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Reading: McCarthy, Obita, Gorkss, Pearce, Gunter, McAnuff, Guthrie, Akpan, McCleary (Blackman), Drenthe (Hector), Robson-Kanu (Cummings)
Reading made three changes from the draw at Brighton with Gorkss, McAnuff and McCleary in for Hector, Blackman and Le Fondre while there was no place in the Leeds starting XI for former Royal Noel Hunt and no place in the 18 for Jimmy Kebe.
The Royals took the lead on 25 minutes when Garath McCleary pounced on a mixup between Leeds keeper Jack Butland and defender Jason Pearce to slot into an empty net.
The Jamaican international went off with an injury just before the break for Nick Blackman but just a minute after half-time Royston Drenthe made it two goals in two games when he curled a free-kick past Butland into the top right-hand corner from 20-yards out.
Two minutes later it was three, with Blackman scoring just his fourth goal for the club when dove in at the far post to nod home, while it was 4-0 on 54 minutes when Hal Robson-Kanu slammed the ball in after a strong surge down the left hand side.
Brian McDermott's side tried to claw their way back into it through Matt Smith's poke home a 25-yarder from Rodolph Austin but Reading held on to claim a vital three points that sees them remain in the play-off mix and all but certainly end Leeds hopes of making the top six.
In all a very happy birthday for Royals boss Nigel Adkins, who will now turn his attention to Saturday's game with third placed Derby at the Madejski Stadium.
Stay tuned for the full report later this afternoon, while we'll also cover all the key moments during this week's Tilehurst End Podcast.