Villa completed a deserved double against the struggling Royals, thanks to goals from Ashley Young and Marlon Harewood.

And Martin O'Neill's men could even afford the luxury of a Gareth Barry penalty miss as they made it five wins on the road this term.

Make no mistake, Villa were the better side at the Madejski Stadium and should have won by a wider margin.

Harper tested Carson with a rising shot from the edge of the box inside the first minute. The keeper collected at the second attempt.

Agbonlahor flashed a cross cum shot across the race of goal a minute later as he pounced on a Cisse mistake.

Carew might have broken the deadlock on five as he met a long ball from the back, but dragged a right-foot shot past the post.

Carew was released down the right by Young's clever ball on 12, but sliced his cross behind.

Young produced a meandering run from the halfway line on 16, but Hahnemann comfortably gathered a low drive.

Maloney was unable to scramble the ball over the line after great work down the left from Agbonlahor on 19.

Carew dragged a right-foot shot wide on 29 as he met Barry's through ball.

Davies sent a tame effort straight at Hahnemann two minutes later as Reading could only half clear a Young corner from the left.

Maloney's rising drive was blocked by Hunt on 32. Seconds later Villa had a penalty as Cisse handled Gardner's shot. Barry blazed wide from the spot.

Villa continued to press and Carew fired into the side netting from Maloney's cut back on 35.

Agbonlahor was crowded out as he tried to turn in the six-yard box on 39.

Laursen almost broke the deadlock as he rose to meet Young's free-kick on 44, but Hahnemann saved the close range effort.

Villa had a deserved lead on 45 as Agbonlahor broke down the right, cut back a low cross and Young hammered the ball into the roof of the net.

Hunt fired high over the Villa bar on 49 as the hosts looked for a positive start to the second-half.

Agbonlahor raced down the left on 55, but Young was unable to control a powerful cross to the far post.

Carson saved from Shorey on 63, but was unable to hold the ball. Davies scrambled clear.

Hahnemman palmed Agbonlahor's right-wing cross to safety on 66.

Agbonlahor fired over from close range after a strong run down the right and a cut back from Carew.

Carson blocked a dangerous Shorey free-kick on 69, with Laursen completing the clearance.

A lapse from Barry almost allowed the hosts back into the game on 71 as his ack pass was intercepted. Fortunately Kitson fired over from distance.

Harewood sent a tame low drive from the edge of the box straight at Hahnemann on 76.

The Reading keeper then did well to deny Carew seconds later, palming a rising effort to safety.

Hahnemann brilliantly denied Young on 80, blocking a low angled drive.

Harewood doubled Villa's lead on 84, brilliantly slotting home a curled effort as he broke quickly with Young.

Murty somehow denied Carew on 88 as Villa broke again and the Norwegian met Harewood's far-post cross from the right.

Carson and Gardner combined to deny Hunt on 90 as Reading looked for what would surely be a consolation.

Carew fired over the bar as he raced in from the left in stoppage time.

Shorey reduced the arrears with a well taken free-kick with what was effectively the final kick of the game.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Cisse, Sonko (booked 43), Oster, Kitson, Harper, Matejovsky (booked 53). Subs: Ingimarsson, Bikey, Long, Kebe (for Oster 58), Federici.

VILLA: Carson, Bouma, Laursen, Barry, Young, Carew, Agbonlahor, Davies, Reo-Coker, Gardner (booked 52), Maloney. Subs: Harewood (for Maloney 74), Taylor, Knight, Salifou, Osbourne (for Reo-Coker 87).