Summer signings Scott Murray and Shaun Goater both scored on their home debuts while midfielder Steven Sidwell continued his run of scoring in every game this season as Reading achieved an impressive home win over Nottingham Forest.
Sidwell needed the help of a massive deflection to beat Darren Ward and secure a breakthrough for the home side early in the second half, but victory was no more than Reading deserved in a highly entertaining clash of last season's beaten play-off finalists.
Welsh international keeper Ward had looked like being the Forest hero after he brilliantly beat out a first-half penalty from Nicky Shorey to preserve parity in an action-packed first half.
But there was nothing the keeper could do about Sidwell's opener four minutes after the restart after the England Under-21 midfielder brilliantly volleyed a Kevin Watson corner and saw his shot wickedly deflected with the keeper diving the other way.
Ward would have been unhappy at being beaten again on the hour as Murray bagged his first goal of the season, although the goal was brilliant in its execution.
Substitute Watson was again the architect, curling a superb pass to release Murray, whose low shot slipped through the grasp of Ward and over the line.
Watson's first-half introduction changed the game in Reading's favour as Alan Pardew moved swiftly to replace the ineffective John Salako with the former Rotherham playmaker.
Reading dominated from that point and Goater underlined victory with a third goal 11 minutes from time, latching onto Nicky Forster's throughball and beating Ward with a clinical low finish.