Aston Villa's potency at set-pieces proved sufficient to earn them a third successive win in the Barclays Premier League and keep them on course for a European spot.
John Carew's header from an Ashley Young free-kick broke the deadlock after 23 minutes and then a corner from the England winger was turned home by Martin Laursen early in the second period.
Carew put the icing on the cake with his sixth goal of the campaign a minute from time before James Harper scored an injury-time consolation.
Martin O'Neill's side capitalised on a Reading defence lacking Ibrahima Sonko - on African Nations Cup duty - and the injured Michael Duberry.
It means the Royals are still without an away win this season and have conceded 32 goals in 11 matches on their travels.
Villa were worthy winners and were driven on by another excellent performance in midfield from skipper Gareth Barry.
Gabriel Agbonlahor's pace and Carew's power posed problems to the Reading rearguard while Craig Gardner acquitted himself well at right-back after becoming a late replacement for the ill Olof Mellberg.
Reading were left to rue Kevin Doyle and Dave Kitson missing two good first-half opportunities but overall their performance lacked cohesion.
Even reverting to five at the back has failed to stop them looking vulnerable and they need to start picking up points away from home to banish the threat of being sucked into a relegation battle.
Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann was called into action for the first time after 12 minutes to turn aside a powerful drive from a narrow angle by Stiliyan Petrov.
Villa keeper Scott Carson looked relieved to cling onto a free-kick driven straight at him by Nicky Shorey at the second attempt.
O'Neill was animated on more than one occasion towards referee Uriah Rennie who seemed reluctant to play the advantage rule.
Doyle had a chance to put Reading ahead after flicking the ball past Curtis Davies but clipped his shot over the bar with only Carson to beat.
But Villa were beginning to take control and after 23 minutes their constant threat from set pieces resulted in Carew putting them ahead with his fifth goal of the campaign.
Young's in swinging free-kick was perfectly weighted and Carew needed only a touch to deflect the ball past Hahnemann from close range.
Ulises De la Cruz became the first player to be yellow-carded for holding back Agbonlahor in full flight.
Petrov was only just too high with a fierce 20-yard drive although replays suggested his effort had deflected off De la Cruz and should have resulted in a corner.
Kitson needed lengthy treatment after landing awkwardly on his right knee following an aerial challenge with Davies but was eventually able to continue.
The Reading striker should have done better four minutes before half-time when he dragged his shot across the face of goal after being found in space by Shorey.
Villa made a positive start to the second period and Hahnemann became the second Reading player to be booked after charging out of his area and bringing down Agbonlahor.
It came as no surprise when yet another set-piece led to Laursen doubling Villa's lead.
Young won a corner and his centre was met firmly by Laursen who headed past Hahnemann into the corner of the net.
It was the 20th goal Villa have scored from a free-kick or corner this season.
Villa were now in complete control and Laursen climbed above the Royals defence to force a save out of Hahnemann from another Young corner.
Reading suddenly came to life and Doyle had a shot deflected just wide and then Carson produced a fine reflex save to keep out Brynjar Gunnarsson's near-post header from a Harper corner.
But Carew struck for the second time in the 89th minute when he turned home a low cross from Agbonlahor before Harper snatched an injury-time consolation for Reading.
