Ibrahima Sonko scored twice to help Reading to a 2-0 victory over Plymouth at the Madejski Stadium.
Senegalese defender nets first goals in 18 months
Ibrahima Sonko scored twice to help Reading to a 2-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle at the Madejski Stadium.
The defender scored in either half to hand Reading the points as Steve Coppell's men look to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
The Royals were held by Nottingham Forest last weekend, but a first three-point haul of the season will boost morale, while - who were held by Wolves in their opener - are still looking for their first win of the season.
Reading , relegated from the Barclays Premier League on the final day of last season after a two-year stay in the top flight, took the lead after 13 minutes as Sonko scored his first goal in 18 months.
The goal came somewhat against the run of play after Argyle made the more positive start.
Familiar
But Sonko, who last found the net in Reading's 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford in December 2006, scored with a simple header from six yards out following Stephen Hunt's cross.
The same two players combined again five minutes into the second half when the Senegalese defender headed home Hunt's corner at the near post.
Both managers opted to make six changes from their Carling Cup first-round ties in midweek and reverted back to more familiar line-ups on their return to league action.
An injury to Marek Matejovsky in the goalless draw against Forest prevented Reading boss Coppell from naming the same side that started the Championship campaign at the City Ground. Kalifa Cisse replaced the Czech Republic midfielder.
Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock also made just one change from the opening-day draw against Wolves with Jason Puncheon coming in for Jermaine Easter.
Strong
Argyle were the last Championship side to beat Reading at the Madejski, earning a 2-1 victory on the opening day of the 2005/06 season, but they never looked like repeating that feat after a strong start.
Sturrock's side failed to deliver on their early promise and created little after falling behind.
Jamie Mackie's cross that had to be tipped over the crossbar by Marcus Hahnemann was the closest they came to equalising in the first half.
It did not get much better for Plymouth after the break, Rory Fallon's shot after 68 minutes which was easily saved by Hahnemann was their only real effort of note.
Reading always looked more likely to add to their lead and almost did so through Cisse on the hour mark, but Graham Stacked turned his 20-yard shot around the post.
