Patrick Roberts had scored just two goals in his Sunderland career before his double at Reading
Tony Mowbray saw Sunderland win for the second time in his three-games in charge thanks to three excellent team goals at Reading.
A poor first half came to life when Patrick Roberts scored twice in just under two minutes shortly before the break after two impressive counter-attacks.
The Black Cats sealed the win with another superb passing move which saw Jack Clarke finish with a confident strike midway through the second half.
Clarke should have made it 4-0 but he lifted an effort wide of the far post after being put through by Amad Diallo with nine minutes left.
The win moves Sunderland back into the play-off places after Bristol City lost at Norwich, while Reading remain in fourth position.
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Sunderland dominated the early possession but neither side created any sort of meaningful chance until Ellis Simms had an effort deflected high over the bar after some great build-up play while Reading's Mamadou Loum had the game's first effort on target after 34 minutes with a tame header from a corner.
The visitors' task was seemingly made harder when Simms was forced off with a foot problem - adding to new boss Tony Mowbray's injury issues in attack with Ross Stewart already out for six weeks with a thigh injury.
But Mowbray's men responded superbly as Roberts calmly curled a low left-footed effort into the bottom corner after being set free down the right wing by Elliot Embleton following an attack that began on the edge of their own 18-yard box.
Just 114 seconds later Roberts applied a similar finish having beaten a defender as he capped off another flowing attack from inside their own half.
Sunderland's third goal was even better as a seven-pass move which began inside their own area, and included two deft flicks, ended with Dan Neil's' perfectly weighted low cross finding Clarke who swept home right-footed.
Reading rarely troubled the visitors - a tame Tom Ince effort just before the break and off-target shots from Tyrese Fornah and Yakou Meite shortly after the third goal were all they could muster.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsReading
Formation 3-5-2
1Lumley3Holmes4Hutchinson5McIntyre17Yiadom8Hendrick22Loum19Fornah23Hoilett9Lucas João10Ince
- 1Lumley3Holmes4HutchinsonSubstituted forMeiteat 65'minutes5McIntyre17YiadomBooked at 71mins8Hendrick22LoumSubstituted forBabaat 45'minutes19Fornah23Hoilett9Lucas JoãoSubstituted forCraigat 85'minutes10Ince
Substitutes
- 11Meite12Baba18Guinness-Walker21Bouzanis30Abrefa35Ehibhatiomhan36Craig
Sunderland
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Patterson13O'Nien6Batth42Alese11Gooch24Neil4Evans20Clarke10Roberts21Pritchard9Simms
- 1Patterson13O'Nien6Batth42AleseBooked at 62mins11Gooch24Neil4EvansSubstituted forBennetteat 82'minutes20Clarke10RobertsSubstituted forDialloat 74'minutes21PritchardSubstituted forMateteat 74'minutes9SimmsSubstituted forEmbletonat 37'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Dajaku8Embleton12Bass16Diallo19Bennette27Matete32Hume
Referee:Matt DonohueMatch StatsHome TeamReadingAway TeamSunderlandPossessionHome36%Away64%ShotsHome6Away13Shots on TargetHome2Away6CornersHome3Away7FoulsHome16Away8Live TextPost update
Match ends, Reading 0, Sunderland 3.
90'+4'Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 0, Sunderland 3.
90'+3'Post update
Jewison Bennette (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Junior Hoilett (Reading).
90'+1'Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Ajibola Alese.
90'Post update
Foul by Daniel Neil (Sunderland).
90'Post update
Junior Hoilett (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Jay Matete (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89'Post update
Foul by Michael Craig (Reading).
88'Post update
Hand ball by Tom Ince (Reading).
87'Post update
Offside, Sunderland. Jay Matete tries a through ball, but Elliot Embleton is caught offside.
86'Post update
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Thomas Holmes.
86'Post update
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Joe Lumley.
86'Post update
Attempt saved. Jewison Bennette (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Amad Diallo.
85'Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Michael Craig replaces Lucas João.
85'Post update
Attempt missed. Junior Hoilett (Reading) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lucas João following a corner.
84'Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Lynden Gooch.
84'Post update
Foul by Jewison Bennette (Sunderland).
84'Post update
Thomas Holmes (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82'Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Jewison Bennette replaces Corry Evans.
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Source: bbc.com