Ben Elliott and Sam Smith scored either side of half-time as Hull City ended pre-season with defeat against League One side Reading.
The Tigers enjoyed plenty of the ball and created the better of the few chances on offer in a low-key opening half-hour.
Abdüş Ömür’s driven 20-yard free-kick eluded everyone, the lively Ryan Longman’s delivery almost dropped for Óscar Estupiñán and Regan Slater’s long-range strike was blocked by Abraham Kanu.
Alfie Jones’ immaculately-timed tackle halted Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan inside the box, while another Longman cross was just too high for Estupiñán in the middle.
Femi Azeez should have done better for the Royals when he collected a threaded pass inside the box before curling his left-footed finish too close to Ivor Pandur.
Xavier Simons’ centre floated just over the head of Estupiñán before Longman smartly set up Simons to fire over first time from the edge of the box.
Rubén Sellés’ side opened the scoring nine minutes before half-time following a pacy counter-attack as Azeez’s cut-back was dummied for Elliott to steer right footed into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Ryan Giles replaced Longman through injury late in the first half and almost created an equaliser two minutes into the second period with an inviting cross that Estupiñán glanced narrowly wide.
The Berkshire hosts could have grabbed a second moments later when Ehibhatiomhan’s angled strike was repelled by Pandur and Azeez fired the rebound into the side-netting.
But Reading did score again on 53 minutes when Lewis Wing’s deflected cross was nodded in by Smith at the back post from close range.
Joel Pereira produced a brave, flying save to deny Estupiñán from Giles’ volleyed cross – the Colombian forward’s final contribution before his withdrawal after colliding with the keeper.
Ömür was also taken off through injury before Simons drilled a crisp left-footer against the base of the post with 15 minutes left – the closest City came to reducing the arrears.
The Royals almost scored a third in the final action of the game as Amadou Mbengue’s rasping strike was superbly tipped over by Pandur.
Hull City: Pandur; Drameh (Fleming 71’), Jones ©, McLoughlin, Jacob; Simons, Slater (Seri 57’); Ömür (Tinsdale 64’), Mehlem, Longman (Giles 45’); Estupiñán (Sellars-Fleming 57’).
Subs not used: Foster, Vaughan, Smith, Hall, Ashbee.
Attendance: 2,368 (175 Hull City supporters).
