Steve Sidwell and John Salako grabbed two goals each as Reading thrashed Burnley.

Substitute Darius Henderson was also on target for the Royals as he grabbed a fifth goal in stoppage time.

Ian Moore and Dean West's strikes, the latter in the dying seconds of the game, were the only bright spots on an otherwise dismal afternoon for the home supporters.

Those fans demonstrated their anger at several contentious decisions by throwing missiles on to the pitch in the second half.

It was Reading's first away win since November while Burnley saw a seven-game unbeaten run shattered.

Alan Pardew's side opened the scoring when James Harper released Sidwell and the former Arsenal man slipped the ball under goalkeeper Marlon Beresford.

It was 2-0 when Salako latched on to a hopeful ball from Harper, cut inside Little and found the far corner of Beresford's net.

Seven minutes later Salako effectively put the game beyond Burnley's reach with a volley from Andy Hughes' cross.

Moore gave the Clarets a lifeline with a close-range strike only for Burnley hopes to be dashed when Dimitri Papadopoulos' penalty was saved by Marcus Hahnemann.

Sidwell soon showed Papadopoulos how it should be done when he restored Reading's three-goal cushion from the penalty spot and then Henderson grabbed Reading's fifth.

West's stunning late strike, drilled into the top corner from just outside the penalty area, at least served to cheer the departing Burnley fans.

Burnley: Beresford, West, Diallo, Gnohere, McGregor, Briscoe, Cook, Grant, Ian Moore, Blake, Taylor. Subs: Michopoulos, Little, Cox, Alan Moore, Papadopoulos.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Williams, Brown, Shorey, Salako, Harper, Sidwell, Hughes, Newman, Forster. Subs: Mackie, Cureton, Ashdown, Tyson, Henderson.

Referee: R Pearson (Co Durham).