly wide.
There were wholesale changes for the final 30 minutes as Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, Nesta Guinness-Walker, Tom Holmes, Tom McIntyre, Harvey Knibbs, Femi Azeez, Jay Senga and Jacob Borgnis all came on as Selles persisted with the 4-2-2-2 set up.
Despite having chances, including a header from Knibbs that sailed just over the top, Reading were unable to score.
QPR doubled their lead in the final moments when Taylor Richards netted.
Reading: Andresson, Carsno, Dorsett, Abbey, Ryan (T), Rushesha (T), Craig, Djorkaeff (T), Akande, Camara, Vickers
Subs: Bouzanis, Holmes, McIntyre, Knibbs, Savage, Smith, Azeez, Guinness-Walker, Borgnis, Ehibahtiomhan, Senga
