Reading FC breezed through to the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy by beating Newport County.
After a frustrating opening 70 minutes, quickfire goals from Harvey Knibbs and Jayden Wareham saw Reading safely through to the knockout stages.
The Royals fielded a strong side for their game against their League Two opponents, which included Lewis Wing, Amadou Mbengue, Ben Elliott and Jeriel Dorsett, but did make six changes in total from the League One draw at Stevenage.
The first half was full of opportunities for the Royals who kept knocking on the door of the Newport defence. However, they were unable to finish their chances in a frustrating opening half which saw openings for Mamadi Camara, Ben Elliott and Adrian Akande but to no avail.
Amadou Mbengue had to be withdrawn with an injury concern early in the second-half and replaced by Louis Holzman.
Selles made a triple switch in the 63rd minute as Harvey Knibbs, Michael Craig and Chem Campbell looked to freshen things up.
The change inspired the opening goal when Knibbs made it 1-0 with a little over 15 minutes left to play.
Moments later, Jayden Wareham made it 2-0 to all but see Reading through to the knockout stages.
Knibbs found his second of the night in the 87th minute to put the game behind all doubt
Reading are back in action after the latest international break with a trip to Peterborough on Saturday, November 23.
Reading: Button, Dorsett, Elliott, Wareham, Mbengue, Camara, Wing ©, Garcia, Akande, Ahmed, Spencer
Subs: Boyce-Clarke, Craig, Knibbs, Rushesha, Campbell, Kanu, Holzman
Newport County: Carney, Baker, Kamwa, Baker-Richardson, Greaves, Thomas, Whitmore, Evans, McLoughlin, Jameson, Wildig ©
Subs: Townsend, Clarke, Morris, Antwi, Spellman, Evans, Jephcott
Goals: Knibbs 73’, 87’, Wareham 75’
