Burnley had been kidded into believing that Reading don't score many goals, but how the Royals changed all that!John Salako, the former England winger, chipped in with two goals of stunning quality as the visitors made the most of Burnley's poor defending to record their first win this year.
Salako and fellow two-goal hero Steve Sidwell were Reading's most outstanding performers in a bizarre game which included two missed penalties and a couple of goals in the final minute.
There was little sign of the frantic action that lay ahead during a dour opening spell, but as soon as Sidwell slid Reading into the lead after beating of offside trap it became a free for all.
Salako cut in from the left to smash home an unstoppable right foot shot on the stroke of half time and, six minutes after the break, effectively put the game beyond Burnley's reach with a close range volley.
Ian Moore gave Burnley some hope with a close-range finish and it might have got even better for the home side had substitute Dimi Papadopoulos not seen a penalty saved by Marcus Hahnemann.
A penalty at the other end minutes later, taken by Nicky Forster, was saved in similar fashion by Marlon Beresford but Sidwell followed up to make it 4-1.
Reading substitute Darius Henderson added a fifth before Dean West put his name to the best goal of a crazy afternoon with a ferocious right-foot shot from 30 yards.
Burnley must be looking over their shoulders as they continue to slide down the First Division table and their goals against record makes far from pleasing reading.