Reading 3-1 Stoke

Goals from Steve Sidwell, Kevin Doyle and John Halls helped Reading ease past Stoke and break the 100-point barrier.

Sidwell deservedly handed the Championship winners the lead with a thumping header after 25 minutes.

Irishman Doyle then made it two from the spot after being hauled down by Carl Hoefkens, before Adam Rooney's close-range finish gave Stoke hope.

But Halls turned in Stephen Hunt's pass to put the hosts on 102 points - three short of Sunderland's record.

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Reading manager Steve Coppell
"If the records come, so be it, but it's not something I worry about.

"People talk about the prestige of beating records but prestige never bought me dinner in a restaurant. It's winning games that does that.

"Today it was the turn of some of the first-choice players to sit it out and be supportive and they all were.

"It's twee to say that players are playing for their future when these end-of-season games come around, but that's not true. Management should be capable of judging players over 43 or 46 games in a season."

Stoke acting first team coach Noel Blake:
"I thought we did better than in the defeat to Southampton on Saturday.

"In the first half we were slightly off the pace but in the second we were a lot better although we switched off at the back for their third goal.

"Reading are champions and that's because they are a very, very good team. They fight for each other and fill in for each other."

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Reading: Stack, Shorey (Golbourne 64), Makin, Sonko, Halls, Ingimarsson, Sidwell (Dobson 54), Gunnarsson, Hunt, Doyle (Cox 71), Long.
Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Kitson.

Goals: Sidwell 25, Doyle 56 pen, Halls 62.

Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Dickinson, Duberry, Hill, Mbuyi, Kopteff (Rooney 45), Brammer, Russell, Sweeney (Gallagher 51), Bangoura (Henry 71).
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Broomes.

Goals: Rooney 59.

Att: 22,119

Ref: S Mathieson (Cheshire).