MATEJ VYDRA led the scoring with a brace as Reading comfortably disposed of Walsall to book their place in round five of the FA Cup.
The Saddlers arrived at Madejski Stadium high-flying in League One, where they sit third and had lost just once in 12 games heading into the tie.
Walsall had also seen off Reading’s Championship rivals Brentford in the previous round, but the gulf in quality between these two sides was evident as further goals from Hal Robson-Kanu and Danny Williams ensured there was to be no more scalps for the visitors.
Victory for the hosts means they now go into the hat for Sunday’s draw as hopes of emulating the historic run which saw Royals to the semi-finals of last season’s competition remain.
The win, however, was marred by the injury to Aaron Tshibola, who was to last just 10 minutes on what was his return to the first-team fold following a lengthy ankle problem.
Boss Brian McDermott made two changes to the side which secured a point from a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday last time out – although one was enforced.
New signing George Evans was cup tied having featured for the opposition in earlier rounds of the competition, and he was replaced by the returning Stephen Quinn.
Lucas Piazon meanwhile, who was withdrawn at half-time against the Owls, was dropped to the bench, with his spot in the starting line up handed to Tshibola.
There was a reshuffle too among the replacements, with Paul McShane and Michael Hector named among the subtitutes having also recovered from spells on the sidelines.
And it was Tshibola who was to go close in the sixth minute. A Quinn cross from the left was only half cleared by the visitors to the midfielder, who was lurking some 20 yards out.
Unmarked, the player let the ball droped before unleashing a half volley which skimmed the top of the net.
But there was to be devastation for the player minutes later, who was unable to shake off a knock from what was an innocuous-looking tackle and, following treatment, hobbled off cutting a gutted figure to be replace by Hector.
From the restart, however, a ball over the top caught out the Royals defence and found Walsall striker Bradshaw, who would run at Anton Ferdinand before unleashing his shot.
A deflection from the latter, though, would divert the ball out for a corner – but only just, with ‘keeper Ali Al-Habsi and those present awkwardly watching on as the effort squeezed past the far post.
Chances would remain at a premium as the game passed the 20-minute mark, although the tie would come to life when a spat between Walsall’s Jason Demetriou and Obita saw the former booked for kicking out at the Reading full-back.
Minutes earlier Robson-Kanu had swung over an inviting cross from the right which Etheridge managed to just take off the head of Vydra.
But when the Wales international next had the ball at his feet, the deadlock was broken.
And it was a tidy finish from the forward who, with his back to goal, elegantly turned his marker before lashing a shot across Etheridge and into the corner on 37 minutes.
Not only were the home side now in front, but in the ascendancy too.
Just three minutes later and the Royals took a firm grip on what had been a fairy non-descript game thus far.
But the second goal was one of real quality. Hector fed WIlliams on the edge of the box, with the America international brushing off an opponent before slipping in Quinn on the overlap.
The winger skipped into the box and squared for Vydra to tap home his fifth goal of the competition from a yard out.
The two goalscorers would combine again on the stroke of half time, with Robson-Kanu sending his team-mate on his way, only for the Czech to make a real hash of the opportunity.
With only Etheridge to beat, Vydra went low and for the corner, but would drag the shot horribly wide of an upright.
An opportunist stike from Robson-Kanu was the first chance of note after the break, but his drive from the edge of the box was easy pickings for Etheridge.
Yet the woodwork would come to the rescue for Royals when Romaine Sawyers opened up from the edge of the penalty area.
The strike was clean and had Al-Habsi beaten, but would rattle the crossbar and bounce out of play.
The threat of cutting the deficit remained, as a foul by Williams presented Walsall’s Andrew Taylor with a sight of goal from a free-kick.
The set piece, however, was someway out and would fail to trouble Al-Habsi as it rolled wide of the left-hand post.
The frame of the goal would also come to the aid of the Saddlers, with the crossbar denying Norwood from another free-kick, which was awarded when James O’Connor scythed down Williams.
Robson-Kanu would remain involved in most of Reading’s work going forward, and it was a driving run across the box which engineered an opportunity for Obita, who let fly from an inside left position, but Etheridge was able to palm the rising effort away.
The tie and a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup for as many times in the past five years, though, was wrapped up when Williams added a third in the 75th minute.
A mix-up within the Saddlers’ defence saw the midfielder pounce on the loose ball – and there was to be no looking back.
Running in unopposed from some 40 yards, Williams did have Vydra in support but did not need him as he waited for Etheridge to commit himself before stroking the ball between the keeper’s legs.
The shot-stopper, though, was struck by a team-mate as he tried to get back and attempt to stop the goal and had to be stretchered off, with Craig MacGillivray taking his place between the posts.
And the replacement was soon picking the ball out of the net when Vydra produced the telling touch after Williams did brilliantly to turn a cross from the right goalwards, but the striker was deemed offside and the ‘goal’ was chalked out.
It was a touch selfish from Vydra, as Williams’ effort looked certain to cross the line.
The forward, however, would soon have his second of the afternoon seconds later, rolling across his marker to powerfully head home Chris Gunter’s cross from the right touchline and make it 4-0 in the 89th minute.
Williams would twice test MacGillvray in the latter stages of the fixture, but it was already job done by now.
Reading: Al-Habsi, Gunter, Norwood (c), Vydra, Robson-Kanu, Obita, Ferdinand (McShane 68), Tshibola (Hector 10), Quinn (John 79), Williams, Cooper.
Goals: Robson-Kanu (37), Vydra (40, 89), Williams (75).
Subs not used: Bond, Taylor, Piazon, Cox.
Walsall: Etheridge (MacGillivray 78), Demerrtiou, Taylor, O’Connor, Downing, Chambers (c) (Cook 64), Mantom, Bradshaw, Sawyers, Forde, Henry.
Subs not used: Lalkovic, Preston, Flanagan, Morris, Kinsella.
Referee: Peter Bankes.
Attendance: 13,367.
