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Tuesday 13 July 2004 - Twerton Park - kick off 7.30pm Friendly 
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| half-time: 0-3 | result: L0-6 | attendance: 347 |
| team: | Shuttlewood (Giannangelo 45), Jones (Milton 45), Power, Bailey, Monelle (Coupe 45), Ford (c) (Radcliffe 75), Rollo, Harvey (Owers 60), Tweddle, Williams, Stevens (Hulbert 82). subs not used: none |
| man of the match: | Oz Giangello |
| scorers: | none |
| bookings: | none |
| officials: | to follow |
| league position: n/a | form: -----L | next match: Bristol Rovers (H) |
City's pre-season campaign began with, on paper, their toughest fixture, a visit from Coca-Cola Championship side Reading. Even though the Royals were also playing a friendly at Forest Green Rovers on the same evening their line-up featured a large number of first team regulars including strikers Shaun Goater, Dave Kitson and Nicky Forster who have scored nearly 400 league goals between them. And this was how the game turned out as almost from the first whistle to the last City were totally outclassed and, in the end, somewhat fortunate to 'escape' with only a six-goal defeat! City's starting line-up for the game included both their summer signings, John Williams and Dean Stevens, plus Graeme Power and Grant Monelle who were at the club toward the end of last season without making an appearance. Missing from the game were the injured Scott Partridge (knee) and Mike Trought (back) plus keeper Paul Evans, who had only just returned from his native South Africa.
The 2nd minute of the game saw Williams' first involvement, winning a corner, but this was about as good as it got for both him and City. The visitors soon began to carve through City's backline at will and on several occasions only good stops by Justin Shuttlewood denied them. One save when Forster was clean through was particularly impressive. However it was only a matter of time before they broke through and it was Kitson's low shot on 21 minutes that gave them the lead. The former Cambridge United striker then grabbed his second from close range after Shuttlewood could only parry a Forster shot. Before the break it was 3-0 when Forster converted from inside the six-yard box. City repsonse had been ... well, nothing really. Although the effort put in by Williams and Steve Tweddle up front could not be faulted, what little service they got was easily snuffed out by the Reading back-line.
The interval saw Shuttlewood replaced by trialist keeper Oz Giangello, and Russell Milton and Matt Coupe come on in place of Steve Jones and Monelle. Reading's Forster was also withdrawn but there was little respite for City as he was replaced by former Manchester City legend Shaun Goater. City did begin to see a little bit more of possession (they'd have struggled to see less) as Stevens got involved more. That is not to say when Reading's fourth goal arrived it was against the run of play! Coupe's challenge just inside the box was adjudged a foul and Kitson completed his hat-trick from the spot. Goater should have extended the lead only for Giangello to twice deny him. He also missed a sitter from a couple of yards out after good work by Kitson. Midway through the half City finally managed a shot on target as Ford's 25-yard effort flew straight at keeper Hahnemann. Normal service was soon resumed when Goater finally got on the scoresheet, heading past Giangello with 20 minutes remaining. Giangello then produced another fine save to push away a Harper free-kick but he could only watch as Newman's stunning 25-yard shot flew into the top corner of the net in the closing minutes.