Reading are on a roll again. Last season Brian McDermott's team went on an extraordinary run to achieve promotion to the Premier League and here they emphatically disposed of League One Sheffield United to record their fourth win in a row and stoke hopes of another successful end to the campaign.
McDermott made six changes to the lineup that boosted Reading's Premier League survival hopes by winning at Newcastle last week and watched with joy as his side deftly put the hapless Blades to the sword. Noel Hunt scored two, and Mikele Leigertwood and Gareth McCleary claimed a goal apiece.
Seven years ago these clubs graduated together from the Championship to the Premier League, but here the gulf that now separates them was palpable, painfully so for United.
The game did at least begin with a thoughtful gesture to the bond between them as, in the third minute, both sets of fans rose to pay tribute to Chris Armstrong, the defender who wore No3 for both clubs before multiple sclerosis forced his retirement in 2011.
The acclaim had barely subsided when Reading seized the lead, Hal Robson-Kanu sending a cross from the right to the far post, where Hunt, despite being relatively short, again outjumped most defenders and headed the ball into the net. Reading's wingers, Robson-Kanu and McCleary, were a regular source of menace for the visitors but, in the 18th minute, Nick Blackman showed that Sheffield United could threaten from out wide as well. The 23-year-old shimmied past Nicky Shorey on the right before driving to the byline and firing a low pass across the face of goal. Dave Kitson, returning to the club he served for five years, narrowly failed to apply a decisive touch. In that moment it was easy to see why Blackman is reportedly considered by Crystal Palace as a potential replacement for the Manchester United-bound Wilfried Zaha. Alas, he was to get few other opportunities to shine.
The first half was mostly flat, but United did briefly flourish around the half-hour mark, when Chris Porter squandered a fine chance to equalise, nodding wide from eight yards out after a cross by Jamie Murphy.
Two minutes later, Murphy had an opportunity to score after being put through by Kitson, but Adam Federici blocked his shot from 12 yards out.
Reading's reaction was emphatic and in the 40th minute their captain, Leigertwood – another player facing his former club – received a pass, 25 yards from goal, and promptly rocketed the ball into the top corner of the goal.
The contest was settled five minutes into the second half when McCleary surged down the right and delivered a low cross for Hunt to help himself to his second goal of the game.
Four minutes later Adam Le Fondre presented McCleary with a chance to claim the goal that his fine performance deserved and the winger did just that, sidestepping Darryl Westlake before curling the ball into the net from 10 yards out.
Danny Wilson's team attempted to salvage some pride but were thwarted when a decent bout of pressure in the 63rd minute concluded with Stephen Kelly clearing Murphy's shot off the line. As Reading eased off, Ryan Flynn missed the visitors' best chance of the game in the 80th minute, meeting Blackman's cross only to nod wide from close range.
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