Reading's pre-season preparations out in Spain continued as they crossed the border to play Gibraltar Premier Division side Gibraltar United. The Royals ran out clear winners, hitting ten goals with no reply. Danny Loader scored a second half hat-trick as The Royals fielded two different sides, swapping all eleven players at half time with the score at 3-0. The game was used to give most of the squad players a run out and as result gave a chance to a lot of young academy graduates.
Holsgrove scored two goals with Novakovich getting the other before the half time break. Reading fielded a stronger side in the second half with senior players Walker, Moore, Blackett, Swift and Barrow joining McIntyre, Rinomhota, Barrett, Meite and Loader in a line-up which Gibraltar struggled to contain. Loader won a penalty for Meite to score from the spot before getting on the scoresheet himself. After a second Loader goal defender McIntrye scored from close range. Meite, Barrett and a third Loader goal completed a very comfortable win.
Jordan Obita, who continues to make a return from his long term injury, failed to make an appearance but is still expected to be available to Gomes when the season kicks off next month.
Reading travel to Sevilla on Saturday night in what will be much tougher pre-season fixture for the Royals. Sevilla finished sixth in La Liga last season with former Reading player Daniel Carrico making 38 appearances during the season after becoming a vital player for the side after his short and uneventful spell in Berkshire.
Loader Gets Three In Friendly Win
From the Discussion
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SU Sutekh 15 May 2019 · 9:52am
All off to Estepona in Spain for 2 weeks on 7th July https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2019/may/portuguese-preparations-set-to-start-in-spain/ Games will all be behind closed doors though Final pre-season game will be at the Mad Stad on 28th July.
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CO CountryRoyal 15 May 2019 · 10:12am
Ffs why the relatively sudden boner for playing pre seasons behind closed doors. Yawn.
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14 10539.4 Miles Away 15 May 2019 · 10:15am
Ffs why the relatively sudden boner for playing pre seasons behind closed doors. Yawn. Trialists playing? New formations / tactics being experimented with? Gives players the freedom in a semi competitive match to try to test themselves without the pressure of judgement being made by fans / on t'internet? The fact that the results really don't matter as long as they're not all loses (like our past 2 seasons) I agree that I'd love them to be open but understand theres many reasons they wouldn't be.
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HO Hound 15 May 2019 · 10:38am
was some mention of trying to stream them via social media, which would be nice
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HE Hendo 15 May 2019 · 10:41am
was some mention of trying to stream them via social media, which would be nice Can seem them doing this on Facebook/Instagram, if not the games, I think there will be a lot of content from the camp, which would still be nice to see.
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VM Victor Meldrew 15 May 2019 · 11:03am
2 weeks sounds like a hell of a long time to be away together-it will either lead to great bonding or massive fall-outs. :wink:
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14 10539.4 Miles Away 15 May 2019 · 11:05am
was some mention of trying to stream them via social media, which would be nice Lol. In which case ignore my post above. If they're streaming the lot then surely there's no good reason it's behind closed doors. Unless it's to keep stadium/policing costs down?
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MU muirinho 15 May 2019 · 11:12am
was some mention of trying to stream them via social media, which would be nice Lol. In which case ignore my post above. If they're streaming the lot then surely there's no good reason it's behind closed doors. Unless it's to keep stadium/policing costs down? Actually I'd say that's very likely - there's probably required staffing levels etc as soon as you let the public in. Be interesting to see what pre-season games are lined up for when they come back. so far just the one mentioned at the MS.