READING bowed out of the Capital One Cup after Everton staged a second-half comeback to run out 2-1 winners at the Madejski Stadium.

Royals led at the break through Nick Blackman's seventh goal of the season but second-half strikes from Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu ensured the visitors progressed.

It was a valiant effort from a much-changed Reading side but in the end, the visitors' superiority shone through.

Steve Clarke had promised to ring the changes and he stuck to that plan as he made eight changes from the side that won at Bristol City.

Paolo Hurtado, Alex Fernandez, Lucas Piazon and Ola John were handed full debuts, whilst Ali Al-Habsi, Jake Cooper, Aaron Tshibola and Andrew Taylor were also recalled.

Blackman was one of only three players to retain his place in the starting XI and he went close with the first opportunity of the game after 11 minutes.

It was fizzed with pace at Joel Robles but the Everton keeper managed to turn it away and over the crossbar.

Everton were enjoying a lot of the ball and Cooper had to be alert to block Arouna Kone's effort from the edge of the box.

Piazon was at the centre of a lot of Reading's attacking play and he linked up with Hurtado midway through the half before slipping in Blackman.

The striker tried to slide the ball past Robles but the keeper was out quickly to block Blackman's effort.

But the in-form forward didn't have to wait long to notch his seventh goal of the campaign, when he put Reading ahead in the 36th minute.

Good work by Taylor and Piazon released John down the left-hand side, and his cross was met at the far post by Blackman.

Reading looked a threat whenever they went forward in the first half and were good value for their lead at half-time.

But the second-half was all Everton and the Premier League side showed their superiority as they dominated proceedings.

Despite the possession they enjoyed, it was Clarke's men that were the architects of their own downfall as two mistakes gifted Everton the goals they needed to turn the game around.

Fernandez failed to properly head clear a corner and Barkley was on hand to fire home a sumptuous volley from 15 yards out in the 62nd minute.

Eleven minutes later and the turnaround as complete when Deulofeu's free-kick beat Al-Habsi from 25 yards.

The goalkeeper got his hand to it but parried it onto the post and in, instead of wide of the goal.

It was slightly harsh on Royals, who battled well throughout but they struggled to create any chances of note in the second period.

The closest Clarke's men came in the final stages was a Danny Williams effort that went high and wide.

Reading return to Championship action on Saturday (3pm), when they travel to Burnley.