Two goals in as many second-half minutes ensured that Watford manager Brendan Rodgers endured a miserable return to the Madejski Stadium as Reading closed the gap on Coca-Cola Championship leaders Wolves following the win.

Left-back Chris Armstrong scored his first goal for the club to give the Royals a deserved lead before half-time in a game littered with unforced errors in freezing conditions.

Strikers Noel Hunt and Kevin Doyle then helped themselves to goals midway through the second period before Leroy Lita grabbed a late fourth as Watford capitulated thanks to some wretched defending.