Dismal Town were easily defeated 2-0 by second-placed Reading at the Madejski Stadium. Richard Naylor netted an 18th minute own goal and Kevin Doyle scored the second after the break, while for the Blues Sam Parkin squandered a great chance and Adam Proudlock had a shot blocked when goal-bound.
Town lined-up in an unusual 3-5-2 formation with Fabian Wilnis joining Richard Naylor and Jason De Vos at the centre of the defence. Sito and Jay McEveley were employed as wing-backs with Owen Garvan dropping to the bench alongside recent loan signing Adam Proudlock.
Lewis Price was fit after his various injuries while away with Wales and Nicky Forster made his first start since his cartilage operation against his former club. Ex-Blue Chris Makin faced Town with a third new club in less than a year.
There was early controversy when Jason De Vos lost the ball to Kevin Doyle on halfway. The Irishman took the ball on and went to ground under the attention of the desperately retreating Town defender.
Referee Steve Tanner consulted with his linesman before issuing the Canadian with a yellow card with home crowd baying for a red. Anything more than a yellow would have been very harsh with Doyle tumbling very easily and the situation too far out to be considered an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
Chances were rare in the opening stages but Leroy Lita ought to have put the Royals in front in the 16th minute when Fabian Wilnis was caught in possession on the left by Bobby Convey. The American winger, who as a youngster had a spell training with the Blues, took the ball down the right before crossing to Lita who shot wide when he should have done better.
But two minutes later, the Royals were in front. Doyle was sent away on the right from what looked to be an offside position and crossed. Richard Naylor slid in ahead of Lita but only succeeded in slicing the ball past Lewis Price and into the net.
Naylor became the second Town player to get his name in the book shortly after his own goal for a late tackle on Doyle.
The Blues had the ball in the net just before the half hour only for it to be disallowed for handball. Jason De Vos flicked on a long throw to Nicky Forster who took it down with his chest and shot home on the turn, the ball catching his hand as he did so.
Forster could have had a legitimate goal in the 40th minute after blocking a clearance and giving himself a clear run on goal. Unfortunately for Town, the ex-Reading player took the ball too wide and out of play when going round keeper Marcus Hahnemann.
Reading thoroughly deserved their lead at the break, despite the dubious nature of the goal. Town had rarely kept hold of possession with Fabian Wilnis and Jay McEveley both guilty of sloppiness on numerous occasions.
Boss Joe Royle switched things around with Jason De Vos making way for Adam Proudlock, the loan signing making his debut on the right of midfield as Town moved to 4-4-2.
McEveley was punished for his laxness two minutes into the second half, the loanee from Blackburn surrendering possession to Glen Little on the right. The former Burnley man crossed to the far post where Doyle's header was just too strong for Price's right hand.
The Blues were very much second best with Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann a virtual spectator for much of the time. However, Town should have pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute when Proudlock whipped in a cross from the right which Parkin headed over when he should at least have tested Hahnemann.
Bobby Convey had the ball in the net for what he thought was Reading's third goal but a flag had been raised. Soon after, Nicky Forster's well-struck shot from Kevin Horlock's lay-off was saved by Hahnemann.
Reading were close to another goal in the 63rd minute when Lita struck a shot off the post and Doyle following up sent the ball against the bar. As Fabian Wilnis miskicked his overhead clearance there were calls for a penalty which were turned down by referee Tanner, any contact with the Dutchman's hand having been unintentional.
Lewis Price did well to save Lita's shot from a tight angle on the left with the Town defence again unhappy at the lack of an offside flag. On 69 Owen Garvan replaced Nicky Forster, the ex-Royal receiving a warm ovation from his old supporters. Proudlock joined Parkin in attack.
Price pushed Shorey's shot onto the roof of the net, then Wilnis became the latest Town player to be booked for a pull on Lita on the edge of the area. Convey sent the freekick over the bar.
Wilnis blocked a Harper shot as Reading continued to dominate and look for their third goal, prior to McEveley picking a yellow card for a foul on Brynjar Gunnarsson.
Proudlock was close to opening his Town goals account in the 82nd minute. Hahnemann dropped a cross and the former Sheffield Wednesday man shot goalwards only for the ball to strike the well-placed Ibrahima Sonko in the face and fly away from the target.
Bowditch replaced Currie and, after Price had saved from Reading sub Stephen Hunt, the England U19 international became the fifth Town player to receive a booking for a late tackle on Gunnarsson, the Icelander limping off soon after. A sixth yellow card would have seen Town receive an automatic £5,000 fine.
In injury time Dave Kitson sent a 30-yarder wide as Reading continued to push for a third goal.
Another poor away performance, against a Reading side who are certainly amongst the better teams Town have faced this season, Southampton perhaps the only more impressive opposition up to now. However, the Blues didn't help themselves particularly at the back with Wilnis having an uncharacteristically slipshod first half and McEveley once again seemingly unable to find a Town player with a pass.
With Currie and Magilton anonymous in the midfield, Town rarely enjoyed a spell of possession, while the strikers were as so often this season given little or no service.
Debutant Proudlock was one of the few bright spots, sending in a couple of decent crosses and showing his pace. But overall, another Sky performance to forget as soon as possible.
Town: Price, Sito, McEveley, De Vos (Proudlock 46), Naylor, Wilnis, Magilton, Currie (Bowditch 83), Horlock, Forster (Garvan 69), Parkin. Unused: Supple, Juan. Att: 17,581.