It was a dark day for Reading Football Club as Veljko Paunovic’s side shipped seven in a 0-7 mauling at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Braces for Harry Wilson and Aleksander Mitrovic were supplemented by strikes from Kenny Tete, Neeskens Kebano and Tosin Adarabioyo.

Pauno wrung the changes from Saturday’s cup exit it non-league Kidderminster Harriers, with Luke Southwood, Andy Carroll, John Swift, Dejan Tetek, Junior Hoilett and Scott Dann came back in to start.

The first half started poorly for Reading with experienced defender Dann limping off within the opening 10 minutes, however it was to get worse shortly after. A seemingly harmless spell of possession on the right-hand side saw Dann replacement Mamadi Camara play the ball back toward his own goal, finding Laurent.

 

Reading Chronicle:

Above: Paunovic (credit: Jasonpix)

 

 The former Shrewsbury Town man played the ball across the box in the hope of finding goalkeeper Southwood, however former Liverpool winger Wilson nicked in to tap the ball into an open net. The Royals were to have a flurry of chances midway through the half, with Andy Carroll showcasing his Premier League quality.

A classy touch from a long ball eventually found its way on the left to winger Hoillett, who’s low cross found Camara. His back-heel was on target but tipped away by Marek Rodak for a corner. With the wind in their sails following the chance, Carroll twice put the ball in the back of the net in quality fashion, only for the flag to be raised on both occasions.

 

Reading Chronicle:

Above: Mamadi Camra (credit: Jasonpix)

The visitors continued to dominate possession and create openings, with Southwood kept busy. Unfortunately, it was not to last as in first half stoppage time Tom Holmes brought down scorer Wilson, and Mitrovic slotted home the resulting penalty.

The second half started as the first ended, with Fulham domination. Wilson hit the side netting five minutes into the second half but then the mauling started. Four goals in just over 15 minutes ended any possibility of a result for Veljko Paunovic as his side chased shadows for the remaining 40 minutes. Wilson notched his second on the hour mark as he found himself unmarked from a Mitrovic cross. Full-back Tete notched shortly after as Mitrovic powered a header toward the back post following a deep corner. Kebano gets his deserved goal after two half chances as Wilson beats the offside trap to deliver a low cross for the winger to tap in on the goal line. If it was not embarrassing enough, the sixth goal comes from defender Adarabioyo as yet another header flies past Southwood from a corner. After 15 minutes of comfortable possession the visitors decided they wanted to score another, and as Rodrigo Muniz saw his low strike saved, top scorer Mitrovic was there to slot home for a seventh.

That was the end scoring as the Cottagers closed the gap on leaders Bournemouth and Reading continue to teeter dangerously close to the drop zone.