United visited Reading for the first time since 1982 as they continued their League One campaign.

Manager Paul Simpson made two changes from the side that drew with Charlton Athletic, with Joe Garner returning from suspension to take a place in the starting line-up. Jack Robinson also came into the eleven, with Sean Maguire and Corey Whelan dropping to the bench.

Alfie McCalmont also returned to the squad and was named among the substitutes after completing his three-match suspension.

And it was United who started brightly and applied much of the early pressure. Indeed, the visitors had the first half-chance of the evening when Jordan Gibson pinched possession and looked to catch opposition stopper David Button off his line from halfway – but the forward couldn’t get the desired connection on the strike.

Carlisle were then forced into an early change with Luke Plange entering the fray after Garner was forced off through injury.

That could have rocked the Cumbrians, but they continued to ask questions of the Reading backline with good pressure from Plange and Jon Mellish earning the visitors a corner.

But it was that set piece that led to Reading’s first real opening of the game. Harvey Knibbs led the charge in a rapid counter-attack before slipping in Femi Azeez who prodded wide from 10 yards under close attention from Dylan McGeouch.

That buoyed the Royals and Azeez would then turn provider as his dinked cross into Sam Smith, whose header had to be deflected behind by the well-placed Sam Lavelle.

Chances were starting to flow – with Owen Moxon sending a first-time strike from 20 yards skidding narrowly wide of the post for United and Azeez blazing over from a similar distance at the other end.

And as the game opened up it was no surprise that a breakthrough came on 26 minutes. It was the hosts who struck first, with Jeriel Dorsett racing onto a ball on the left-side of the penalty area before his low cross was deflected into his own net by Lavelle.

But United reacted in the perfect fashion and ensured that the Royals’ lead would last just three minutes.

McGeouch sprayed a ball out to the left flank to find Jack Robinson who delivered the most tempting of crosses which was met on the volley by Plange, with the striker finishing in style as he cushioned his strike into the roof of the net from six yards out.

Another twist would come shortly after though, as Reading re-took the lead. United appealed strongly for handball as Azeez broke down the right flank, with his centre eventually bundled home on the line by Knibbs.

And the Reading forward would net his second and his side’s third just seven minutes later. After the hosts pinched possession high up the pitch, Lewis Wing’s clever reverse pass found Knibbs in space and his low strike from the edge of the area found the bottom corner.

Tomas Holy was called into action to stop Ruben Selles’ side extending their lead as he got down to hold Wing’s long-range drive before denying Smith from a tight angle.

But the Cumbrians finished the half strongly and had chances to reduce the deficit before the break. McGeouch kept a corner alive with his cross headed into the arms of Button by Jack Armer while Robinson’s half-volley from 18 yards was also held by the home stopper.

Ryan Edmondson was introduced at half-time as Carlisle looked to find a route back into the game and they had a chance to pull a goal back within three minutes of the restart. Armer’s cross wasn’t fully cleared and Plange was able to tee-up Moxon who fired wide from 22 yards.

The visitors were dominant and moments after Edmondson saw a header hacked off the line following Moxon’s corner, Button had to come out to deny Plange after he spun on and fired at goal after finding space in the area.

Armer was the next to threaten as he took down a clearance before his drilled effort from range was comfortably held by the home ‘keeper.

United continued to show plenty of endeavour as they sought a crucial goal, but clear-cut chances were few and far between despite plenty of possession in Reading’s half.

And with their first real chance of the half, the Royals made it four. Wing was found in space and swept home a fine first-time strike from 25 yards out.

And Azeez would add a fifth in the final ten minutes of the evening as he latched onto Ben Elliott’s long ball and advanced into the area before powering his strike home - in what proved to be the final action of note.

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Goals

Reading – Lavelle og (26), Knibbs (32, 39), Wing (77), Azeex (83)

Carlisle United – Plange (29)

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Bookings

Reading - Dorsett (54)

Carlisle United – Armer (33)

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Teams

Reading – Button, Knibbs, Smith (Ehibhatiomhan 84), Azeez, Mukairu (Elliott 74), Yiadom (Holmes 86), Dorsett (Mbengue 74), Bindon, Wing, Abbey, Craig (Savage 84). Subs: Pereira, Carson

Carlisle United – Holy, Armer (Butterworth 73), Moxon, Lavelle, Gibson (Maguire 81), Garner (Plange 10), Robinson, McGeouch (Edmondson 46), Mellish (McCalmont 81), Barclay, Emannuel. Subs: Breeze, Whelan

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Match officials

Referee – Charles Breakspear

Assistant Referee 1 – Joseph Stokes

Assistant Referee 2 – David Harrison

Fourth Official – Stephen Brown

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Attendance – 8,455 (556 away fans)