Reading came back to haunt Bristol City by winning 4-1 in a Totesport.com Combination Cup group match tonight - just three days after producing the same scoreline in Saturday's Championship match.

US international Bobby Convey and Irish striker David Mooney put the visitors two up at the break before debutant Michail Antonio and Academy product James Henry sealed victory in the second half.

The Royals - who named ten players with first-team experience in their starting line-up, including former City Academy player Scott Golbourne - even had a hand in City's consolation goal, which was scored by the head of Icelandic international Brynjar Gunnarsson.

City - by contrast - fielded five youngsters without games at senior level, although defender James Wilson was returning from a three-month loan spell with League Two side Brentford.

There was concern early on for City when Cole Skuse was stretchered from the field in the opening minute after a collision with former Chelsea star Michael Duberry. Thankfully, the midfielder was later found to have suffered bruising to his right leg and the injury was not as severe as first feared.

After forcing Stephen Henderson into an early save with his legs, Convey opened the scoring in the 25th minute, drilling a first-time volley into the net from 15 yards via a deflection from Wilson.

Reading's second goal was less emphatic. David Noble was adjudged to have brought down Shane Long inside the area and, despite the midfielder's protests that the tackle was outside the box, referee K Johnson pointed to the spot. Mooney made no mistake with his spotkick, slotting home to Stephen Henderson's left to make it 2-0.

After Nicky Maynard replaced Lee Trundle at half-time, City fell further behind in the 51st minute when Antonio - making his first start in a Reading shirt since a move from Tooting last week - scored with a free header from a Henry cross.

City were given a lifeline on the hour when Gunnarsson headed an Ashley Kington corner into his own net under pressure from Frankie Artus.

But John Akinde was unable to reduce the deficit further when his turn-and-shot from a Kington cross was instinctively saved by Mikkel Andersen at close range.

Reading sealed all three points - and the outright lead at the top of Group A - when Henry ran onto a long pass to finish neatly from 18 yards out.

City: Henderson; Walker, Wilson, Webster, Edwards; Kington, Skuse (Sproule 2), Artus; Noble (Jackson 65), Trunde (Maynard 46); Akinde. Subs: Bradley, Wilkinson.