There was little in the game for 55 minutes but quickfire goals from Jack Marriott and Will Keane turned the tide decisively in the Royals’ favour as they ended a three-match winless run to boost their play-off push.

The visitors started well and Marriott saw a couple of early efforts blocked, but the home side had the best chance of the first half as Elliott List failed to beat Joel Pereira when one-on-one with the Reading goalkeeper.

That miss was ruthlessly punished when the the Royals scored twice in four minutes at the start of the second half.

Lewis Wing assisted both goals, first releasing Marriott to finish beyond Ross Fitzsimons, before his superb cross was headed home by Keane, who scored for the second straight game.

Northampton, now winless in eight league games, did not give up but they again failed to take their chances as Tom Eaves headed over when unmarked before he was denied by Pereira late on.