Match ends, Reading 3, Luton Town 0.
Reading 3-0 Luton Town: Mark Bowen continues Royals' resurgence with third win in four
- From the section Championship
Reading continued their resurgence under new manager Mark Bowen as they easily beat Luton Town.
Michael Morrison headed the Royals on their way to a third win in four games when he powered in a John Swift corner.
Ovie Ejaria doubled their lead when he cut in from left wing before curling a shot just inside the post from the edge of the box.
Reading made the points secure when substitute Garath McCleary pounced on an Alan Sheehan error inside his own half for a cool finish in the closing stages.
For the first time since April 2017, Reading recorded a third straight home win to stretch Bowen's unbeaten start to four games since he replaced Jose Gomes in October.
Luton, meanwhile, continue to struggle and slipped to a fourth defeat in a row to leave them just a point above the relegation zone.
The Hatters were blunt in attack and rarely threatened Rafael Cabral in the hosts' goal after Martin Cranie failed to capitalise on being left unmarked from an early Jacob Butterfield free-kick.
Reading arguably should have won more comfortably as Sam Baldock saw a strong first-half shot palmed away by James Shea and Swift fired over a glorious chance early in the second period.
Reading manager Mark Bowen told BBC Radio Berkshire:
"There's two sides to this game - when you have the ball and when you haven't got it.
"Since taking charge, we've been banging into the lads the importance of getting the ugly side of the game done and if we do that well, our quality will take over.
"That's what happened today and we made sure we got on top early on. To a man - the players did a fabulous job today."
Luton boss Graeme Jones told BBC 3CR:
"It's very, very disappointing. I think we got outclassed, outplayed and outfought. Today wasn't good enough - nobody needs to tell me. Last week we were short and this week we were short.
"I've seen every one of our players play Championship football and I know our capabilities, I know what the league is and I'm very clear about where we are and what has to be done.
"When you get one shot on target, it defines where you are. Previously we've always been a threat, today we weren't.
"Every individual needs to take responsibility, me included, and we need to do something about it because we've got a really heavy period coming up and that's why the players are in tomorrow - there's no hiding place for anybody."
Line-ups
Reading
- 33Cabral Barbosa
- 5Miazga
- 4Morrison
- 6Moore
- 17Yiadom
- 10Swift
- 8Rinomhota
- 14EjariaSubstituted forMcClearyat 64'minutes
- 27Richards
- 9BaldockSubstituted forLoaderat 80'minutes
- 47PuscasSubstituted forMeiteat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Walker
- 12McCleary
- 15Loader
- 19Meite
- 22Howe
- 24Blackett
- 29Tuncará Gomes
Luton
- 36Shea
- 22BoltonBooked at 25minsSubstituted forSheehanat 45'minutes
- 6Pearson
- 28Jones
- 3Potts
- 2Cranie
- 4Tunnicliffe
- 29ButterfieldSubstituted forLuaLuaat 69'minutes
- 19Collins
- 14CornickSubstituted forShinnieat 58'minutes
- 7McManaman
Substitutes
- 10Lee
- 11Shinnie
- 12Sluga
- 17Mpanzu
- 25LuaLua
- 26Bree
- 44Sheehan
- Referee:
- Andy Woolmer
- Attendance:
- 15,251
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamLuton
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away1
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away13
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 3, Luton Town 0.
Foul by Dan Potts (Luton Town).
Michael Morrison (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Dan Potts (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Andy Yiadom (Reading).
Attempt missed. Garath McCleary (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Danny Loader.
Attempt saved. Garath McCleary (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt blocked. Yakou Meite (Reading) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Garath McCleary.
Martin Cranie (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Omar Richards (Reading).
Lloyd Jones (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Danny Loader (Reading).
Attempt blocked. Yakou Meite (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Garath McCleary.
Foul by Kazenga LuaLua (Luton Town).
John Swift (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Andrew Shinnie (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Andy Rinomhota (Reading).
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Danny Loader replaces Sam Baldock.
Goal!
Goal! Reading 3, Luton Town 0. Garath McCleary (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Omar Richards.
Foul by Lloyd Jones (Luton Town).
Yakou Meite (Reading) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Yakou Meite replaces George Puscas.
Substitution
Substitution, Luton Town. Kazenga LuaLua replaces Jacob Butterfield.
Attempt missed. Omar Richards (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Andy Yiadom.
Attempt saved. George Puscas (Reading) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Omar Richards.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Andy Rinomhota.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Garath McCleary replaces Ovie Ejaria.
Foul by Jacob Butterfield (Luton Town).
John Swift (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Matt Miazga (Reading).
James Collins (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Luton Town. Andrew Shinnie replaces Harry Cornick.
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Matty Pearson.
Sam Baldock (Reading) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by James Collins (Luton Town).
George Puscas (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Matty Pearson (Luton Town).
Foul by John Swift (Reading).
