Reading lost their third pre-season friendly 2-4 to a strong Southampton side in front of 6,000 supporters at the SCL Stadium.

More than 2,500 travelling supporters made a racket as the Hampshire side had the first chance to see their side ahead of their first Championship campaign in over a decade- contributing to almost 50 per cent of the total turnout.

Newly relegated Saints, under new boss Russell Martin, were a cut above their League One counterparts with the likes of Tino Livramento and James Ward-Prowse in their starting side.

It took just 90 seconds to take the lead through Jan Bednarek at a corner and it was two before the 10-minute mark as England star Ward-Prowse tucked home a Nathan Tella cross from close-range.

Chasing shadows for most of the game, there was a positive moment as new recruits Sam Smith and Harvey Knibbs linked up to score the first goal of the pre-season campaign.

Tella hit the crossbar in a Saints dominated half, and it took just five minutes after the restart for the visitors to extend their lead through Adam Armstrong.

An entertaining spectacle for a friendly, Femi Azeez should have pulled one back shortly after as he found himself one-versus-one with Gavin Bazunu in the net- only to find the outstretched leg of the keeper.

Ruben Selles, in charge of his first match on home soil, wrung the changes throughout as three trialists remained on the bench along with Academy graduates aplenty.

Jokull Andresson made plenty of strong changes as the visitors continued to press their domination. Both Armstrong and Sam Edozie were kept out by the Icelander as the minutes ticked away.

There was little he could do with Joe Aribo’s strike though with 15 minutes remaining, tucking home a cross from the right inside the six yard box to add his side’s fourth of the afternoon.

Trialist Olamide Shodipo pulled back a late consolation to give the supporters something to cheer in the second half.

Queen's Park Rangers visit Berkshire on Tuesday for another warm-up game before Swansea City bring the curtain down on pre-season next Saturday.