Reading secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Charlton Athletic in a club friendly on Friday evening at the Madejski Stadium. The match, played on August 1st as part of pre-season preparations, went entirely in the hosts' favour. By then, Reading had already established the pattern they've been building throughout their summer campaign.
The opening goal arrived in the forty-fourth minute, giving the home side a lead they would not relinquish. To be fair, the build-up reflected the confidence Reading have shown in recent weeks. The visitors struggled to find any rhythm in their own half.
A second goal came in the seventy-first minute, effectively closing the contest. And here's the thing about friendlies like this — the scoreline rarely tells the full story, but Reading's dominance was evident in how they controlled territory. Charlton never really got out of second gear, and that showed in the final result.
Neither side received a card throughout the ninety minutes, suggesting a match played within sensible boundaries from start to finish. No red cards, no yellow cards — just straightforward football from both camps.
Reading have now won four of their last five friendlies, with results including a 4-0 victory over Newport County and a 1-0 win against Crawley Town. Charlton's recent form has been more uneven, with losses to Wimbledon and Folkestone Invicta among their defeats.
The result keeps Reading's unbeaten run intact through this pre-season window. For Charlton, it extends a streak of results they would rather forget. The final score tells you everything you need to know about whose preparations are on track.