Brentford defeat Reading 2-1 to reach Carabao Cup fourth round

Brentford advanced to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup following a 2-1 victory over Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Callum Wilson opened the scoring for the Premier League side just three minutes into the match, and Fabio Carvalho doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time, with both goals assisted by Dango Ouattara.

Reading attempted a comeback in the second half, with Paudie O’Connor scoring in the 72nd minute. However, a significant moment occurred earlier in the match when O’Connor’s spectacular bicycle kick was disallowed for a high boot. Reading manager Leam Richardson expressed pride in his players' performance despite the result and voiced frustration regarding officiating decisions.

The match marked a successful return to the pitch for Fabio Carvalho, who scored his first goal since recovering from a serious ACL injury sustained in November 2025. Following the win, Brentford coach Keith Andrews emphasized the club’s commitment to the competition, stating they intend to ‘attack it as hard as we can.’ Andrews also commented on the current state of refereeing, suggesting that modern officiating trends have moved away from allowing officials to manage the game naturally.