Reading boss Ruben Selles insists his side were not fired up by Paul Simpson’s pre-match comments about the Royals.

The visiting boss said the Carlisle United manager’s remarks about Reading’s financial issues had no bearing on their “motivation”.

Reading swept Carlisle aside 3-1 at Brunton Park and were far superior to the struggling Cumbrians.

During the game, Royals fans chanted against Simpson, who had said before the game that “repeat [financial] offenders” should be punished more stringently by the authorities.

Reading have been docked six points this season amid troubled times under controversial owner Dai Yongge.

While two-goal Harvey Knibbs suggested on social media platform X that Simpson’s comments had been on his mind, Selles played them down.

“We don’t pay attention to anybody because there is a lot of noise around us,” said Selles to the Reading Chronicle.

“I know he [Simpson] made some comments, but he assured me that the context was not like that.

News and Star: Reading got the better of Carlisle at Brunton ParkReading got the better of Carlisle at Brunton Park (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“And we spoke on the grass – the best way to do it. It is not about motivation or not, the team were motivated to want to come here, score goals and win the game.”

Reading, through Sam Smith and Knibbs were 2-0 up at the interval and Knibbs struck again after the break, rendering Jon Mellish’s header slim consolation for the Cumbrians.

The result saw Reading move up four places to 16th. Without their points deductions, they would be 13th.

“Our intention was to perform well and win the game and that’s what we did,” added Selles in a club interview.

“I think we had a very good performance for the first 60 minutes and [going] 3-0 [up]. After that we relaxed our standards and we need to be stronger in our identity when we are leading the game.

“But it’s due also that you’re against an opponent who are trying to get back in the game. At the end we managed it in the proper way. It was a good experience for the boys.”

Carlisle tried to apply more pressure after Mellish pulled one back, with Dan Butterworth denied a goal by an impressive Lewis Wing block as United’s remaining efforts were in vain.

“We need to manage different phases of the game,” added Selles, whose side also thrashed Carlisle 5-1 earlier in the campaign.

“The defensive deep block is not one of our strengths but today was a good exercise from us. That block from Wingy was one of the things we demand from them.”