READING FC’s reign at the top of the Championship was short lived after they were overtaken by Sheffield United.
After an excellent start to the season under Paul Ince, the Royals were humbled with any heavy defeat in Yorkshire.
The Blades went in front after 11 minutes through Oli McBurnie and scored their second moments after the restart when Anel Ahmedhodzic scored from a corner.
They ensured the points with Iliman Ndiaye’s 62nd minute strike before Ahmedhodzic claimed his second of the evening.
Reading are in fifth place in the league on 12 points after a mainly positive start to the campaign.
Ince made just one switch from Reading’s weekend win at Millwall which saw Junior Hoilett take the place of Tyrese Fornah.
With a slightly different approach, Tom McIntyre slotted into central midfield after he put in an accomplished display in that position in Reading’s win at Sheffield United last season.
After an early spell of possession the hosts almost created an opening for Tommy Doyle when Royals skipper Andy Yiadom got across to make a timely interception.
Former Reading midfielder Oliver Norwood had a sight at goal for the Blades when they were awarded a free-kick within striking range. The set piece specialist took aim and got the ball over the wall, but also over the bar.
After collecting three consecutive clean sheets, Reading’s resilient run came to an end 11 minutes in at Bramall Lane.
Yiadom’s loose pass was collected and Max Lowe found Oliver McBurnie in the middle who powered a header past Joe Lumley to open the scoring.
Reading struggled to deal with the high tempo start from the Blades and found themselves defending deep in their half for much of the opening 20 minutes.
Mamadou Loum came racing forward and found Lucas Joao in the box who tried to get a shot away but hesitated for a moment and was crowded out.
Reading settled into the game and managed to stop the constant flow of United attacks.
However, Iliman Ndiaye did have an excellent chance to extend United’s lead when he met a flick on, raced through on goal but couldn’t only guide the ball the wrong side of the post.
Reading went into the break trailing by a goal but could count themselves slightly fortunate after their slow start saw the hosts miss some big chances.
Ince made a switch at the break as Naby Sarr was withdrawn at half-time and replaced by Fornah, who took McIntyre’s spot in central midfield and McIntyre moved back into centre back.
Reading made the worst start possible to the second-half and conceded one minute after the restart when Anel Ahmedhodzic was given too much room from a corner and slammed the ball into the net on the volley.
Trying to reignite his side’s fortunes, Ince brought Shane Long on for Joao for the final 30 minutes.
The Blades found a third goal when they picked off Loum’s pass, got forward in numbers and Ndiaye was given space to steer the ball into the corner past the helpless Lumley.
Sander Berge looked to add to the scoreline for the home team, but Lumley was able to claim his effort to keep the deficit down.
Lumley had to come to his team’s rescue again to keep the score down when he clawed the ball away from goal after Chris Basham’s header from close range.
But it wasn’t long before the Blades did add a fourth when Ahmedhodzic nodded the ball in from eight yards out.
Reading are back in action on Sunday when they host Stoke City at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Sheffield United: Foderingham, Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Norringhton-Davies, Baldock, Berge, Norwood, Doyle, Lowe, Ndiaye, McBurnie
Subs: Amissah, Basham, Arblaster, Khadra, McAtee, Brewster, Jebbison
Reading: Lumley, Yiadom, Hutchinson, Sarr, Holmes, McIntyre, Hoilett, Loum, Hendrick, Ince, Joao
Subs: Bouzanis, Long, Guinness-Walker, Fornah, Abrefa, Ehibhatiomhan, Craig
Goals: McBurnie 11’, Ahmedhodzic 46’, 81’, Ndiaye 62’
