Charlie Savage scores against dad Robbie as Reading demolish Peterborough 5-0 in FA Cup

Charlie Savage scored against his own father’s team as Reading cruised into the FA Cup second round with a 5-0 demolition of Peterborough at the Weston Homes Stadium on Sunday, leaving Posh manager Robbie Savage to endure a thoroughly miserable afternoon in the dugout.

This all-League One tie was one of the most one-sided of the day. Reading broke the deadlock after 26 minutes when slick passing allowed Andy Rinomhota to play in Daniel Kyerewaa, who found the bottom corner via a deflection. Jack Marriott, the Royals’ top scorer, doubled the lead eight minutes later with a diving header from a Haydon Roberts cross.

The tie was effectively settled in first-half stoppage time when Charlie Savage deepened his father’s misery. Taking possession after the ball ran off Marriott, the midfielder’s deflected effort found the top corner to make it 3-0 before the break.

Jamie Reid added a fourth in the 72nd minute, nodding home after Paudie O’Connor directed Savage’s free-kick into his path, before Reid completed his brace four minutes later when Liam Fraser’s pass sent him clean through to lift the ball over goalkeeper Alex Bass.

Reading dominated throughout, finishing with 59 per cent possession and 19 attempts at goal compared to Peterborough’s 11, with Leam Richardson’s side registering eight shots on target to Posh’s three.

The result compounds a difficult period for Robbie Savage, whose Peterborough side are struggling near the bottom of the League One table. The cup exit leaves the Posh boss focused solely on a league survival battle, while Reading will learn their second-round opponents when the draw is made on Monday evening.