Beardsley's reaction after Royals win

A handful of first teamers, including Jack Colback, Massadio Haidara and Henri Saivet, featured for the young Magpies at Whitley Park as United went in search of their first Premier League 2 Division Two victory since August.

And they eventually got it after a thrilling clash with the Royals, who were reduced to ten men in the second half.

But Beardsley was happy with the way his side pressed on after the break, scoring three times to seal the points.

“I thought we scored a good first goal – even though it was an own goal, it was a good cross from Victor (Fernandez). It doesn’t matter who scores – it’s disappointing for their lad, but it was a chance for us to get a goal and it typifies the sort of luck that we haven’t had over the last month,” he told nufc.co.uk.

“They got one back quickly after, and it was just one of those things.

“I think the sending off helped us, but I was very confident we were going to win anyway. Maybe not 4-1 – they’ve got some good players, their number eight (Jordan Holsgrove) and six (Ryan East) are good players and they played some good football, and 4-1 might be a bit flattering. But you have to take your chances when they come along.

“I thought the sending off was a sending off – I don’t want anyone to get sent off, but I think it was the right decision. For them, and all of the nice football they played in the first half, they couldn’t get out after that, so we were pretty much camped in their half.”

Gabriel Osho’s own goal had given the hosts the lead, but Josh Barrett’s fortuitous leveller made it 1-1 at half time.

Reading defender Osho was then dismissed for hauling down Tom Heardman in the box, and though the forward saw the resulting penalty saved by George Legg, it mattered little in the end.

Substitute Luke Charman came off the bench to bag a brace, either side of a Callum Roberts strike to make sure of the win, and Beardsley was happy with the work of his forwards.

“Tom missed a penalty which can happen – I’ve done that myself,” he said. “But Luke came on, and it worked. Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn’t, but Tom probably softened them up so Luke could get the glory.

“Substitutes are there to change the game, and most subs are positive substitutions. “

United now travel to Motspur Park to take on Fulham on Friday afternoon, looking for the three points which could lift them up to seventh in the table.

And Beardsley feels the hectic schedule going into the Christmas period is something his players will relish.

“The great thing is that we’ll now move on to Fulham, and including last night, we’ve got eight games before Christmas. It’s great for us,” he said.

“Some of these players might play all these games, and that would give them such a lift going into the Christmas break. This is what their life’s about.

“We’ll be in Tuesday and Wednesday and travel down on Thursday to London. They’ve got to enjoy it, and make the most of it, and think ‘I’m lucky to be at a club like Newcastle’.”