MK Dons vs Reading
Pre-season friendly
Saturday, July 19
stadiummk
Half-time: 1 - 1
Full-time: 1- 2
Roberto Di Matteo's reign at MK Dons began with a pre-season defeat to Championship side Reading.
Stephen Hunt's 65th minute strike proved the difference as Reading handed the Dons a 2-1 defeat at stadiummk.
Jimmy Kebe had given the visitors an early lead in the match but it took just six minutes for the Dons to level through youngster Sam Baldock.
Di Matteo and the Dons faithful would have taken plenty of positives from the game, not least the indication that last year's League Two champions are looking to play that on-the-floor style that proved so successful under Paul Ince.
One name that stood out on the team sheet was that of trialist Florian Strum who was given a start by Di Matteo, summer signing Peter Leven got his first start in Dons colours while Sam Baldock partnered Aaron Wilbraham upfront.
Although there were hints of no football for eleven weeks, MK Dons began their pre-season schedule in a promising fashion.
The big man-small man combination was working well up front with the first chance falling to Baldock on the fifth minute.
His low strike from the edge of the box dragged wide of the right post but moments later a through ball from Wilbraham opened another route.
However, the defensive pairing of Liam Rosenior and Ivar Ingimarsson were alert and quickly closed down any chance striker would have had.
Rosenoir made the best move to note on the fifteen minutes on the clock when he slipped the ball into the centre of the box.
Unfortunately for Reading their communication was to blame when they failed to take advantage of the possession as Jimmy Kebe and Leroy Lita clashed going for the ball.
But by the time Kebe had the ball back at his feet Jude Stirling managed to get a last ditch clearance.
Yet it was not long until Kebe made amends for the error as he opened the scoring at stadiummk.
In an explosive break Rosenior broke away down the right to the by-line to send a pin point delivery into the box.
Nineteen minutes were on the clock when Kebe, with eyes only on the ball, was in the perfect position to fire Reading ahead with one touch.
A tame Wilbraham effort forced a save out of Adam Federici but it was his partner upfront that got the better of the Reading keeper.
Baldock, an academy product who has shown plenty of promise at youth level in the past two years, got the better of Ingimarsson as he cut inside the centre-back and fired into the net for the leveller.
Wilbraham was further frustrated by Federici as his header was saved at the near post.
Feisty Reading striker Lita added a little spark to the friendly when he chased after Sean O'Hanlon and appeared to charge into the defender.
Despite cries from the Cowshed for a red, which arguably would have been given in a competitive match, referee Phil Gibbs cautioned the player.
Royals manager Steve Coppell had seen enough and substituted Lita before the matter was made worse.
Minutes before the break Baldock could have given the Dons the lead with a left footed effort but Federici pulled off a fine save to keep the level at half-time.
Kevin Doyle's part in the game was short lived when he managed only ten minutes as Lita's substitute before signalling an injury and Stephen Hunt stepped up to replace him.
The loudest cheer of the day didn't come by a goal, or a sublime peice of skill, it was the scene of Paul Mitchell gracing the turf at stadiummk.
It was the first time the midfielder had featured for the first team since the career threatening leg break he suffered 17 months ago.
It wasn't the reintroduction to football that Mitchell would have wished as just four minutes later the Dons were once again trailing in the game.
Reading were able to show their class in glimpses as they turned defence into attack in the blink of an eye.
Hunt took advantage of a shaky looking Dons defence and squeezed his shot beyond the despairing Nathan Abbey.
The Dons had chances to reply, first Craig Dobson fired down the throat of Federici from an acute angle then Mitchell linked well with Wilbraham who sent a decent shot just over the bar.
As the pace fell out of the game the closing stages became drab with it appearing to be little more than a kick-around in the park.
Still, Di Matteo has three weeks until the opening day clash with Leicester City.
MK DONS: Abbey, Regan, Stirling, O'Hanlon (Howell 45), Lewington (Morgan 45), Navarro (Mitchell 61), Leven (King 74), Johnson (Dobson 45), Strum, Wilbraham, Baldock (Chicksen 61).
Goals: Baldock 25
READING: Federici, Rosenior, Shorey (Kelly 74), Karacan, Duberry (Pearce 61), Ingimarsson, Kebe, Lita (Doyle 40 (Hunt 55)), Long, Harper, Convey.
Booked: Lita 39
Goals: Kebe 19, Hunt 65
Referee: Phil Gibbs (West Midlands)