On a huge day for Royals at Buckingham Palace, Reading delivered themselves this afternoon as they recorded their first league win since a narrow 2-1 victory over Brighton on Tuesday, March 10.

Steve Clarke's side led from the second minute through Kwesi Appiah and never looked back against a lacklustre Derby side.

A second half strike from Michael Hector and a late Garath McCleary penalty sealed the win as Reading ran out comfortable winners to grab all three points.

The result means Reading end the season in 19th but Clarke will be given great encouragement from what he saw today – especially from Tariqe Fosu who was superb.

Hector was also fantastic once again and what a way to end a season where he's turned himself into one of the first names on the teamsheet.

The Reading boss made five changes from the team that lost in midweek as Adam Federici, Alex Pearce, McCleary, Jack Stacey and Appiah came into the side.

It was just a second start in a Reading shirt for Kwesi Appiah and it took him 107 seconds to net his first goal for the Royals.

A loose pass from Will Hughes saw Appiah steal the ball in midfield and round Raul Albentosa before cutting inside Richard Keogh and slotting the ball home.

The defending was questionable but it was total composure from Appiah to finish off the opportunity and Derby's quest for the play-offs had got off to the worst start possible.

It was a nervous opening from the hosts but they started to settle down and soon started to test Federici .

Ince forced a low save from a long-range free-kick before Bent's curling shot called the Reading 'keeper into action again.

Johnny Russell then flashed a shot wide of Federici's near post as the home crowd roared their side on.

Unfortunately for Derby though, Reading had picked today to produce their best performance in the league for some time and they came within inches of making it 2-0 in the 38th minute.

Nathaniel Chalobah was brought down on the right-hand side of the box and Oliver Norwood bent a free-kick towards the bottom left but Grant managed to just claw it away.

Despite Reading being comfortable throughout, Derby were presented with a golden chance to level in added time.

Jordan Obita hauled down Johnny Russell in the area and James Linington had no choice but to point to the spot.

Darren Bent stepped up and fired his ffort low to Federici's right but the Royals' Player of the Season dived to his right and tipped it wide, much to the delight of Obita who raced to his goalkeeper to thank him.

Derby came out in the second half to a rapturous reception from an expectant home crowd but it was Reading that enjoyed the better chances in an edgy second half.

Tariqe Fosu – who replaced the injured Stacey midway through the first period – tested Grant with a fizzing drive just moments after the restart before dragging an effort wide when well placed moments later.

The tricky winger was having a fine game and it was his effort that led to the second goal as his curling effort was tipped over by Grant.

From the resulting corner, a scramble ensued in the box and the ball fell kindly to Hector, who fired low and hard past Grant.

Derby were poor throughout and seldom tested Federici despite the important of the game from their perspective.

Reading were the first to every ball and looked the more likely to add to the scoreline late on as Derby pushed forward in numbers.

The visitors did eventually get a third in the 86th minute when McCleary converted a penalty low to Grant's right-hand side after the Derby 'keeper had brought down Karacan.

It was a textbook away performance by Reading to end their season on a high but it does beg the question of where this side has been for the past two months?

Reading Federici - Gunter, Hector, Pearce, Obita, Karacan (Williams '86th), Chalobah, Norwood (Cooper '90), Stacey (Fosu '30), Appiah, McCleary. Subs: Andersen, Cooper, Kelly, Williams, Fosu, Blackman, Cox.

Derby County Grant, Shotton, Keogh, Albentosa (Ward '73), Forsyth, Warnock (Lingard '33), Hughes, Hendrick, Russell (Martin '45), Ince, Bent. Subs: Roos, Christie, Rawson, Ward, Lingard, Sammon, Martin.

Attendance 30, 806 (625) Referee James Linington