Reading 3-0 Burton: Royals maintain impressive run

Reading maintained their impressive form with a comfortable 3-0 home victory over lowly Burton Albion.

Goals from Dominic Samuel, his first for the club, and Danny Williams gave Reading a healthy half-time lead.

Although Burton improved after the break, they were made to pay for poor finishing when Reading made it 3-0 in the 77th minute - through a John Brayford own goal - and secured their fourth successive win.

In-form Reading went into the match on the back of consecutive victories over Rotherham, Nottingham Forest and Wigan, with six goals scored and none conceded.

Burton, promoted from League One last season, had won only two of their previous 11 matches before the visit to Madejski Stadium and had not won away in eight attempts this season.

However, Burton began brightly and were the first to threaten when Jackson Irvine nodded over after a fine cross from Lloyd Dyer.

Reading replied when 22-year-old Samuel, making his first Championship start, drove into the side-netting after latching onto a deflected pass from Paul McShane.

Burton went close from a Matty Palmer corner, with Chris O'Grady's firm goalbound header nodded off the line by Williams.

But Reading rode their luck and went ahead in the 22nd minute. Roy Beerens cut inside from the left flank and miscued a shot across goal, but Samuel was on hand to tap in at the far post.

Seven minutes later Reading increased their lead from a similar move. Garath McCleary won possession in midfield and fed Jordan Obita, whose low cross from the left was guided home by Williams via the crossbar.

Despite having a large amount of possession, Burton failed to do much with it. Home goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi was rarely tested. A weak attempt from Irvine was easily gathered by Al Habsi and then O'Grady twice wasted good openings due to poor shot selection.

Reading made it safe 13 minutes from time as substitute Yakou Meite forced a good save from Burton keeper Jon McLaughlin, but the loose ball then cruelly rebounded over the line off helpless defender Brayson.

Reading manager Jaap Stam:

"Yes, it's a lovely position to be in. It's good to win games and it's good to get points because there are a lot of games to be played in this league this season. Hopefully we can stay up there, but we're not aiming for that third or fourth spot yet. We're not focused on getting into a certain position in the table.

"We just want to do well, we want to perform. Then towards the end of the season, maybe we can then be realistic about looking at where we can end up. I keep repeating myself, there's a long way to go.

Burton boss Nigel Clough:

"It was very similar to our away form this season. Missed chances and conceding soft goals. That's it. Our general play wasn't too bad and if one of our chances had gone in at any time, even at 2-0 down, it might have been a different game.

"But we can't keep missing chances and giving away soft goals - otherwise you lose, like we did today."