You know what, that was fun. Very fun indeed. While there’ll be plenty of more in-depth, analytical points to make about this game, the bottom line is that I just really enjoyed what I experienced tonight.
My newly(ish) painted seat looked good, the first time this season I’ve sat in it. The lighting around the bowl for a first midweek league home game of 2026/27 was excellent. The audio quality was great (and the choice of Band on the Run at half-time was a fittingly top choice, although I’d love some Johnny Cash at some point).
Reading played good football. Five goals were scored (some of which were particularly pleasing on the eye) to no reply. The Royals avoided spoiling their own party by throwing the game, as in the previous League One home fixture. And just as importantly, it was clear that everyone else around the stadium (the home end anyway) was having a good time.
Yep, I’ve had a good evening. Reading playing fun football and making you feel glad you bothered going to the game in person was, unfortunately, something that felt somewhat alien last season. So tonight – on the back of another enjoyable game last week, at Stevenage – was a hugely welcome change.
That didn’t come about just from moments of individual brilliance or luck (though both were on display at times tonight). Reading collectively are so much better going forwards than last season – more positive, more creative and more certain of how they want to attack – and Leam Richardson deserves credit for that improvement.
Last week the Royals scored twice from wingers playing a low cross. Tonight the Royals scored twice from wingers playing a low cross: Kyreece Lisbie for George Earthy (3-0) and Randell Williams for Jacob Brown (5-0). Expect to see a lot more along those lines in the remainder of the season.
Admittedly, some of the other goals were less intricately constructed. Reading opened the scoring with a quick brace from corners in the first half, Jack Marriott converting from close range for 1-0 and Benn Ward doing likewise for 2-0, thanks to the ‘keeper fumbling the ball. Marriott was also at his instinctive, lethal best for 4-0, spinning and firing home from the edge of the box with his ‘weaker’ left foot.
Reading (4-2-3-1): Pereira; Godwin-Malife, O’Connor, Ward, Dorsett; Wing, Rinomhota; Lisbie, Earthy, Lane; Marriott
Subs: Stevens, Masterson, Savage, Williams, Kyerewaa, Brown, Reid
Though the scoreline might suggest this game was easy sailing, it certainly wasn’t in reality, and credit should also go to the team for navigating waters that at times looked ominously choppy.
Reading faded markedly after a bright start, looking flat and lacking in ideas for a big chunk of the first half, and only seemed to be getting worse as the game approached the half-hour mark. Staying in the game, getting in front and then building on that opening goal by pressing the advantage was a perfect response though.
It could have got even better. Reading had their tails up in the final quarter of an hour before the interval, and Lisbie went desperately close to finding the net a few times.
Similar to those first-half problems for Reading, Mansfield had joy earlier on in the second half, with veteran striker David McGoldrick getting a few sights of goal. Again however, Reading saw off that danger and got the all-important fourth goal of the game – crucial in making sure the visitors couldn’t yank the momentum back into their favour – before putting the cherry on with the fifth goal in the 80th minute.
Such rough patches can throw (and have thrown) Reading in the not-too-distant past. The Luton Town game is the obvious example of that, when the Royals also managed to rack up a comfortable-looking half-time lead, only to lose 4-3 late on.
I’d also argue though that the Reading of 2025/26 would have been much more heavily knocked back by the game swinging against it, as was the case midway through the first half today. So there’s character to this side, which will stand us in good stead this season.
What’ll also stand us in good stead is squad depth and options on the bench. Reading were in a position today to be able to pick between two experienced strikers when subbing off Marriott (it would have been nice to see Jamie Reid get in on the fun), while Williams (for Earthy), Charlie Savage (for Andy Rinomhota) and Daniel Kyerewaa (for Lisbie) allowed the Royals to maintain a good level in midfield and attack. Paudie O’Connor even got a slight rest when removed for Conor Masterson.
If I had to quibble on anything, I’m not sure why it took until the 77th minute – when it had been 4-0 for around 20 minutes – for Rinomhota to be taken off. He’s a particularly important and worryingly injury-prone player, so it was somewhat galling (but hopefully inconsequential) when he took a heavy challenge that required treatment on the pitch, with Savage then replacing him.
That shouldn’t take away from the fact that Reading have now got their league campaign properly up and running. A narrow win would still have done nicely, but the Royals appear to be building a bit of form after last week’s 3-0 victory at Stevenage, and the quick turnaround (Blackpool are the visitors on Saturday) will hopefully make developing momentum that bit easier.
