Reading FC started 2025 with the gift of three points as a Harvey Knibbs double and a SamSmith stunner saw the Royals win at Cambridge United.
Up against his former side, Knibbs opened the scoring for the visitors late on in the first-half as the midfielder turned in from close range.
There were quickfire goals at the second-half as the U’s found a leveller when Elias
Kschunga slotted in at the back post to make it 1-1 at the Abbey Stadium.
Noel Hunt’s side didn’t allow that equaliser to dismay them as they hit back less than five minutes later to regain the lead as Knibbs grabbed his second of the game.
With 83 minutes gone, Reading put the seal on the game in sumptuous style with an
outrageous hit from Smith, also facing his former club.
Running onto Lewis Wing’s pass, Smith smacked the ball on the bounce which looped over the goalkeeper and into the net.
The win puts Reading up to 5th in the League One table on 40 points from 23 games.
Reflecting on the game, manager Hunt said: “I’m really pleased with it in terms of how
they approached it.
“We took a blow early in the second half, they came out fast as we said they would.
After that we got our heads together and worked really well.
“He (Sam Smith) has been superb. I love him.
“He’s a fantastic number nine and leads the line so well. He is pivotal in what we do.
He reads the game so well and brings others into play.
“He deserved the goal today and I said to him he would get one with his work rate,
that something would fall for him, and he would score. From the minute he hit it, it
looked sweet, and we knew it was in.”
Cambridge United: Stevens, Bennett, Andrew, Morrison, Brophy, Nlundulu, Kuchunga, Smith, Okedina, Stokes, Cousins
Subs: Richards, Loft, Barton, Reyes, Watts, Iben Rossi, Nyoku
Reading: Pereira, Holzman, Bindon, Dean, Garcia, Savage, Wing, Knibbs, Campbell,
Camara, Smith
Goals: Knibbs 39’, 52’, Kachunga 47’, Smith 83’
