Reading put poor league form to one side as they beat AFC Wimbledon in EFL Cup

Reading cast aside their indifferent league form as they edged into the Carabao Cup third round with a 2-1 home win over AFC Wimbledon.

A long-range effort from Liam Fraser gave Reading the lead midway through the first half but it was quickly cancelled out by Omar Bugiel.

Home substitute Mamadi Camara struck the winner for the Royals, who lie in 23rd place in the League One table after a winless first five games, in the 70th minute.

Wimbledon, who won 2-1 at the SCL Stadium in the league 10 days ago, exerted most of the early pressure but Reading went ahead in the 24th minute.

Fraser unleashed a 30-yard piledriver out of the blue that Dons goalkeeper Joe McDonnell could only stand and watch fly in.

But Reading’s advantage proved short-lived when, two minutes later, the unmarked Bugiel nodded home at the far post from a Jake Reeves corner.

Home keeper Jack Stevens had to make saves from Junior Nkeng (twice) and Riley Harbottle to keep the tie level before McDonnell did well to palm away a looping header from Royals substitute Mark O’Mahony.

With 20 minutes left, a fine flowing move from Reading saw Andre Garcia cross hard and low from the left for Camara to tuck home from close range.