Reading – Mansfield Town

Reading turned their home ground into a fortress, thrashing Mansfield Town 5‑0 and cementing their 14th‑place position with seven points from five games. The victory boosted their goal difference to +5 (12 scored, seven conceded), widening the gap over Mansfield, who sit 17th with the same points but a -3 deficit (eight for, eleven against). The result also settled the season’s head‑to‑head between the two clubs, giving Reading the sole win in their three meetings. With two wins, a draw and two losses, Reading now sit just three points above the relegation‑watch zone, while Mansfield’s three defeats keep them entrenched in the lower half of the table.