Aston Villa secure emphatic win over hapless Reading

Aston Villa have claimed an emphatic 3-0 win over Reading in Tuesday night's Championship clash at Villa Park.

The hosts applied pressure from the off, with Jack Grealish and Birkir Bjarnason weighing in with early chances against their opponents.

Reading then suffered a major setback on 30 minutes when Dave Edwards was sent off for a second yellow card, the Wales international clattering into Bjarnason.

Although Paul Clement's side survived unscathed until the break, Villa went on to take the lead shortly after the restart.

Robert Snodgrass played the ball into the path of Bjarnason, who curled a precise finish beyond the reach of goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

Villa's second came just after the hour, Snodgrass once again the provider with a delivery which was nodded home by Conor Hourihane.

Reading struggled to cope with their opponents' attacking endeavour and goal number three duly came on 70 minutes, Scott Hogan robbing the ball off Mannone and slotting into an empty net.

ASTON VILLA (4-1-4-1): Johnstone; Elmohamady, Chester, Terry, Taylor; Bjarnason; Snodgrass (Onomah 66'), Grealish (Whelan 75'), Hourihane, Adomah (Kodjia 66'); Hogan

READING (4-2-3-1): Mannone; Gunter, Blackett, Moore, Ilori; Edwards, Evans (Kelly 65'); Bacuna, Aluko (Martin 73'), Barrow; Smith (Clement 46')