Portsmouth 1 Reading 2: Neil Allen's verdict - Much-changed Blues suffer Carabao Cup humbling in shock Fratton Park defeat

A two-goal burst inside four first-half minutes inflicted a rare Fratton Park defeat for Pompey, yet the reasons for the humbling ran much deeper than that.

Reading hadn’t even scored in their previous two matches this season, let alone collected a point, but the League One side thoroughly deserved their 2-1 triumph.

John Mousinho had handed debuts to three players amid 10 changes for the Carabao Cup clash and his much-changed side barely created a goal-scoring opportunity until stoppage time as they struggled to impose themselves.

Academy striker Tayo Singerr netted a consolation from a corner in the 93rd minute for a memorable debut, but otherwise it was a hugely frustrating team display.

There was also a full debut for Yang Minhyeok, yet, despite looking lively and always positive, he often failed to find a way past right-back Ashqar Ahmed, while lacked an end product.

In fact, until that late Singerr goal, the Blues never suggested they could find a way back after slipping behind 2-0 after 38 minutes, following goals from Andre Garcia and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.

Certainly Jack Stevens was far too comfortable in the Royals’ goal on a surprisingly quiet evening for their visiting backline.

In mitigation, Pompey can rightly point to welcome injury returns for Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell and Hayden Matthews as auguring well for the seasons.

It shouldn’t be overlooked that, in terms of competitive action, Bowat hadn’t featured for more then 15 months, Farrell’s last outing was against Sheffield United in September 2024, while Matthews had not appeared since February.

However, in terms of the performance, it was severely lacking as Pompey suffered a first home defeat since mid-March against Plymouth.

There was Singerr’s late contribution, while Luke Le Roux looked solid enough, yet otherwise very few of those on display can come out of the defeat with any credit.

And those 14,525 present will know the defeat was far more emphatic than the scoreline suggests as Pompey are eliminated from the Carabao Cup at the first opportunity.

Only John Swift kept his place from Saturday’s Oxford United victory - and was also chosen as skipper for the occasion.

There were maiden starts for Mark Kosznovszky, Ibane Bowat and Luke Le Roux, while Yang Minhyeok was also in Mousinho’s line-up following his appearance off the bench at the Kassam Stadium.

Other starters included Ben Killip, Zak Swanson, Hayden Matthews, Jacob Farrell, Terry Devlin and Thomas Waddingham.

With Marlon Pack and Harvey Blair missing through injury, and Matt Ritchie, Tom McIntyre and Abdoulaye Kamara out of favour, the Blues’ bench was bolstered by four Academy players.

They were Michael Ini, Fraser Thomas, Tayo Singerr and Nathaniel Chioma, while first-teamers Andre Dozzell, Adrian Segecic, Florian Bianchini and Regan Poole also featured among the substitutes.

However, there was no emotional homecoming for Paddy Lane, just weeks after moving to the Royals. He wasn’t named in their squad, although former Blues loanee Mark O’Mahony was on the bench.

It was the visitors who had the first opportunity of the match when, on five minutes, Kamrai Doyle clipped in a free-kick from the right towards the far post.

It picked out Finley Burns, unmarked and charging in, but his first-time effort ballooned wide when he should have done far better.

At the other end, on 15 minutes Michael Strickland almost scored an own goal, having headed Devlin’s right-wing cross towards Reading’s net.

That was superbly saved by Jack Stevens, with Ashqar Ahmed then blocking Kosznovszky’s follow up, with Waddingham then also trying his luck, only for Stevens to save again.

It was a flurry of activity for the Blues who, until that point, hadn’t offered a lot inside the penalty area, with Reading having narrowly shaded play in the opening exchanges.

Moments later, a lovely flowing move started by Swanson the right culminated in Swift pushing the ball through to Yang, whose shot was deflected - only for the winger to be flagged offside.

The deadlock was broken on 34 minutes following really poor Pompey defending.

With Farrell out of position, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan broke down the right channel and fired in an angled shot before Matthews could block, which Killip managed to keep out.

The ball ricocheted out and Bowat was beaten to it by Doyle, only for the keeper to pull off a stunning stop to deny the Royals man.

Yet there was to be no triple save from the overworked goalkeeper, with Garcia following up at the far post to make sure on this occasion and it was 1-0.

Within four minutes it was 2-0, with Ehibhatiomhan touching the ball past Matthews as he challenged and then calmly slotting a finish past Killip.

Mousinho introduced Dozzell for Swift at half-time in a pre-planned substitution, with the former Ipswich man also donning the captain’s armband.

Attacking the Fratton End, the Blues had it all to do and, on 54 minutes, Le Roux picked up the first booking of the evening following a particularly robust challenge on Garcia as he drove up the pitch.

Pompey made a double substitution on 61 minutes with Poole and Bianchini replacing Waddingham and Bowat.

Yet still the hosts couldn’t make any inroads into the scoreline, with Reading far too comfortable.

There was another double substitution on 70 minutes with Segecic and Singerr introduced for Kosznovszky and Le Roux in a final attempt at sparking the Blues into life.

Moments later, Dozzell’s right-wing corner was met with a towering header from Farrell which flew over the bar.

There was a bizarre moment with Killip’s kick smacked against the back of Reading substitute O’Mahony, only for the keeper to catch it outside the box.

However, for reasons unclear, referee Farai Hallam awarded a free-kick to Pompey, having been alerted to his linesman flagging.

With the match having entered its final 10 minutes, Killip raced off his line to brilliantly block Daniel Kyerewaa as he broke through.

In the 93rd minute, Singerr made it 2-1 with a glancing header but it was too little, too late as Pompey exited the Carabao Cup.