Reading FC put themselves further away from the League One danger zone with a comfortable home victory over relegation rivals Cambridge United.
After a rollercoaster of emotions off the pitch for the club, the players did their talking on the pitch as they built a bigger buffer between them and the drop zone.
Former Cambridge man Sam Smith opened the scoring for the Royals before Femi Azeez netted on the stroke of half-time to reflect a dominant half.
Lewis Wing’s goal just after the hour mark all but sealed the three points before a Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan stunner made it four. The result puts Reading seven points above the relegation zone
Ruben Selles made just one switch from Reading’s defeat at Derby which saw Jeriel Dorsett return to the side to replace the suspended Andy Yiadom after his controversial red card on Tuesday.
That meant that goalkeeper Joel Pereira kept his place in goal after making his league debut for the club on Tuesday.
Sam Smith and Harvey Knibbs both started as they faced their former employers having both left Cambridge in the summer to join the Royals on free transfers.
Meanwhile, Cambridge had a familiar face in their line-up wearing the captain’s armband as Michael Morrison returned to face his former side.
Smith continued his remarkable scoring run and made it five goals in five games as he netted against the club he played for last season.
Just moments after Morrison’s header drifted just wide of the far post, it was Smith who would haunt his former club at the other end when the ball dropped kindly in the box for the forward who squirmed the ball past Jack Stevens with an untidy finish.
The Royals completely controlled the opening half an hour of the game as the U’s posed very little threat when they were able to escape their own half.
Clinton Mola, starting at right-back in place of his skipper, ventured from the wing and cut inside before unleashing a decent effort that flew just over the top as the Royals searched for a second goal.
Femi Azeez was getting plenty of joy down the right and got into the box after breezing past Danny Andrew, but he couldn’t pick out Knibbs with his cut back which was too weak to find a hooped shirt.
The hosts managed to double their lead before the break when Azeez used his blistering pace to leave Morrison for dead before he squeezed the ball in at the near post.
The visitors came out and threatened straight away when Joel Pereira was called into action and made a miraculous double save before Sullay Kaikai fired wide inside the six-yard box.
After managing to ride that wave of pressure, Reading again took hold of the game.
A first change from Selles saw Ben Elliott replaced by Paul Mukairu in the 57th minute.
There was more defending for Reading to do when Pereira came out of his goal to scramble the ball away and with the goal gaping, Lewis Wing bravely got his body in the way of a Cambridge shot.
Wing then came up with another moment of magic to put the game beyond doubt when he lifted the ball over the keeper to find the top corner from a tight angle.
A double switch from Selles gave minutes to Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Kelvin Abrefa who replaced Azeez and Mbengue.
Reading arguably saved the best for last when Ehibhatiomhan blasted the ball off his left foot to pick out the top corner.
Reading are back in action after the international break when they host Northampton Town on Friday, March 29.
Reading: Pereira, Mola, Mbengue, Bindon, Dorsett, Savage, Wing, Knibbs, Azeez, Elliott, Smith
Subs: Button, Dean, Mukairu, Ehibhatiomhan, Wareham, Abrefa, Rushesha
Cambridge United: Stevens, L Bennett, Andrew, Digby, Morrison, R Bennett, Brophy, Taylor, Kachunga, Cousins, Gibbons
Subs: Mannion, Lankester, Kaikai, Okedina, May, Ahadme, Bonne
Goals: Smith 11’, Azeez 45+2’, Wing 62’, Ehibhatiomhan 86’
