James Earnshaw

'Today it did not work' Reading boss on Eastleigh cup shock and team selection

Starting the more positive of the two sides, it looked as though the hosts struggled to keep up with the tempo of the League One outfit. Femi Azeez had the first chance of the game but fired his effort high over the crossbar. Former Royal Jake Taylor had the game’s first shot on target, spinning and volleying into the arms of Joel Pereira. As has become the norm, play was stopped in the 16th minute as hundreds of tennis balls rained onto the pitch from the 1,500 away supporters in protest against owner Dai Yongge. Within three minutes of the restart, the hosts had put their noses in front. Ben Elliott lost possession and was beaten for pace and skill by former Notts County favourite Enzio Boldewijn. Scott Quigley delivered a low ball across the box and McCallum was lingering with intent at the back post, stabbing the ball past Pereira. The Spitfires had their tails up and Reading failed to create anything of note going forward. McCallum thought he had doubled the advantage with a header at the back post, but the linesman ruled his effort out as offside to spare the Royal blushes. It should have been out of sight in stoppage time as Quigley was fed through one-versus-one. Baring down on goal, Pereira stayed on his feet and managed to block the effort with a strong foot to repel the latest attempt on goal.

Reading boss Ruben Selles has rung the changes for this afternoon’s FA Cup second-round tie against non-league outfit Eastleigh, making eight changes.

Reading aim to avoid an FA Cup upset at non-league Eastleigh in the FA Cup second round. On the back of successive League One wins, a sold-out away contingent are travelling the short journey to the south coast hoping to make it to round three.

Reading boss Ruben Selles is not happy with the decision to only partially pay staff on time while paying players in full after cashflow issues. News broke on Thursday that efforts to solve financial issues ahead of payday had not come to fruition and that there was to be a shortfall.

Reading fans have raised over £500 in less than a day to help staff after it was revealed that they were not paid in full and on time. Cash flow problems continue to hamper the club and in order to avoid more points deductions, the decision was made to pay the playing staff in full but only part-pay the off-field workers. Proving controversial, even the Reading boss Ruben Selles has labelled it 'morally wrong' as he awaits payment.

Bristol Rovers have confirmed former Rotherham United manager Matt Taylor as Joey Barton's successor in the hotseat. Barton was dismissed last month with the Pirates in the bottom half of League One, with his assistant Andy Mangan stepping up as interim.

Reading's 5-1 win over Carlisle United on Tuesday has altered the Royals' placing in the latest supercomputer, with the club now fancied to survive in League One.

Reading boss Ruben Selles is looking forward to the upcoming busy festive schedule, with the club facing eight fixtures in the next 30 days. Winning successive matches against Wycombe Wanderers and Carlisle United, the Royals are no longer at bottom of the League One and are just five points adrift of safety.

Reading fan group 'Sell Before We Dai' are set to protest against owner Dai Yongge at Sunday's FA Cup clash with Eastleigh following news that staff have not been paid on time this month.