Reading earned successive league wins for the first time since August when they beat fellow relegation candidates Carlisle United 5-1 at the SCL Stadium, lifting them off the foot of the League One table.

Harvey Knibbs and an own goal had Reading 3-1 ahead in a tight first half, while Femi Azeez and Lewis Wing added breathing space to resoundingly back up Saturday’s 2-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers.

A slow starting game, with both sides struggling at the foot of the third-tier table, it took 15 minutes for the first clear chance of the game. Knibbs drove from his own penalty box, after intercepting a corner, and ran deep into the Carlisle half. Reaching the edge of the penalty box, the midfielder threaded through Femi Azeez one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Lacking a cool head, the winger prodded the ball wide of the far post.

He cleared another shot over the bar 10 minutes later, but within minutes the Royals had taken the lead in strange circumstances. Mukariu fed Jeriel Dorsett on the edge of the box, and the left-back’s cross was diverted into the back of his own net by Carlisle captain Lavelle. Hoping to build on the lead, within seconds the visitors were level as Andy Yiadom allowed Dylan McGeough to cross into the box and David Button was rooted to the line as substitute Plange converted with ease.

Again, the Cumbrians were unable to settle and Azeez’s clever run resulted in a low cross which was bundled over the line by Knibbs to retake the lead. In the only well-worked move of the half, Mukariu and Lewis Wing battled well to feed Knibbs in the box and his clever turn and finish evaded Tomas Holy between the sticks to put daylight between the struggling sides. Sam Smith should have added a fourth in stoppage time, his shot well-held after being threaded through by Knibbs. The former Cambridge man nearly got his hattrick in the closing stages of the half, but Azeez’s cutback was narrowly intercepted before reaching Knibbs.

Looking to recover some of the deficit they had given away in the first half, it was the visitors who did all the running for most of the second half. Dorsett was required to clear off the line within minutes of the restart as Moxon’s corner was flicked goal bound. Button was required to be even sharper minutes later, saving at the feet of Plange after being fed through. A period lacking any real quality, Reading were tidy in possession and largely kept the Cumbrians at bay, but without testing Holy often enough.

With the memories of Shrewsbury Town fresh in the minds, where Reading conceded twice in stoppage time to lose 3-2, supporters could not truly relax when the margin was only two. The ground breathed a sigh of relief, minus the 500 travelling fans in the South Stand, when Wing swept home a pass from Azeez from long distance to add the gloss of the fourth and secure a much-needed win. There were louder cheers five minutes later as Azeez latched onto a long punt forward and powered a shot low and under Holy, finally picking up his first goal of the season after many attempts.

Twinned with Cheltenham Town’s defeat at Charlton Athletic, Ruben Selles’ men moved off the bottom of the league and just five points adrift of safety heading into a duo of cup matches.

Non-league Eastleigh host the Royals in the FA Cup on Sunday, while Charlton awaits next Wednesday in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.