At a time of goodwill to all, it was Birmingham City who were the grateful beneficiaries of numerous extremely kind gifts from the Royals defence.

A first-half hat-trick from Demarai Gray and goals from Paul Caddis, Andy Shinnie and David Cotterill ensured Reading fell to their heaviest defeat of the season.

Nigel Adkins had eased some of the pressure over his own job with four points from the last six, and he kept faith with the team from last Saturday's 0-0 draw with Bolton, making just one enforced change.

Simon Cox came in for the injured Hal Robson-Kanu, who missed out with a hamstring strain.

Adkins stuck with the young centre-back partnership of Michael Hector and Jake Cooper but it was a decision that would backfire as Reading were ripped to pieces by the hosts.

Questions will inevitably be asked of any manager after a comprehensive defeat but the repetitive manner of many Reading losses this season will mean that the pressure will once again be heaped on the Royals boss.

The opening goal set the tone for the afternoon defensively as Reading switched off to gift the hosts the lead within four minutes.

Jake Cooper conceded a cheap free-kick on the edge of the box after bringing down Clayton Donaldson but that was just the beginning.

Cotterill and Jonathan Grounds stood over the ball before rolling it to an unmarked Caddis on the edge of the box to curl the ball past Adam Federici.

It was a nightmare start for Royals but they had two golden chances to equalise shortly after.

Simon Cox met a Jordan Obita cross in the middle of the box but saw his effort parried away, whilst Murray could only guide the ball into Darren Randolph's hands when placed in a similar position moments later.

Reading were made to pay almost instantly as a long ball wasn't dealt with and Gray picked it up and drove towards goal unchallenged before firing low past Federici.

It was the start of a nightmare for Royals but things did get slightly better before they got much, much worse.

In the 19th minute, Garath McCleary's over-hit cross was returned by Obita and Murray was on hand to head home his first goal in over 500 minutes of league action.

The on-loan strike rose highest to loop a header over the stranded Randolph and seemingly give Reading a platform to stage a comeback.

Instead, the Royals perfomed their favoured act of gifting a goal to the opposition.

Cooper sliced a clearance under no pressure on the edge of his own box and Gray picked up the loose ball to beat Chris Gunter and fire across Federici into the far left-hand corner.

The hosts were enjoying long spells of possession and forced a few corners before the break but they came to nothing.

With half-time looming it got worse for the visitors as Reading lost the ball in midfield and were exposed to a three-on-two break.

David Davis slipped the ball to Gray and he calmly slotted the ball home to complete his hat-trick.

Reading's players looked round shell-shocked but they only had themselves to blame for the way in which Birmingham had cut them apart with ease once again.

Perhaps surprisingly, Adkins didn't make any changes at the break and within 30 seconds it looked a poor decision as Shinnie advanced down the right-hand side and cut inside Cooper before beating Federici at his near post.

It was a terrible start to the half for Reading and things got worse when a Cotterill free-kick from out wide beat everybody and went straight in at the far post in the 60th minute.

Adkins reacted five minutes later by bringing on Alex Pearce but in truth, he should've been on by half-time at the latest in place of either Cooper or Hector.

The introduction of Pearce calmed things down slightly and only a few more chances came at either end in a lacklustre ending.

Donaldson was denied by Federici, whilst Cotterill went close to a goal of a season contender with a chipped effort from 40 yards that landed on the roof of the net.

Murray hit the bar at the other end late on but it would've scarcely been a consolation for the travelling Royals faithful.

Reading Adam Federici; Chris Gunter (c), Jake Cooper, Michael Hector (Alex Pearce '66), Stephen Kelly; Garath McCleary, Danny Williams (Jake Tayor '80), Oliver Norwood, Jordan Obita (Nick Blackman '75); Simon Cox, Glenn Murray. Subs: Mikkel Andersen, Aaron Tshibola, Shaun Cummings, Jack Stacey.

Birmingham City Darren Randolph; Jonathan Grounds, Paul Robinson, Stephen Gleeson, Clayton Donaldson (Nikola Zigic '83); David Cotterill, Andy Shinnie (Guy Moussi '78), David Davis, Michael Morrison, Paul Caddis, Dearai Gray. Subs: Colin Doyle, David Edgar, Wes Thomas, Lee Novak, Callum Reilly.

Attendance: 15,240.