Peterborough United were outclassed and humiliated as they lost in the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in 21 years
Peterborough United were outclassed and humiliated as they suffered their first FA Cup first round exit for 21 years at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday night.
The gulf in quality, speed, tactical awareness and defensive strength was frightening. Reading won 5-0 as the Savage derby turned into a miserable experience for the Posh boss, whose son Charlie was among the scorers.
Reading cut through the Posh defence at will to score three times before the break with substitute Jamie Read helping himself to two simple finishes in the final 15 minutes.
Posh were dreadful. Any confidence they started the game with was soon sucked out of them. They adopted a strange defensive formation for the first-half and suffered, particularly down the right side where teenagers Lucca Mendonca and Bolu Shofowoke appeared lost.
That malaise spread to the rest of the side well before the end. Huge spaces opened up which a pretty slick Reading team ruthlessly punished.
As expected Posh went strong, by their own modest standards, with Matty Garbett and Sam Hughes starting. Posh fielded three centre-backs as Mendonca and Tom O’Connor were also selected.
Midfielder Brandon Khela was back in midfield in place of Liam Kelly. Injury victim Carl Johnston and winger Vernon Masara were missing from the last Posh starting line-up. Academy left back Nathaniel Joseph was on the nine-man substitutes’ bench, but senior players Declan Frith, David Okagbue and Evan Weir were not.
To the delight of many, in particular of TNT Sports, Savage Junior made the Reading starting line-up to do battle against the team managed by his father.
Former Posh stars Jack Marriott and Josh Knight also started.
Mendonca, a centre-back in fine form, played wide-ish on the right. It also turned into a back three at times, but whatever it was it was ripped open by the pace and fluidity of a slick Reading side, one blessed with tremendous pace up front.
Posh did enjoy some moments on the ball in the first-half, but all the clear chances arrived at the other end, and three of them were converted before the break, after Knight had headed against the crossbar from a corner.
Savage almost wrote the headlines early on, but fired wide when well placed on 13 minutes, just before Knight nodded a deep corner against the crossbar.
Posh had their best moment just before the floodgates opened when a deep cross from Harley Mills was nodded back across goal by Tom O’Connor only for Paudie O’Connor to nip in front of Mendonca to clear.
That was as good as it got though.
Some dozy defending at a throw in enabled Daniel Kyerewaa to strike into the corner of the net from the edge of the area with the help of a nick off O’Connor on 26 minutes.
On 35 minutes Hayden Roberts was given all the time he required to deliver a perfect cross for the equally unattended Marriott to nod home from close range and in added time Savage claimed his goal with a fine finish from the edge of the penalty area after Reading punished some loose play by Harry Ashfield.
The second half was a predictably miserable affair for the home side as Posh lacked the guile or strength to force a way back into the game. Two substitutions were made at the break and three more quickly followed, but if anything Posh shrunk in stature as well as quality and became even worse.
Reading were subdued themselves, preserving themselves for the far greater challenges ahead, until Reid was given a ridiculous amount of time and space to first lob Alex Bass and then slot past him four minutes later.
The only response from Posh was a low shot from Brandon Khela that forced visiting ‘keeper Joel Pereira into a decent save.
The cheers that followed were of the ironic kind. Thank goodness there were relatively few fans present and thank goodness there were no league points at stake, but anyone who thinks this team is capable of finishing in the top 10 should seek urgent help.
Posh: Alex Bass, Harley Mills, Lucca Mendonca (sub James Dornelly, 46 mins) , Sam Hughes (sub Josh Feeney, 60 mins), Tom O’Connor, Brandon Khela, Harry Ashfield (sub Liam Kelly, 46 mins), Ethan Williams (sub Vernon Masara, 46 mins), Bolu Shofowoke, Matt Garbett (sub Danny Ormerod, 55 mins), Harry Leonard.
Unused subs: Collin Andeng-Ndi, Harrison Jones, Josh Feeney, Pat Sykut, Nathaniel Joseph
Reading: Joel Pereira, Udoka Godwin-Malife (sub Ashqar Ahmed, 46 mins), Andy Rinomhota, Haydon Roberts, Liam Fraser, Charlie Savage, Josh Knight (sub Conor Masterson, 76 mins), Paudie O’Connor, Daniel Kyerewaa (sub Emmanuel Osho, 76 mins), Kyreece Lisbie (sub Randell Williams, 55 mins), Jack Marriott (sub Jamie Reid, 55 mins).
Unused subs: Jack Stevens, Lewis Wing, Sean Patton, Josh Stokes,
Reading goals: Kyerewaa (26 mins), Marriott (35 mins), Savage (45 + 4 mins), Reid (72 mins & 76 mins).
Posh cautions: Williams (foul), Mills (foul), Khela (foul), Kelly (foul).
Reading cautions: Kyerewaa (foul), Ahmed (46 mins).
Referee: Dean Whitestone 6
Attendance: 4,003 (361 Reading).