Reading claimed their fourth victory in five League One outings at the SCL Stadium this season with a comfortable 3-1 win over lowly Burton.
A first-half double from on-loan winger Chem Campbell gave the hosts a deserved interval lead.
Reading increased their advantage through Sam Smith near the end and Danilo Orsi’s quick reply was just a consolation for Burton.
A scrappy opening provided few highlights, with Burton goalkeeper Max Crocombe easily catching weak efforts from Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Smith.
But Reading took the lead in the 23rd minute through Campbell, a loanee from Wolves.
Ehibhatiomhan created the opening when cutting in from the left and, as the ball ran loose, Campbell’s firm angled drive gave him his first goal for the club.
He pounced again three minutes before the break, seizing on an error by Dylan Williams and firing past a helpless Crocombe.
Burton had offered little going forward but, on the hour mark, Tomas Kalinauskas let fly from 20 yards and home keeper David Button had to make a smart stop.
Reading made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute through Smith’s near-post header from a Lewis Wing corner.
Though substitute Orsi struck for Burton from close range two minutes later, the Royals were never in danger of losing their grip.