Goater rounds off Pardew's perfect day rounded

Reading 3 Nottingham Forest

It may only be the second week of the Nationwide League but neither manager in this contest between last season's losing First Division play-off semi-finalists was losing any time in getting the high praise - or sharp criticism - in early.

Reading's manager, Alan Pardew, was quick to quote his kit-man Ron Grant, who felt this romp was the best performance by the Berkshire side in his long time with the club. Meanwhile Paul Hart's face soured almost as he spoke afterwards of what he called: "Probably the worst second-half performance in my time here." Hart has been in charge at Nottingham Forest for three years and in that time they have captured many neutrals' imagination with their neat passing and occasionally incisive finishing. They lost to Sheffield United in a pulsating play-off semi-final last May but were so insipid here after they had gone two goals down it suggested the players are still not over that particular setback.

Reading were not fancied last year to beat Wolves in their play-off and duly lost out but now find themselves in the unusual position of being among the favourites to go up this season. They have had a tough start, on paper, to the new campaign but have hit the ground running. They should have beaten Ipswich last week but only drew and deserved to run away with the three points here after enduring difficult times early in the first half.

Neither Forest nor Reading have added that much to their squad this summer, which meant much would boil down to tactics. Once Pardew countered Hart's formation by bringing on a substitute, Kevin Watson, after 28 minutes the game went in the Royals' favour.

Pardew said that "an electric spell just before the break and just after" killed off Forest, and he was right. Watson's corner to the impressive Steve Sidwell saw the midfielder volley home from 25 yards, although a deflection did help. The home side should have been one up by then, as Nicky Shorey missed a first-half penalty for a foul by Darren Ward, but that was long forgotten as Watson's pass then found Scott Murray and the new boy drove his shot under Ward on his home debut. Shorey, however, has been relieved of his spot-kick duties, after also missing a pre-season effort.

Murray's fellow new boy, Shaun Goater, did not want to miss out on the fun after having a goal disallowed for offside. The Bermudan rounded off a perfect day for the Royals with a first goal for his new club on his home debut after a £500,000 summer move from Manchester City. Nick Forster slipped him the ball 11 minutes from time and 'The Goat' did exactly what he does best.

Reading 3 Nottingham Forest 0
Sidwell 49, Murray 59, Goater 79

Half-time: 0-0 Attendance: 16,833