READING FC made it two wins on the spin for the first time this season with an emphatic 4-2 victory over Derby County at Pride Park.

Royals flew into the lead when Liam Moore rose highest at the far post to turn home a Paul McShane flick following John Swift’s delightful free-kick.

And Stam’s men were in dreamland minutes later when Swift found Sone Alike inside the area, who crashed a sensational shot past the helpless Scott Carson.

Roy Beerens made it 3-0 in the second-half when he got on the end of a horrendous Curtis Davies back-pass to steer Reading towards certain victory.

A slight error from Vito Mannone allowed Johnny Russel to pull one back from the hosts, but Modou Barrow restored Reading’s cushion minutes later with a back-post tap-in in front of 738 travelling supporters.

Chris Martin pinched a late second for the hosts but it was too little too late as Royals cruised to their second away victory of the season.

Young striker Sam Smith and midfielder Joey van den Berg both missed out through injury and were replaced by Roy Beerens and Omar Richards, who was handed his full league debut at Pride Park.

Meanwhile there were placed on the bench of Axel Andresson and in-form Josh Barrett, who has been in scitintilating form for Royals’ Under 23s.

Yann Kermorgant was not deemed fit enough to start the game and Stam instead opted for Aluko to lead Royals’ attack.

Reading came flying out of the blocks and could have taken the lead when Aluko picked up the ball on the edge of the area before sending his left-footed shot over the crossbar.

Royals have often struggled in the opening periods of games this season, but Stam’s side quickly went ahead in the ninth minute when John Swift’s perfectly placed free-kick was flicked on by skipper Paul McShane, leaving an unmarked Moore to fire Royals in front at the back post.

And their dream start continued four minutes later when the in-form Swift picked out Aluko cutting in from the right-hand-side of the area.

The 28-year-old took a touch before blasting Stam’s side in to a two-goal lead at Pride Park, sparking fury amongst the Rams’ faithful.

Royals continued to look confident in their play as Gary Rowett’s team struggled to break down Reading’s resolute defence.

The hosts did eventually find a bit of momentum but Royals managed to win the ball back and take the sting out of the game.

Andre Wisdom darted in to the box and looked set to square the ball for a gilt-edged opportunity but he was thwarted by young Richards.

The home crowd started to get behind their team but Royals looked comfortable and took a two-goal lead into half-time.

Derby started the second-half quickly Craig Forsyth whipped a dangerous looking cross across the face of goal but it was cleared for a corner.

Royals were then handed yet another injury blow when Aluko clashed with Tom Huddlestone and was forced to withdraw from the field, being replaced by veteran forward Kermorgant.

But the 36-year-old made an immediate impact when he flicked on a long ball from Mannone into the path of Barrow.

Curtis Davies picked up the ball but his terribly placed back-pass fell straight into the path of the on-rushing Beerens, who took a touch before firing past Scott Carson for 3-0 in the 54th minute.

And it could have been four for Reading when Richards sent Beerens racing along the left flank. Royals were two on two with the Derby defence and the Dutchman tried to pick out Barrow, who squandered the opportunity.

The Gambian international squandered another chance minutes later when he picked up the ball on the back post before wrong-footing a defender.

Barrow only needed to hit the target but he sent his shot wide of Carson’s post.

The hosts finally got themselves back into the game in the 78th minute when Mannone’s poor clearance fell straight to Russell.

The Derby midfielder took a touch before crashing his shot against the post and into the back of the net, potentially sparking a nervy final 20 minutes for Reading.

But Stam's men resorted their three-goal cushion in the 90th minute and this time Barrow made no mistake when he got on the end of an Edwards pull-back to tap the ball into the back of the net.

Rams snatched a second goal in injury time through substitute Chris Martin after Tyler Blackett gave the ball away, much to the dismay of Royals boss Stam.

But Reading held firm to achieve their second win on the bounce in style and will take plenty of momentum into the upcoming international break.

Derby: Carson, Wisdom, Keogh (Pearce,8), Davies, Forsyth, Huddlestone, Johnson, Russel, Nugent, Lawrence, Winnal (Martin, 64). Subs not used: Baird, Weimann, Vydra, Thorne, Mitchell. Booked: Winnall 23, Nugent 60, Johnson 81, Martin 84.

Reading: Mannone, Gunter, Richards (Blackett 75), McShane (c), Moore, Edwards, Bacuna, Swift, Beerens, Barrow (Clement 90), Aluko (Kermorgant 53). Subs not used: Jaakkola, Popa, Andresson, Barrett. Booked: Gunter 32, Barrow 67, Mannone 84.

Referee: Keith Stroud.
Attendance: 25,929 (Reading 758).