Oli Hawkins on the mark in Portsmouth friendly defeat at Reading
Pompey today stepped up preparations for the League One play-offs with a fixture at Reading.
Kenny Jackett’s side lost 3-1 in this afternoon’s behind-closed-doors match which represented their first friendly of the summer.
Oli Hawkins netted the Blues’ consolation in the Madejski Stadium encounter with the Championship side.
A total of 23 players were employed by Jackett as he sought to involve the first-team squad available to him.
Reading headed into the interval with a 2-0 lead, through goals from Lucas Joao and Omar Richards.
Hawkins reduced the deficit, only for Michael Olise to seal a 3-1 win for the hosts late on.
Pompey’s play-off semi-final first leg against Oxford United kicks off on July 3 at Fratton Park.