Reading earned a hard-fought victory over Peterborough to book their place in the third round of the League Cup.

Paul Taylor's shot put Posh ahead but Pavel Pogrebnyak equalised with a scrambled goal.

Lee Tomlin's effort from a tight angle put Peterborough back in front only for Reading to again level through a Chris Gunter effort.

And Nathaniel Knight-Percival then put Danny Guthrie's cross into his own net to put the Championship side out.

Clearly taking the competition seriously, Reading fielded the same side that had led at Chelsea in their last Premier League outing, but they found themselves behind when Paul Taylor fired in a shot from the edge of the box.

The goal signalled the start of a frantic period of four goals in seven minutes.

Pogrebnyak levelled as he managed a shot while on the ground only for Tomlin to stab in a shot and put Peterborough back in front.

The Royals were quickly level again as a cross from Gunter evaded everyone and ended up in the net and the winner was similarly scrappy as Knight-Percival could only find his own net from Guthrie's centre.

Reading manager Brian McDermott:

"Open's a good way to describe that game - kamikaze if you like.

"It's fair to say that without the ball we didn't do as well as we normally do. With the ball, at times we were very good.

"You have to give Peterborough credit because they had good players who pass the ball. They caused us problems.

"We know that as a team we need to be better with the ball, but we're pleased to be in the next round."

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson:

"From an attacking point of view we played some good stuff. We caused them problems.

"But the goals we conceded were really poor. We should have entered half-time ahead; instead we were behind.

"We were unfortunate not to get something out of the game. It's a disappointing result and the goals we conceded were disappointing.

"It's another game lost, but I don't want us to be known as a good footballing team that loses games."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (4)

Reading

  • 01 Federici
  • 02 Gunter
  • 05 Pearce
  • 17 Gorkss
  • 23 Harte
  • 04 Karacan (Tabb - 72' )
  • 08 Leigertwood
  • 11 McAnuff
  • 20 Guthrie
  • 07 Pogrebniak
  • 12 McCleary (Hunt - 62' )

Substitutes

  • 21 McCarthy
  • 03 Shorey
  • 06 Mariappa
  • 24 Cummings
  • 16 Tabb
  • 09 Le Fondre
  • 10 Hunt

Peterborough United

  • 01 Olejnik
  • 04 Brisley (Newell - 26' )
  • 19 Little
  • 24 Ntlhe (Sinclair - 83' )
  • 06 Bostwick
  • 07 Swanson Booked
  • 11 McCann
  • 20 Knight-Percival
  • 08 Tomlin
  • 10 Boyd
  • 26 Taylor

Substitutes

  • 13 Day
  • 30 Michael Richens
  • 17 Newell
  • 25 Grant
  • 12 Sinclair
  • 22 Clarke-Harris
  • 28 Gordon-Hutton
Ref: D'Urso
Att: 7,262

Match Stats

Shots

18 17

On target

9 11

Corners

11 8

Fouls

11 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:14 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +2:59

Danny Guthrie has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

86:27

Danny Swanson takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici. Inswinging corner taken by Grant McCann.

90:00 +1:30

Michael Bostwick takes a shot. Jay Tabb gets a block in. Corner taken by Grant McCann from the left by-line.

90:00 +1:04

Corner taken by Grant McCann.

90:00 +0:48

Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Noel Hunt gets a block in.

90:00 +0:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Emile Sinclair by Ian Harte. Grant McCann takes the direct free kick.

89:00

Jobi McAnuff takes a shot. Michael Bostwick gets a block in. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Grant McCann by Jobi McAnuff. Direct free kick taken by Robert Olejnik.

87:43

Noel Hunt takes a shot. Save made by Robert Olejnik.

86:27

Danny Swanson takes a shot. Adam Federici makes a save. Jobi McAnuff takes a inswinging corner.

85:38

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Grant McCann by Pavel Pogrebnyak. George Boyd restarts play with the free kick.

84:48

George Boyd fouled by Danny Guthrie, the ref awards a free kick. George Boyd restarts play with the free kick.

83:24

Corner taken by Grant McCann, Danny Swanson produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.

82:20 Substitution

Substitution Emile Sinclair replaces Kgosi Ntlhe.

81:03

Danny Guthrie delivers the ball, save made by Robert Olejnik.

80:25

The official flags Lee Tomlin offside. Adam Federici restarts play with the free kick.

79:02

Noel Hunt fouled by Lee Tomlin, the ref awards a free kick. Adam Federici restarts play with the free kick.

77:18

Danny Guthrie takes a shot. Robert Olejnik makes a save.

73:31

Mark Little crosses the ball, Ian Harte gets a block in. Grant McCann takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Pavel Pogrebnyak.

72:14

Michael Bostwick gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Noel Hunt. Free kick taken by Danny Guthrie.

71:22 Substitution

Substitution Jay Tabb replaces Jem Karacan.

70:22

Danny Swanson fouled by Mikele Leigertwood, the ref awards a free kick. Grant McCann has an effort direct from the free kick.

69:29

Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Kaspars Gorkss gets a block in.

68:07

Mark Little produces a cross, George Boyd has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

67:14

Noel Hunt crosses the ball, Kgosi Ntlhe manages to make a clearance. Ian Harte takes the inswinging corner, Robert Olejnik makes a save.

65:13

Unfair challenge on Ian Harte by Paul Taylor results in a free kick. Mikele Leigertwood takes the direct free kick.

64:04

The referee blows for offside. Michael Bostwick takes the direct free kick.

63:13

Jobi McAnuff takes a shot. Save by Robert Olejnik.

62:38

Foul by Michael Bostwick on Danny Guthrie, free kick awarded. Ian Harte restarts play with the free kick.

60:43 Substitution

Substitution Noel Hunt is brought on as a substitute for Garath McCleary.

60:43 Booking

Booking Danny Swanson goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

60:25

Danny Swanson concedes a free kick for a foul on Pavel Pogrebnyak. Direct free kick taken by Ian Harte.

58:48

Corner taken by Grant McCann from the left by-line, clearance made by Ian Harte.

58:10

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on George Boyd by Kaspars Gorkss. Grant McCann restarts play with the free kick.

56:55

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kaspars Gorkss by Lee Tomlin. Jem Karacan takes the free kick.

55:57

Garath McCleary fouled by Joe Newell, the ref awards a free kick. Adam Federici takes the free kick.

52:24

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Nathaniel Knight-Percival.

51:19

Mikele Leigertwood takes a shot from long range which goes wide of the right-hand post.

50:50

Centre by Joe Newell, clearance made by Kaspars Gorkss.

48:32

Kaspars Gorkss challenges Lee Tomlin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Grant McCann.

47:56

The ball is sent over by Jobi McAnuff.

47:03

The ball is swung over by Danny Guthrie, Mark Little makes a clearance.

45:01

The second half begins.

37:56 Goal scored

Goal - Nathaniel Knight-Percival - Reading 3 - 2 Peterboro Own goal by Nathaniel Knight-Percival. Reading 3-2 Peterborough.

37:56

Garath McCleary takes a shot.

45:00 +2:37 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +2:01

A cross is delivered by Chris Gunter, Mark Little makes a clearance. Corner taken by Danny Guthrie.

45:00 +0:34

Mark Little takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.

44:02

Corner taken by Grant McCann played to the near post, clearance made by Pavel Pogrebnyak.

42:35

The assistant referee flags for offside against Lee Tomlin. Adam Federici takes the indirect free kick.

41:54

Danny Guthrie takes a shot. Save by Robert Olejnik.

40:32

Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Ian Harte gets a block in. Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.

39:43

Foul by Kaspars Gorkss on Danny Swanson, free kick awarded. George Boyd takes the free kick.

37:56

Assist by Garath McCleary. Nathaniel Knight-Percival gets a block in.

37:56

Danny Guthrie provided the assist for the goal.

37:56 Goal scored

Goal - Garath McCleary - Reading 3 - 2 Peterboro Garath McCleary grabs a headed goal from inside the box. Reading 3-2 Peterborough.

37:13

Grant McCann takes a shot from a long way out which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

35:41

A cross is delivered by Joe Newell, Kaspars Gorkss manages to make a clearance.

33:53

Mikele Leigertwood takes a shot. Nathaniel Knight-Percival gets a block in.

33:17

Chris Gunter sends in a cross.

32:54

Michael Bostwick gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Pavel Pogrebnyak. Ian Harte takes the direct free kick.

32:20

A cross is delivered by Mark Little, George Boyd takes a shot. Comfortable save by Adam Federici.

32:05

Alex Pearce gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Tomlin. Grant McCann takes the free kick.

30:02

Pavel Pogrebnyak is ruled offside. Nathaniel Knight-Percival takes the indirect free kick.

29:31

Effort from outside the penalty area by Kaspars Gorkss goes wide left of the goal.

27:56

Ian Harte fouled by Paul Taylor, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ian Harte.

25:37 Substitution

Substitution Joe Newell replaces Shaun Brisley.

25:19

Pavel Pogrebnyak produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

24:13

Garath McCleary takes a shot. Nathaniel Knight-Percival gets a block in. Corner taken left-footed by Ian Harte to the near post, clearance by Grant McCann. Corner taken by Ian Harte.

23:52

A cross is delivered by George Boyd, clearance by Jem Karacan.

23:03

Pavel Pogrebnyak produces a right-footed shot from inside the area and hits the post.

22:10

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kgosi Ntlhe by Jobi McAnuff. Kgosi Ntlhe restarts play with the free kick.

21:12

Grant McCann sends in a cross.

20:05

The ball is delivered by Ian Harte, clearance made by Shaun Brisley.

19:10

Pavel Pogrebnyak gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Swanson. Free kick taken by Grant McCann. George Boyd takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.

18:18 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Gunter - Reading 2 - 2 Peterboro Chris Gunter finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Reading 2-2 Peterborough.

16:36 Goal scored

Goal - Lee Tomlin - Reading 1 - 2 Peterboro Lee Tomlin fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Reading 1-2 Peterborough.

15:06

Assist on the goal came from Chris Gunter.

15:06 Goal scored

Goal - Pavel Pogrebnyak - Reading 1 - 1 Peterboro Pavel Pogrebnyak scores a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Reading 1-1 Peterborough.

12:59

The ball is crossed by Chris Gunter, Nathaniel Knight-Percival makes a clearance. Corner taken by Ian Harte from the right by-line, Shot on goal by Kaspars Gorkss from just inside the area goes over the target. Corner taken left-footed by Ian Harte from the right by-line, save made by Robert Olejnik. Corner taken by Garath McCleary from the left by-line.

11:36

Michael Bostwick provided the assist for the goal.

11:36 Goal scored

Goal - Paul Taylor - Reading 0 - 1 Peterboro Goal scored by Paul Taylor from just outside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Reading 0-1 Peterborough.

11:19

Shot from just outside the box by Lee Tomlin misses to the left of the target.

10:14

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ian Harte, Headed effort from inside the area by Kaspars Gorkss misses to the right of the target.

9:44

Shaun Brisley concedes a free kick for a foul on Pavel Pogrebnyak. Free kick taken by Ian Harte.

9:17

Danny Swanson is ruled offside. Adam Federici takes the indirect free kick.

8:28

Shot by Pavel Pogrebnyak from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

4:18

George Boyd produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal. Grant McCann takes a inswinging corner.

1:51

Inswinging corner taken by Garath McCleary, Paul Taylor manages to make a clearance. Corner taken by Ian Harte from the right by-line to the near post, Grant McCann manages to make a clearance.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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