Reading 2 (Sonko 13, 49)
Plymouth 0

A brace from Ibrahima Sonko set the Royals on their way to a very comfortable win at home to Plymouth Argyle this afternoon.

The defenders's goals were almost identical, both headers that came from Stephen Hunt corners on the right wing, giving visiting goalkeeper Graham Stack absolutely no chance.

Reading's widemen Bobby Convey and Jimmy Kebe were both in scintillating form, and a good crowd of 19,202 were delighted by our forward play with plenty of width, pace and dynamism.

We could have had plenty more goals, with Convey twice shooting just over the bar, Leroy Lita unleashing an overhead kick and Stephen Hunt almost heading home another great Kebe cross.

This first home game of the season could not have gone any better, and we dominated almost from start to finish. The performance certainly settled the nerves as we reacclimatise to life in the Championship, and although Plymouth were poor, we can only hope there is a similar gulf in class for more games this season.

Reading: Hahnemann; Rosenior, S Hunt, Ingimarsson, Sonko; Cisse, Harper (c), Kebe, Convey (Kelly 85); Doyle (Long 73), Lita (N Hunt 88)
Subs: Andersen, Pearce

Plymouth: Stack; Duguid (c), Barker, Doumbe, Seip (Timar 86); Summerfield, Walton (McNamee 66), Puncheon, Clark; Fallon, Mackie (MacLean 66)
Subs: Paterson, Easter

Ref: R Beeby

Attendance: 19,202

First half
Plymouth had the first sight of goal with five minutes on the clock, but Rory Fallon had to stretch for a cross and prodded wide.

Ex-Royal Graham Stack was making his return to Madejski Stadium, and he had a very awkward moment on ten minutes when trying to come through a number of bodies for a low cross. It very nearly fell to Ivar Ingimarsson but Argyle hacked clear.

Just moments later it was Reading who went in front; just the start to their home campaign they were looking for. Jimmy Kebe did well to win a corner on the right, and Stephen Hunt floated in a cracking delivery that Ibrahima Sonko bulleted home.

It could and probably should have been two a minute later when Kebe did well again but Bobby Convey shot over from 12 yards on his right foot. Reading were really turning the screw, and another cracking Kebe cross nearly put Hunt in.

It was very, very comfortable for the Royals, and our widemen Convey and Kebe were giving the opposition all kinds of problems. Each went on superb 40-yard runs from deep, and although they didn't result in chances they certainly had the crowd on their feet.

It had been all Reading, but we just got a little edgy toward the break and a couple of Plymouth corners and crosses had to be dealt with.

Second half
At the start of the second period Argyle were only a foot or so away from an equaliser. Winger Jason Puncheon popped up on the left flank and drilled a shot that was narrowly wide of goal; Marcus Hahnemann beaten and happy to see it go wide.

A Reading goal came moments later, and it was almost an exact copy of the first. Leroy Lita won a corner on the right by showing very good determination, and Stephen Hunt's delivery again gave Sonko the opportunity to glance another good header home for his second and a 2-0 lead.

Reading were playing with real freedom and verve now, and a brilliant cross from Kebe went out to Stephen Hunt at the back post, but it was just too high for him to head home.

We could have had a penalty when Marcel Seip looked to have handled in the box, but play was waved on and Kevin Doyle turned in a low shot to force Stack into a save.

A third goal soon looked on the cards, but Convey's cross was just too awkward for Lita to direct toward goal.

Kebe was our best attacking player, and the Malian unleashed a strike from 25 that Stack had to palm out.

On 78 sub Shane Long was next to run at the Argyle defence, and it broke to Kalifa Cisse but he dragged wide from a good position.

Reading were by far the better team, and Long again terrorised his man a couple of moments later. Lita tried a spectacular overhead kick on the end of his cross but it was quite well wide.

We were tearing Argyle apart, and Liam Rosenior's cross saw Convey cut inside and smack one narrowly over the bar. Some comical Plymouth defending nearly gave Lita a sitter on 84 but they desperately cleared in front of goal.

Julian Kelly and Noel Hunt were given League debuts as late subs, and there was a hugely positive atmosphere at the end of the game.

It has been a long summer for Reading supporters, and they went home that little bit happier after seeing their team play so very well.

Highlights
Video highlights will be on Reading World from 5:30pm on Sunday.