Shaun Goater bagged the opening goal in his first senior start for Reading this season, as the Royals triumphed over local rivals Oxford Utd in the second round of the Carling Cup last night.

In front of only 5,919 spectators in Utd's Kassam stadium, the 33 year old, who has up until now been forced to warm the bench for the first team and has seen only eight minutes of action as a substitute, fired his side ahead on the hour mark with an opportunistic strike after Oxford keeper Chris Tardif had parried a shot from Lloyd Owusu.

Reading then went two goals up in the 75 minute through Andy Hughes, as the hosts were caught on the break pressing for the equaliser.

Goater will be hoping that his success will convince manager Steve Coppell that he is worthy of a regular starting place, although he admittedearlier this week he thought not even a hat-trick would be enough to sway the manager at present into giving him a place in the league on Saturday.

Reading now move through to the third round where they have been drawn at home against Watford.