READING FC were punished by League One leaders Portsmouth in front of a packed out crowd at Fratton Park as they were picked apart in the second-half after failing to take their first-half chances.
After several missed chances from the visitors, Paddy Lane’s goal put the table toppers ahead before the break.
The sold out crowd watched on as their team put on a clinical second-half display, putting them four goals ahead before Charlie Savage hit a late consolation for the Royals.
The Royals are left looking nervously over their shoulders after dropping down to 18th spot, three points above the bottom four.
The result means Reading drop down to 19th in the table and are just three points above the bottom four.
With 20 minutes to go, Selles made a triple change which saw Charlie Savage, Ben Elliott and Kelvin Abrefa replace Wing, Ehibhatiomhan and Yiadom
Ruben Selles opted to make two changes after Reading pegged back late at Fleetwood to deny them a midweek victory.
Captain Andy Yiadom returned at right-back to make it his 200th appearance for the club.
Michael Craig replaced Charlie Savage in central midfield, while Sam Smith was only fit enough to make the bench which meant there was another start up top for Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.
Despite the gulf in the league table with Reading facing the league leaders, it was the visitors who dominated the opening half an hour.
The Royals had plenty of chances to draw first blood, but were unable to find a clinical edge to give themselves the lead they deserved.
Femi Azeez forced a save from Will Norris with a strike from distance before Paul Mukairu was unable to profit on the rebound, putting his cross straight into the arms of the keeper.
Moments later, a silky turn from Lewis Wing opened an opportunity for himself on his right foot but his shot went straight down the throat of the Pompey stopper.
Ruben Selles’ men continued to look confident building from the back and got into Pompey’s final third several times as the hosts failed to get out of second gear for the first 30 minutes.
Reading’s best chance of the half came for Mukairu when a clipped cross from Ehibhatioman was met by the forward who swung the outside of his boot at the ball but sent his volley over from just six yards out.
The chances kept coming, but without any change to the scoreline as a threaded ball from Wing to Ehibhatiomhan ended in just a corner after some smart goalkeeping from Norris to rush out at the feet of the striker.
Reading were ultimately punished for not putting away their chances when Pompey opened the scoring in the 26th minute through Paddy Lane.
After they worked the ball wide, Lane’s shot at the near post squirmed past David Button to find the net.
John Mousinho’s side could have doubled their advantage just before the break when a stray pass across midfield from Mukairu handed possession to Lane who missed the far post by a whisker.
Pompey had the first sight of goal after the restart when Sean Raggett headed wide of Button’s far post.
Just four minutes into the second-half, the hosts put themselves in control of the contest when Marlon Pack danced his way past a Reading body in the box before he planted the ball into the far corner with a sublime finish.
Selles reacted quickly by making a change which saw Smith replace Mukairu.
Smith tried to make an early impact when he found some space to release a strike, but it was gathered easily by Norris.
Pompey showed well and truly why they’re the team fighting at the top of the table when they added a third to put the game to bed when Callum Lang arrowed a shot into the far corner.
Wing came agonisingly close to clawing a goal back when his free-kick struck the underside of the crossbar and stayed out.
Portsmouth put more gloss on the scoreline when Button came to take a cross but fumbled the ball at the feet of Colby Bishop who placed the ball into an empty net.
Reading now look ahead to huge games to determine their season with home matches against relegation rivals Port Vale on Tuesday followed by Shrewsbury next Saturday.
Portsmouth: Norris, Rafferty, Shaughnessy, Raggett, Ogilvie, Moxon, Pack, Kamara, Lang, Lane, Bishop
Subs: Macey, Towler, Sparkes, Whyte, Martin, Saydee, Yengi
Reading: Button, Yiadom, Bindon, Mbengue, Craig, Wing, Knibbs, Azeez, Mukairu, Ehibhatiomhan
Subs: Pereira, Elliott, Savage, Smith, Monlouis, Wareham, Abrefa
Goals: Lane 36’, Pack 49’, Lang 58’, Bishop 80′, Savage 88′
