READING FC lost out to Championship side Swansea City as they completed their pre-season campaign without a win to their name.
It has been another arduous week for the club who were placed back under an embargo by the EFL for failing to pay HMRC again.
With just a week to go until the League One season kicks off at home to Peterborough United, Ruben Selles’ squad looks threadbare ahead of another challenging period for the club.
Joel Piroe opened the scoring with a fierce volley and scored another in the second-half before goals from Jerry Yates and Matt Grimes saw the Swans race into a big lead.
Andy Carroll and club captain Andy Yiadom returned to the team to play their first minutes of pre-season, while new signing Charlie Savage was handed a start.
There was no place for new signings Sam Smith or Lewis Wing, but trialists Tivonge Rushesha and Tyler Bindon both featured.
Swansea threatened early when striker Joel Piroe cannonned a shot goalwards that was comfortably held by Dean Bouzanis who was given the nod to start between the sticks.
Piroe found the net with his next sight of goal with a clinical finish as he rifled a powerful volley into the top corner.
Reading went in search of a leveller and came close when Carroll met Savage’s corner with a diving header that was blocked.
The visitors should have doubled their lead when Jeyy Yates was left unmarked and had a free header from six yards out, but missed the target.
Selles made two changes for the second-half as goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke replaced Bouzanis and Michael Craig replaced Carroll.
Swansea grabbed two more goals quickly after the restart.
They capitalised on an error from Tom Holmes who surrendered possession as Piroe profited by slotting in from close range.
Boyce-Clarke’s wayward pass from the back fell straight into the path of Yates who converted to make it three.
It wasn’t long before Swansea found a fourth of the afternoon as the Royals failed to close down Matt Grimes who picked out the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
The Swans should have added more misery to the score, but Oliver Ntcham blazed over the target after a cross had put a plate on a chance for him.
Selles made a triple change with 15 minutes to play as Jay Senga, Caylan Vickers and Mamadi Camara all came on.
Reading begin their League One at home next Saturday at home to Peterborough United.
Reading: Bouzanis, Yiadom, Dorsett, Holmes, Guinness-Walker, Rushesha, Savage, Knibbs, Azeez, Ehibahtiomhan, Carroll
Subs: Boyce-Clarke, Bindon (T), Mbengue, Camara, Abbey, Senga, Craig, Vickers
Swansea: Fisher, Key, Fulton, Cabango, Darling, Grimes, Yates, Ntcham, Piroe, Wood, Abdulai
Subs: Hughes, Allen, Ginnelly, Paterson, Cooper, Cullen, Naughton, Cooper, Lissah
Goals: Piroe 24’, 49’, Yates 52, Grimes 55’
