READING FC’s concerning away form continued after they were thrashed by Stoke City who ended a run of three successive Championship defeats.
Will Smallbone punished a defensive error after 11 minutes before a second-half rout saw Stoke net three times to take a convincing victory.
The Royals are 14th in the Championship table on 37 points after 28 games.
Reading have the third worst away record in the division having picked up just 11 points from 15 games on the road.
There were plenty of changes to the Reading side that saw a two-goal lead slip at home to Queens Park Rangers last week.
Paul Ince was forced into switches after injury problems meant that Andy Carroll, Naby Sarr and Sam Hutchinson all missed out on the matchday squad.
Meanwhile, there was a return to the starting eleven for Tyrese Fornah and Yakou Meite was joined in attack by Tom Ince.
There were familiar faces in the Potters team which saw former Royals Josh Laurent and Lewis Baker both start in central midfield.
Laurent spent two years in Berkshire before departing on a free transfer to Stoke in the summer, while Baker helped Reading to Championship survival during a six month loan spell in the 2018/19 campaign.
Reading were the masters of their own downfall in the 10th minute to gift a chance to Stoke which they gratefully accepted.
After passing the ball around the back, Andy Yiadom was dispossessed and Will Smallbone was able to coolly slot the ball past Joe Lumley to put the hosts in front.
The visitors continued to live dangerously throughout the first-half as Stoke looked to extend their lead and find some form having lost their previous three Championship matches.
The Royals settled into a spell of better possession later in the half but were unable to create much with it to try and get back on level terms.
A slick Reading move saw jeff Hendrick released down the right and he found Fornah who pulled an effort well wide of the target.
Yakou Meite then had a sight of goal a few minutes later and connected sweetly, but Jack Bonham was able to push the ball behind for a corner which was dealt with comfortably.
Lumley showed his worth again just before the break to keep the score down to one after a well worked corner from Alex Neil’s team.
With thick fog rolling into the Bet365 Stadium, 12 minutes after the restart the Potters had a second goal to show for their efforts.
Tyrese Campbell’s shot crashed into the back of the net after it took a deflection off Tom Holmes’ head to beat Lumley at the near post.
Looking to change the balance of the match, Ince made a quadruple substitution with 25 minutes to go.
Femi Azeez, Shane Long, Lucas Joao and Scott Dann all entered the contest to replace Fornah, Meite, Holmes and Hoilett.
A final Reading change saw Nesta Guiness-Walker take the place of Baba Rahman as the away team looked to salvage something in the final 15 minutes.
A teasing ball into the box from Ince’s free-kick went agonisingly wide of the Stoke far post after Long couldn’t quite stretch enough to nod the ball on target.
But there was to be no comeback from the Royals who conceded a third of the afternoon which saw the hosts gift wrap the points.
A fizzed cross into the box was met by Jacob Brown who connected with his chest to bundle the ball over the line.
The Potters weren’t done yet and found a fourth in the 83rd minute when Laurent’s long ranged effort took a nick off Dwight Gayle to wrong foot Lumley and find the net.
The Royals are in FA Cup action next weekend in their fourth round tie at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
Stoke City: Bonham, Wilmot, Jagielka, Fox, Laurent, Baker, Smallbone, Tymon, Brown, Gayle, Campbell
Subs: Flint, Thompson, Sterling, Wright-Phillips, Taylor, Fielding, Tezgel
Reading: Lumley, Yiadom (c), Holmes, McIntyre, Rahman, Hoilett, Hendrick, Loum, Fornah, Ince, Mete
Subs: Dann, Long, Joao, Azeez, Guinness-Walker, Bouzanis, Mbengue
Goals: Smallbone 11’, Campbell 57’, Brown 80’, Gayle 83’
