You'd almost think that Reading deliberately went out of the League Cup at the first round tonight. The result might have been a disgrace in theory, with Reading being well beaten by a side two divisions below them - but surely it's a blessing in disguise with no more trips to lower league opposition on the horizon for a while. The usual concentrating on the league cliché applies. Reading fielded a strong side however, which may indicate we went out to win this game. If this was really the case, like Pardew claims, then this performance from Reading was a complete disaster. The result was entirely fair - and a true reflection of Cambridge United's superiority over Reading throughout the ninety minutes.

Reading made just a couple of changes with Watson being rested and Parkinson coming into the centre of midfield. Newman continued at full back with Murty not quite ready for action, and as expected Arsenal loan player Matthew Upson made his full debut for the Royals starting in the centre of defence in place of the slightly out of form Adrian Williams. It was a sensible line-up that should have easily disposed of Cambridge United - even if Reading were playing away from home. Cambridge hardly had to raise their game though with Reading sitting back right from the start and letting the home side make all the interesting play. United enjoyed far too much possession as Reading let them attack.

A series of free-kicks won deep in the Reading half were enough to help United win the game well before the end of the first half. The first was scored on 24 minutes when a free kick was played into the box and the header was directed firmly home from the centre of the Reading area. The Reading defence appeared to be no-where and it was disappointing that United's Duncan wasn't put under more pressure when he put the ball in the net. The second United goal came with just more than five minutes of the half remaining. After another free-kick the ball was crossed and headed home at the near post. Hahnemann perhaps should have done far better with this one - and seems to be playing himself into trouble with Phil Whitehead waiting on the bench for an opportunity to regain his place in goal. Down the other end Reading were disappointing with too many long balls that Butler couldn't do anything with. A couple of times the ball was played just in front of him but he couldn't hassle the defence enough as they dealt with a weak Reading attack. Reading mustered a couple of shots well wide, but otherwise managed a few crosses that no-one managed to connect with.

At half time Reading made a triple substitution to mix things up a bit. The formation all went a bit bizzare with players all over the place. Reading's lack of pattern probably just amused Cambridge more than anything else as they continued to look the more dangerous of the two sides. With Igoe playing in the middle and Hughes at full back, for example, we must have been confused as anything. Cambridge settled it with 20 minutes left on the clock with a close range header again beating Hahnemann in the Reading goal. It was left to Arsenal's Matthew Upson to pull back a consolation goal for the Royals in the dying minutes, after he scored from close range after a cross from the right. The goal meant nothing though - apart from adding a tiny amount of respectability to a very unrespectable result.