Portsmouth secured an emphatic 4-0 pre-season victory against League One Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, with Colby Bishop netting twice alongside goals from Jordan Williams and Callum Lang.
The Blues continued their perfect pre-season record with a dominant display in front of 1,280 travelling supporters, as manager John Mousinho’s side extended their winning streak in preparation for the upcoming Championship campaign.
Portsmouth struck first after just four minutes when Jordan Williams made a penetrating run through the centre to latch onto Marlon Pack’s through ball, slotting home with composure to give the visitors an early advantage.
The away side maintained their attacking momentum throughout the opening period, with Callum Lang doubling their lead on 23 minutes. The striker, making his first pre-season appearance following recovery from a hamstring injury, fired home from close range after Josh Murphy delivered a dangerous cross into the Reading penalty area.
Nicolas Schmid was called into action briefly for Portsmouth, dealing comfortably with a goalmouth scramble, whilst most of the action remained concentrated in Reading’s defensive third.
Colby Bishop opened his pre-season account in stoppage time of the first half, capitalising on defensive confusion to bundle the ball home from close range when Reading failed to clear Lang’s cross effectively, sending Pompey into the interval with a commanding 3-0 advantage.
Mousinho made a single substitution at the break, introducing summer signing John Swift for Lang, with Adrian Segečić shifting to the right wing to accommodate the tactical change.
Reading attempted to respond more positively after the restart, with Williams well-positioned to block Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s effort as the hosts sought to reduce the deficit.
However, Bishop completed his brace on 56 minutes, meeting another Murphy cross with a first-time finish that proved too powerful for goalkeeper Joel Pereira to keep out, despite the keeper getting a hand to the effort.
The final half-hour saw extensive changes as Mousinho utilised his squad, with Ibane Bowat making a welcome return to action after a lengthy injury layoff. The defender, alongside Jacob Farrell, Paddy Lane, and Thomas Waddingham, was introduced just before the hour mark.
Further substitutions followed on 70 minutes, with Hayden Matthews, Zak Swanson, Terry Devlin, and trialist Nathan Ferguson all entering the contest, followed shortly by Harry Clout.
Portsmouth continued to press for additional goals in the closing stages, with Swift going close with a curling effort from the edge of the penalty area, whilst Waddingham saw his late attempt saved by Pereira before Swift’s follow-up was also kept out.
Recent acquisitions Márk Kosznovszky and Luke Le Roux observed from the stands following their signings the previous day, both awaiting work permit clearance before making their debuts.
The comprehensive victory maintains Portsmouth’s perfect pre-season record as they continue their preparations for their return to Championship football, with the performance providing further encouragement ahead of the new campaign.
Reading (4-3-3): Pereira; Abrefa (Ahmed 82), Burns (Ryan 88), O’Connor, Jacob (Dorsett 63); Elliott (Camará 63), Wing (c), Savage; Garcia (Kyerewaa 63), O’Mahony (Okine-Peters 82), Ehibhatiomhan (Sackey 75)
Booked: Savage
Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): Schmid; Williams (Ferguson 70), Poole (Matthews 70), Shaughnessy (Bowat 59), Ogilvie (Farrell 59); Pack (c) (Swanson 70), Dozzell (Devlin 70); Lang (Swift 46), Segečić (Clout 75), Murphy (Lane 59), Bishop (Waddingham 59)
Goals: Williams 4, Lang 23, Bishop 45+2, 56
Booked: Swanson
Referee: Gavin Ward
Attendance: 3,954 (1,280 Portsmouth)
