Reading stumble in promotion race as rampant Norwich hit seven
Reading looked anything but a side challenging for promotion to the Premier League as they suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat at the hands of a rampant Norwich side.
The Canaries saw their outside chances of making the Championship play-offs all but snuffed out by a 3-0 defeat at Huddersfield in midweek but they were magnificent on their return to Carrow Road, while being aided and abetted by some woeful Royals' defending.
They hit Reading for six in an incredible first half, with Wes Hoolahan and Alex Pritchard each scoring two and Nelson Oliveira and Russell Martin also on target
Substitute Cameron Jerome then added salt to the wounds in the 89th to complete an amazing scoreline.
Yann Kermorgant's goal with Reading already 5-0 down was hardly a consolation and Jaap Stam's side will need to regroup quickly for the challenges that lie ahead, even though their position in the top six looks relatively secure.
The Canaries could hardly have made a better start, taking the lead after three minutes with their opponents hardly having touched the ball.
Referee James Linington pointed straight to the spot after Chris Gunter knocked Oliveira off balance as he tried to prod home following a spill from Ali Al Habsi, and the Portuguese striker coolly converted the penalty.
It was a poor goal for Reading to concede, with the keeper guilty of failing to gather a tame shot from Jonny Howson, and it nearly got worse for them on 12 minutes when Oliveira's curling effort from just outside the box clipped an upright.
The Canaries did not have to wait long for their second, however
Jacob Murphy's cross into the box prompted chaos and although Russell Martin was unable to finish, the ball broke kindly for Hoolahan to fire home from close range.
Reading were guilty of more poor defending as Norwich made it 3-0 on 26 minutes
They were slow to react as the ball ran free some 20 yards out in a central area and Pritchard needed no second invitation to curl the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net.
It was fast becoming embarrassing for Reading, with the Canaries stretching their lead still further six minutes later
This time Al Habsi was a shade unlucky, making a good save low to his right to keep out Oliveira's goalbound shot only for Martin to tie up the loose ends.
Goal number five arrived on 35 minutes as another swift Norwich attack ended with Pritchard picking up the ball some 30 yards out, running unchallenged towards goal and sliding the ball past the exposed keeper.
Reading reduced the arrears when Kermorgant prodded home from close range after John Ruddy had brilliant blocked Lewis Grabban's header, but it was Norwich who had the final say in an incredible first half
More diabolical defending allowed the diminutive Hoolahan to wrestle his way through and tap the ball past Al Habsi at the second attempt to make it six.
With the destination of the points having long been decided there was less intensity to the game in the early stages of the second half, with Reading more involved and Ruddy tipping over a 30-yard strike from John Swift.
Pritchard twice went close to making it seven from close range while the unmarked Oliveira wasted a glorious chance after being given the freedom of the penalty box.
Al Habsi also made a couple of superb stops to deny Murphy and Klose as Norwich regained some of their first-half rhythm, while a Mitchell Dijks header came back off the crossbar.
Norwich finally got the seventh goal they deserved in the 89th minute when Jerome converted a cross from fellow substitute Josh Murphy, with the Reading defence again nowhere.
Source : DSG
Source: DSG