The Royals took the lead in the first half through Jimmy Kebe, before the impressive Sam Baldock levelled.

But the Championship club's class told in the end and Stephen Hunt struck a second half winner.

The big news before the game was that captain Keith Andrews had being placed on the transfer list following the speculation surrounding his future.

But it did little to affect the way a Dons side, including Austrian trialist Florian Sturm started.

They looked bright and comfortable in possession before the Royals then took the lead on 19 minutes.

Liam Rosenior completely outpaced captain for the day Dean Lewington and cut back for Kebe who fired home.

Their lead didn't last long though, when the Dons' stand-out player Baldock scored a neat equaliser, tricking his way past England international Nicky Shorey and rifling a left-foot shot past Adam Federici at the far-post.

The half then ended in controversy after Leroy Lita seemed to retaliate to an incident in the penalty area with Sean O'Hanlon by shoulder-barging him to the floor.

In any normal contest he would have been sent off, but referee Phil Gibbs booked him, and Lita was then replaced a minute later by Kevin Doyle.

The second half was a much quieter affair as Dons made a string of changes, with another trialist, Dean Morgan coming in, as well as Paul Mitchell, who played his first match in 17 months.

The best chance for the home side came to substitute Craig Dobson, who out-muscled Shorey and jinked past Ingimarsson before shooting straight at Federici from a tight angle.

And they were made to pay with the impressive Hunt securing the win after a flowing move saw Kebe cross for the Irishman to finish well.

The Dons never looked like scoring after that, with academy prospects Adam Chicksen and David King getting some game time.


MK Dons: Abbey, Regan, Stirling, O'Hanlon (Howell 46) , Lewington (Dobson 46), Navarro (Mitchell 61), Leven (King 75), Johnson (Morgan 46), Sturm, Wilbraham, Baldock (Chicksen 61)

Subs: King, Chicksen, Fox, Mitchell, Howell, Morgan, Dobson

Reading: Federici, Rosenior, Shorey (Kelly 75), Karacan, Duberry (Pearce 61), Ingimarsson, Kebe, Lita (Doyle 40, Hunt 55), Lita, Long, Harper, Convey

Subs: Kelly, McCarthy, Pearce, Doyle