Villa dominated proceedings and made it four wins out of four over the Royals at Villa Park.

John Carew scored the only goal of the first half with a flicked header from an Ashley Young cross. And set-piece specialist Martin Laursen doubled Villa's advantage with a cracking header 10 minutes into the second half.

Carew made it 3-0 with a clincal finish three minutes from time before James Harper slotted home a consolation effort at the death.

Petrov let fly with a 20 yarder after a good lay-off from Gardner but the 10th minute strike was well saved by Hahnemann.

Agbonlahor broke well down the left after a super pass from Young on 17 but the striker's cross was too close to the goalkeeper.

Gardner did brilliantly to stop Hunt in his tracks after an impressive Reading break on 19.

Agbonlahor looked to have been impeded by Gunnarson on 20 after a lovely chipped pass from Carew but referee Rennie waved play on,

Carew opened the scoring on 24, when he glanced home Young's exquisite cross from the left.

Former Villa man de la Cruz was booked on 27, after holding on to Agbonlahor.

Petrov let fly with another crunching 20 yarder but it flew just too high after a deflection on 30.

Bouma floated in a cross on 37 but Carew's flicked effort was too weak and failed to trouble Hahnemann.

Kitson fired wide with the goal at his mercy on 42 when it looked easier to score.

Carew saw a shot fly wide after a sharp turn on the stroke of half-time.

Hahnemann was booked on 48 for a crude challenge on Agbonlahor just outside the box.

Barry saw a deflected shot richochet to Hahnemann after good build up play from Reo-Coker on 54..

Laursen made it 2-0 to the home side with a thumping header on 55 from a cracking Young corner.

Laursen nearly scored again with an almost similar header on 58 but Hahnemann managed to get down to save it on the line.

There was plenty of confusion in the Villa box on 62 but the home side managed to clear the danger.

Petrov managed to head clear after an inswinging Shorey cross on 64. Carson then produced goalkeeping heroics with a classic save from a flicked Gunnarson header on 65.

Convey replaced de la Cruz on 72 as Reading swapped a defender for an attacking player.

Barry saw a flicked header from a Young corner fly just over the bar on 74. A minute later, the Villa skipper just couldn't reach Carew's equisite cross.

Lita replaced Kitson on 76 as Coppell looked for an injection of pace up front.

Set-piece hero Laursen nearly scored with a header again but it went just past Hahnemann's left hand post on 80. Carew turned magnificently and his shot was brilliantly tipped over by the Reading goalkeeper straight after.

Carew made it 3-0 with a clinical close range finish on 87 after good work down the left from Agbonlahor.

Long replaced Doyle on 89 but Villa countered that with three changes. Maloney replaced Young, Harewood came on for Agbonlahor and Salifou replaced Agbonlahor on 90.

Harper slotted past Carson to pull one back right at the end of the game.

VILLA: Carson; Bouma, Gardner, Davies, Laursen; Petrov, Barry, Reo-Coker, Young; Carew, Agbonlahor. Subs: Taylor, Harewood, Knight, Maloney, Salifou.

Reading: Hahnemann (booked); Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Cisse; Gunnarson, Hunt, Harper, De La Cruz (booked) (Covney, 72), Kitson (Lita, 76), Doyle (Long, 89). Subs: Federici, Lita, Convey, Long, Pearce.