READING FC were on the end of another heavy defeat on the road as Middlesbrough smacked five past the Royals without reply.
In what has been a troubling week for the Royals with a six point deduction on the way for a second successive season, the team’s troubles on the road showed again.
Championship top scorer Chuba Akpom pounced twice and Aaron Ramsey added two, before Marcus Forss netted a penalty to see Boro thrash the Royals.
The defeat leaves Reading in 15th position, but they are likely to drop further down the table with an imminent deduction.
In what was a turbulent last week for the Royals with the threat of another six point EFL deduction hanging over them, it was time for the club to focus on matters on the field.
Going into a game against the side third in the league, Paul Ince made three changes from the 3-1 win over Blackpool last weekend.
Dean Bouzanis started between the sticks in place of Joe Lumley, who was eligible to play against his parent club.
Captain Andy Yiaodm returned to start after missing two matches through suspension, while Shane Long started up top alongside Andy Carroll and Yakou Meite in a three man attack.
Michael Carrick’s team were looking to bounce back from defeat at West Brom with Championship top scorer Chuba Akpom among their ranks.
The hosts started the game with plenty of possession, but were unable to forge too many chances to threaten the Royals defence in the opening 20 minutes.
But when Aaron Ramsey chipped the ball into the box, Boro were awarded a spot kick when the ball struck the arm of Yiadom, whose arm was deemed to be in an unnatural position.
Championship top scorer Akpom dispatched the penalty past Bouzanis to claim his 20th goal of the campaign.
Reading’s talisman Tom Ince picked up the first booking of the game for a foul on Jonny Howson.
The Royals looked to reply and were left dumbfounded as to how they weren’t given a penalty of their own when Shane Long appeared to be grappled to the ground in the box.
Boro quickly went on the counter and nearly doubled their lead but were thwarted by an important block from Amadou Mbengue on Cameron Archer.
10 minutes before the break, Boro had the ball in the net and thought they had extended their advantage, only to be denied by the offside flag after Cameron Archer had made his run too early.
Akpom came close to notching another goal to continue his superb season when his header struck the post.
With the match on the brink of half-time, Reading shot themselves in the foot and went in two goals down at the break.
After a disappointing free-kick delivery from Ince, Mbengue was caught on the ball and left Aaron Ramsey a clear run at goal and he took the invitation and converted past Bouzanis.
Reading got off to the worst start possible after the restart as Boro added a third goal to kill off the game.
A low cross into the box from Ryan Giles was tucked in by Akpom who claimed his second of the match.
It didn’t take long for Boro to add a fourth goal as Reading’s away troubles reared their head again as Ramsey netted his second of the game.
Ince made switches with 30 minutes left to play as Tom Holmes, Tyrese Fornah and Femi Azeez replaced Yiadom, Long and Cesare Casadei.
The disaster continued when Boro were awarded a second penalty of the game after Marcus Forss was tripped by Tom McIntyre.
Forss took the penatly and squeezed the ball past Bouzanis to put more gloss on the scoreline.
Reading’s next fixture comes on Tuesday night against automatic promotion challengers Sheffield United at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
