Bristol Rovers 2-3 Reading
Attendance: 1,418 (69)Rovers lost in their first game of the newly formatted Checkatrade Trophy 2-3 to Reading.
Goals from Matty Taylor and Jermaine Easter weren't enough to see Rovers pick up all three points as Jack Stacey, Jake Sheppard and a Joseph Mendes wrapped up three points for Martin Kuhl's men.
Darrell Clarke made six changes to the side that started Saturday's game with Swindon as Mark McChrystal returned to skipper the side along with Liam Lawrence, Jermaine Easter, Cristian Montano, Billy Bodin and Rory Gaffney.
The visitors started the game well as Joseph Mendes fired a powerful shot goalwards which was deflected behind for a corner which Rovers cleared well.
Reading continued to look positive as Dominic Samuel latched onto a mistake from Mark McChrystal and Daniel Leadbitter before seeing his shot hit the inside of Kelle Roos' left hand post.
Darrell Clarke's side failed to register a shot at Anssi Jaakkola before conceding a goal as Tarique Fosu slipped a neat pass into the feet of Jack Stacey who beat Kelle Roos on his near post.
The Championship side seemed to gain confidence with the goal as Dominic Samuel found himself in space in the penalty area. Roos came off his line to challenge the forward but mis-timed his dive allowing Samuel to get a shot off which was cleared off the line by James Clarke.
Rovers had a rare chance in the final moments of the first half as substitute Chris Lines found Lee Brown off of a Rovers corner but Anssi Jaakkola was able to push the full backs shot over the crossbar.
Darrell Clarke opted to freshen things up for the second half as Ollie Clarke and Matty Taylor replaced Cristian Montano and Billy Bodin as Rovers looked for a way back into the cup tie.
The substitutions seemed to make a difference as Matty Taylor was instantly involved in the play and looked really bright. The substitute showed great movement in a quick exchange with Jermaine Easter before firing the ball across the six-yard box but no one was there to apply the final touch.
Rovers looked much more comfortable in the second half and continued to press for that all important equaliser and were rewarded on the 60 minute mark. Daniel Leadbitter was allowed time on the ball and space to run into and was able to pick out Matty Taylor at the far post who was on hand to head past Anssi Jaakkola.
Reading looked to hit back instantly as Kelle Roos saved well one-on-one from Tyler Frost before Jack Stacey fired over the crossbar but minutes later the Championship side did regain the lead through substitute Jake Sheppard.
Jack Stacey was allowed time and space to get a strong shot off which cannoned off the outside of the post into the path of Jake Sheppard who fired his shot low and hard under Kelle Roos who appeared to keep the ball out but the linesman on the Lancer Scott stand side of the Memorial Stadium gave the goal.
Minutes later the game was all squad again as Tarique Fosu lost the ball on the edge of his own penalty area to Chris Lines who squared the ball to Jermaine Easter who took a touch to compose himself before firing low past Anssi Jakkola.
The visitors didn't seem content with a draw in the first round of games in the Checkatrade Trophy and started pushing men forwards for a third goal as Joseph Mendes latched onto a long ball before being fouled in the penalty area by Rovers skipper Mark McChrystal.
Mendes took a second to dust himself off before taking the penalty himself shooting down the middle of the goal with Roos diving to his right hand side.
Darrell Clarke's side tasted defeat in their first game in the Checkatrade Trophy, but have fixtures against Yeovil Town and Portsmouth as they attempt to get out of the Group Stages.
Rovers have this weekend off due to the game against Walsall being postponed, so their next outing will be against Rochdale at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday 10th September.
Rovers: Roos; Leadbitter, J. Clarke, McChrystal (C), Brown; Bodin (Taylor - 46), Lawrence (Lines - 28), Sinclair, Montano (O. Clarke - 46); Easter, Gaffney.
Unused Substitutes: Mildenhall (GK), Hartley, Broom, James.
Reading: Jaakkola (C); Mendes (Cardwell - 85), Samuel (Sheppard - 65), Barratt (Frost - 65), Watson, Griffin, Stacey, Fosu, Rinomhoto, Osho, McIntyre.
Unused Substitutes: Tupper (GK), Andresson, East, Vancooten.