League One round-up: Reading, Portsmouth & Peterborough

Shaq Forde, Jordan Brown and Dan Agyei all struck in a ruthless first-half display from Richie Wellens’ side.

Pompey have now won just one of their last six league matches and remain two points clear of Wanderers, who have three games in hand at this stage.

John Mousinho said: “I thought we were awful, to be honest. In the game as a whole we weren’t good enough.

“We started OK, but it is not good enough to just be OK for 20 to 25 minutes. We went under after we conceded the first goal and that summed up our afternoon.

“We did not create enough in the final third and did not defend our box well enough. We were just a yard off it in everything we did.

“Our job is to dust ourselves down and go again and try to put our finger on what went wrong. The message to the players is we are at a stage of the season now where it goes one of two ways.

“We are somehow still top of the league and that gives us something to hold on to. We have 19 games to put that to bed.”

Meanwhile, Peterborough climbed to second place following a 2-1 victory against Charlton at the Valley.

Ephron Mason-Clark bagged a brace either side of half time, while Alfie May was on target for the hosts.

Darren Ferguson’s side are now a point above the Whites, although they have played two extra games.

“Coming into the Christmas period, we spoke about improving our away form and we have certainly done that,” Ferguson explained. “I think that’s four away wins on the bounce which is very impressive.

“We deserved to win the game overall, we just didn’t finish it off but we dug it out in the end.

“We were completely dominant in the first half, there was no real threat against us. We got the goal but just couldn’t get the second goal.

“Then at the start of the second half we had four unbelievable chances inside 10 seconds and we didn’t manage to take one.

“Any team that comes here and wins, it is a good win. It is a very important win.”

Reading fans invade the pitch in protest against owner Dai Yongge (Image: PA)

Oxford maintained their place in the play-off positions with a 3-1 victory against Carlisle at Brunton Park.

Mark Harris scored a double before Tyler Goodrham added a third. Alfie McCalmont pulled one back for the hosts but it didn’t affect the outcome.

Sixth-place Barnsley also secured three points, beating Bristol Rovers 2-1 at Oakwell after Devante Cole and Corey O’Keefe struck either side of half time.

Stevenage, who are only outside the top six on goal difference, kept the pressure on the sides above them with a 1-0 victory at Shrewsbury. Jamie Reid got the winner six minutes from time.

Blackpool also kept the pressure on the play-off contenders, beating Exeter 2-0 at Bloomfield Road thanks to Albie Morgan’s double.

Reading’s home fixture against Port Vale was also abandoned after home fans invaded the pitch to protest against owner Dai Yongge.

Tennis balls were initially thrown onto the pitch and play was again stopped in the 16th minute, with referee Ross Joyce eventually calling the game off.

Ruben Selles said: “We knew that something was going on from reading the social media and all its comments.

“Basically, I had a decision to make. The decision was to come here to compete and don’t get distracted by those things.

“If it happened, we will just take it. Sometimes with social media, things never happen so if you lose focus and concentration, you can be late into the game.”

He added: “The invasion was not aggressive, it was passive. It was just to make the point. Listen, I’m sympathetic with the fact that we all want the best for Reading football club.

“I think our fans are proud with what the team is doing, the way in which we are playing and competing. But the fans are getting frustrated about the similar things that we are.

“I’m sympathetic, but really what I want is just to play football matches and win football matches.”

Other results included Northampton drawing 1-1 against Wigan, Cambridge beating Fleetwood 2-1 and Wycombe drawing 1-1 against Lincoln.

Fourth-place Derby are in action on Monday night when they welcome Burton to Pride Park. That fixture is available to watch live on Sky Sports Football (8pm).