Match ends, Nottingham Forest 4, Reading 0.
Nottm ForestNottingham Forest4ReadingReading0
Michail Antonio scored twice against his former side as Nottingham Forest moved to the top of the Championship table after thrashing Reading.
Antonio struck in each half, with his first a header that creeped in off the bar, and he doubled their lead after squeezing the ball in at the far post.
Matty Fryatt's header from close range made it 3-0 before Britt Assombalonga tapped home following a scramble.
Reading keeper Adam Federici also saved well from Jamie Paterson's late shot.
Forest now lead the table by a point after four games, moving ahead of Watford and the rest of the chasing pack.
Assombalonga and Andy Reid forced Federici into a brave double save but Forest's pressure eventually paid off after 17 minutes.
| New dawn at Reading |
|---|
| Not one of the midfield four that finished the game - Tshibola, Tanner, Kuhl and Norwood - had a Reading start to their name before the game. |
Antonio, who was plucked from non-league football by the Royals, broke the deadlock with his powerful header at the back post hitting the underside of the bar and bouncing in.
Forest continued to put pressure on the Reading goal and Jordan Obita denied them second goal when he headed clear off his own line, after Danny Fox had powered a header into the danger zone, with Fryatt then prodding the loose ball wide of the post.
Reading's best chance of the first half fell to Aaron Kuhl but the youngster sliced his volley wide from just inside the box while former Forest forward Simon Cox dragged his shot across the face of goal from a promising position.
Antonio, who left Reading in August 2012, got his second of the game just two minutes after the restart with a prodded effort from close range that again beat Federici at the far post.
Worse was to come for Nigel Adkins' side with Fryatt's header putting the game out of sight inside 53 minutes.
Assombalonga went close with a shot from the edge of the area after a fine run but he soon got a deserved goal tapping home from close range after a melee in the box.
Forest keeper Karl Darlow saved well from Nick Blackman while at the other end Federici prevented it from being 5-0 with a great late saves from Paterson, Reid and Eric Lichaj.
Nottingham Forest manager Stuart Pearce said: "The most important thing for me is not the result, it is how quickly the new faces have settled into the team.
"I have to give credit to all the players who were already here, for making them feel welcome. But the new lads have settled in really, really well.
"That is the most pleasing thing for me about the start. You expect it to take time for a new player to fit into the squad. But the new signings have really hit the ground running."
Reading boss Nigel Adkins added: "We had opportunities to score in the first half, which was pleasing, when you consider the young side we have got.
"But the big killer for us was the second goal, which was a shocking one, where we failed to defend the far post. That is down to senior players in the team not doing their jobs."
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Darlow
- 17Hunt
- 4Mancienne
- 13Fox
- 3HardingSubstituted forLichajat 45'minutes
- 27BurkeSubstituted forPatersonat 75'minutes
- 8CohenBooked at 69mins
- 11Reid
- 18AntonioSubstituted forOsbornat 74'minutes
- 7Fryatt
- 9Assombalonga
Substitutes
- 2Lichaj
- 14Veldwijk
- 21Paterson
- 29de Vries
- 30McLaughlin
- 32Tesche
- 38Osborn
Reading
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Federici
- 2Gunter
- 15Hector
- 5Pearce
- 24Cummings
- 22BlackmanBooked at 80mins
- 17EdwardsSubstituted forTannerat 61'minutes
- 28Kuhl
- 25TaylorSubstituted forNorwoodat 58'minutes
- 10Cox
- 11ObitaSubstituted forTshibolaat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Norwood
- 16Akpan
- 18Tshibola
- 20McCarthy
- 27Tanner
- 35Cooper
- 37Stacey
- Referee:
- Andy Woolmer
- Attendance:
- 22,795
Match Stats
Home TeamNottm ForestAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 4, Reading 0.
Post update
Foul by Aaron Kuhl (Reading).
Post update
Britt Assombalonga (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Jack Hunt.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Matty Fryatt.
Post update
Attempt missed. Andy Reid (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Post update
Foul by Michael Hector (Reading).
Post update
Jamie Paterson (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Aaron Tshibola replaces Jordan Obita.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Jordan Obita (Reading) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt missed. Matty Fryatt (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Chris Cohen (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Andy Reid with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Adam Federici.
Post update
Attempt saved. Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Britt Assombalonga.
Post update
Offside, Reading. Oliver Norwood tries a through ball, but Nick Blackman is caught offside.
Booking
Nick Blackman (Reading) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Nick Blackman (Reading) has gone down, but that's a dive.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jamie Paterson (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
