Match Report: Boro 5 Reading 0

Chuba Akpom etched his name into the Boro history books and Aaron Ramsey scored his first goals for the club as Michael Carrick’s side put Reading to the sword at the Riverside.

Akpom passed the 20-goal mark for league fixtures with the opening strike of an impressive rout that saw Boro reduce the gap on second-placed Sheffield United to four points once again.

Marcus Forss was also on target with a second half penalty as Boro scored five goals in a home league game for the first time since 2008.

Boro were on the front foot from the off, and Amadou Mbengue almost put through his own goal inside two minutes after a terrific driving run from Hayden Hackney.

It was one-way traffic and Ramsey had a goalbound effort blocked, Riley McGree screwed a shot wide, and the visitors threw their bodies in the way of numerous balls into the box.

Boro were playing some good stuff, and the opportunity to take the lead came when Andy Yiadom used a hand to deny Ramsey. It was Akpom’s big moment from the spot and he made no mistake to become the first Boro player to score 20 league goals in a season since Bernie Slaven in 1989/90.

Referee Keith Stroud had another decision to make when Cameron Archer had a shot blocked and the ball deflected to a Reading hand. The referee also pulled up Riley McGree who knocked the ball from the loose control of one of Dean Bouzanis hands just inside the box.

An offside flag spoiled the fun before half-time when Cameron Archer converted a Ryan Giles cross and thought for a moment he had doubled the advantage.

Naby Sarr made a vital block and Akpom was inches away from scoring again when his header came back off the upright.

The second goal did come in first half stoppage time when Ramsey ran from inside his own half before tucking the ball home with aplomb to register his first goal for the club.

Boro’s advantage was further just three minutes into the second half when Akpom converted a Giles cross with some style to make it 3-0.

Giles is the leading provider of goals in the Championship and claimed another assist when he teed up Ramsey for his second of the afternoon.

It was no less than Boro deserved and Carrick’s side continued to gnaw away at the Royals. Bouzanis had to be alert to cut out a Dan Barlaser cross when Akpom was well-placed to head home.

There was time for a fifth goal when Stroud awarded Boro another penalty and Forss stepped up to convert from the spot.

It was Boro's best Riverside league win since Man City were beaten 8-1 back in 2008.