Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane stepped into the limelight in the absence of Dimitar Berbatov to deepen Reading's fears of relegation from the Barclays Premier League.
It is Berbatov who normally enjoys playing Steve Coppell's men, having scored six times against them this season, and the hosts were given a lift when the striker was ruled out of the clash at the Madejski Stadium with a groin injury.
Coppell himself highlighted the threat that Keane also provides, and so it proved as he gave a masterclass in being the roaming striker, his goal in the 16th minute drawing him level with Berbatov on 23 for the season.
Reading can take heart from the fact they are playing Derby County on the final day of the season, although a win at Pride Park cannot be guaranteed given this performance.
They headed into the weekend a point above the relegation zone and with Emerse Fae and Ibrahima Sonko suspended after they refused to play in a reserve game on Monday.
The headline on Coppell's programme notes stated there was a 'need for unity', but they may need more than that heading into the final week of the campaign.
It was one-way traffic from kick-off, with Darren Bent getting a couple of early chances to get on the scoresheet, firstly when he headed over from Steed Malbranque's cross from the left flank.
Malbranque had an effort himself from the edge of the penalty area after referee Howard Webb had played an intelligent advantage when Jermaine Jenas' powerful run was halted.
Bent was played in on goal in the 10th minute by Malbranque, getting behind Ivar Ingimarsson but seeing his finish saved by Marcus Hahnemann's legs.
Malbranque made a mess of a backheel from close range as Spurs applied pressure, but they were not made to wait long for their opener.
Webb played his part again, instructing advantage when Keane was tripped by Michael Duberry. The Dubliner got to his feet and ran towards goal, picking up the ball on the edge of the area and leaving Kevin Doyle and Liam Rosenior on the floor with a dummy.
With Hahnemann to beat, he flicked his finish into the far corner.
Leroy Lita fired wide from a tight angle just after the opener, then Keane took centre-stage again.
Hahnemann was forced to save a 25-yard free-kick from him, then he weaved his way through the Reading defence before setting up Malbranque to finish, a neat strike incorrectly ruled offside by the assistant referee.
Better awareness from Bent when he was sent through would have also presented Keane with a straightforward finish to add to his opener.
Just before the break Keane played a sharp one-two on the edge of the area and was beyond the Reading defence again, only for Rosenior to get back just in time to block the finish.
Malbranque should have wrapped up the points two minutes into the second half. Keane's cross to the far post presented his team-mate with an open goal but the Frenchman poked into the side-netting.
Three minutes later Malbranque scooped the ball over the Reading defence but Bent looked short on confidence when he got on the end of the move.
Lita kept working the flanks and Reading started to threaten just before the hour mark.
Andre Bikey was found free on the edge of the area but his shot was deflected over by Didier Zokora.
Marek Matejovsky was brought on by Coppell and shot narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Bent also struck a post for the visitors, while Webb turned down a penalty appeal when the ball struck Alan Hutton.
In the end, only Keane's goal was needed. He was taken off with 13 minutes remaining to a standing ovation.
Reading could have snatched a point but Radek Cerny saved from Dave Kitson and Rosenior.
