Reading 2 Charlton 0
The Addicks suffered their first league defeat of the season on Saturday afternoon, losing 2-0 to Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
The hosts had the majority of the early possession without creating any clear-cut chances. Aside from a dangerous Adrian Akande cross which escaped everyone, and a tame shot from Sam Smith which was saved by Will Mannion, neither side had much to show for the first quarter of the game.
The first real chance came in the 25th minute, and it came for the visitors. A deep cross from Macaulay Gillesphey was partially cleared by Jeriel Dorsett, but only as far as Tyreece Campbell whose first-time shot from the edge of the box curled away from Joel Pereira’s near post.
The game began to open up after Campbell’s opportunity, with the Royals having a good chance of their own in the 45th minute. After a dangerous cross from Charlie Savage was flicked over his own by bar Lloyd Jones, Savage’s corner eventually fell to Ben Elliott who dragged his shot well wide.
The chance of the half, though, came in stoppage time when a wonderful run from Greg Docherty culminated in him pulling the ball back from the byline. Luke Berry was waiting 10 yards from goal, but his well struck half volley was beaten away by Pereira.
It had been a lively end to the first half, but the second took a while to get going before it exploded into life in the 58th minute when the Addicks had two chances in a minute.
First Docherty chested down and fired over from just inside the box, then Campbell sent an excellent ball across the face of goal which was just too far in front of Gassan Ahadme for the striker to touch home.
But in the 66th minute, the hosts would take the lead out of nowhere. With the Addicks all over their opposition, Elliott managed to squeeze the ball out to Charlie Savage just in front of the centre circle. The midfielder moved forward before unleashing an excellent left-foot shot from 25 yards which went in off Mannion’s right post.
It spurred the Royals into life and Rubén Sellés' side had the chance to double their lead in the 74th minute when a heavy touch from Mannion was seized upon by Akande. The winger rounded the goalkeeper but was denied by a wonderful sliding challenge from Kayne Ramsay, and the ball was scrambled away by Conor Coventry.
However, two minutes later it was two. After a Charlton corner escaped everyone, Michael Craig’s quick throw-in found Akande on the counter-attack. The winger ran 50 yards before crossing to Sam Smith, who was able to touch home from close range.
The visitors did have one more chance in the game, Pereira keeping out a header from Docherty with an excellent save in the 95th minute following Coventry's corner.
It had not been a poor showing from the Addicks, but they were unable to respond to two goals in 10 minutes from the hosts. Nathan Jones’ side are back in action next Saturday when they host Rotherham United at The Valley.
Reading: Pereira; Craig, Mbengue, Bindon (Dean 73), Dorsett (Abrefa 63); Elliott, Wing (c), Savage; Akande (Tuma 87), Smith, Ehibhatiomhan
Subs (not used): Boyce-Clarke, Rushesha, Wareham, Garcia
Goals: Savage 66, Smith 76
Assists: Elliott 66, Akande 76
Booked: Mbengue 33 (foul on Gillesphey), Smith 77 (removing shirt), Dean 85 (time-wasting), Abrefa 90+6 (foul on Mannion)
Charlton: Mannion; A.Mitchell, Jones, Gillesphey; Ramsay, Berry (Anderson 46), Coventry, Docherty (c), Small (Kanu 78); Ahadme (Aneke 68), T.Campbell (Godden 68)
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Edmonds-Green, A.Campbell
Booked: Berry 20 (foul on Craig), Jones 88 (foul on Smith)
Attendance: 14,778 (2,684 away)
Referee: Thomas Kirk