Reading 0 Ipswich Town 4
Lowly Ipswich overran fellow Coca-Cola Cup quarter-finalists Reading to gain their first league away win of the season.
It was the sixth time in seven visits the Suffolk side have won at Elm Park. Star of the show for Ipswich was striker David Johnson, making only his second appearance since his £1.1million move from Bury.
Johnson scored once and made another against a Reading side barely recognisable as the team which won 3-2 at Leeds in midweek.
There were early signs it was not going to be Reading's day. Carl Asaba looked set to score when put through by Martin Williams, but collided with Jason Cundy and had his penalty appeal rejected by Darwen referee Tony Leake.
And luck was against Reading in the 26th minute when Ipswich took the lead through Matt Holland.
Kieron Dyer and James Scowcroft combined to create the opening. Holland's shot took a fierce deflection off defender Phil Parkinson which completely wrong footed Nicky Hammond.
Four minutes later Ipswich went further ahead. Scowcroft was again involved before Johnson shrugged off a challenge by Keith McPherson to score his second goal in two games.
Ipswich were home and dry four minutes into the second half and this time Johnson played the role of provider.
McPherson dwelt on the ball too long, enabling Johnson to rob him and roll it across to Scowcroft.
He had plenty of time to score his third goal of the season - his first since missing five matches because of a knee injury.
Three minutes from time substitute Richard Naylor, making his first appearance since being injured in March, added a fourth for Ipswich.
The win moved them a point above Reading in the first division table.
Bernal
Booty
