Reading picked up a first away win since November to progress to the second round of the Carabao Cup after a side with an average age of under 21 blew away a full-strength Millwall outfit 0-4 at the Den.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan netted two quick goals at the start of each half, Charlie Savage netted his first for the club and so did Mamadi Camara as Ruben Selles picked up his first win of his Reading career to progress in the League Cup.

Not since November 2022, against Hull City, had the Royals won on their travels, much to the delight of the 600+ visiting supporters.

It took under 60 seconds for the visitors to spring a surprise on the experienced hosts, getting on the end of a long throw and giving the ball to Ehibhatiomhan, who expertly lobbed over the onrushing Bartosz Bialkowski to send the travelling supporters into ecstasy.

You would think they would maybe lose their concentration, as with the phrase being most prone to conceding after you have scored. Well, you would be wrong, with Reading bossing the early stages as the hosts froze. Frustrating the players on the pitch, and supporters in the stands, the youngsters more than matched their opponents and were constantly looking to spring a counterattack on Gary Rowett’s men.

Aerially dominant, it was no surprise to see their best chance fall to former Royal Jake Cooper, but his header failed to trouble Coniah Boyce-Clarke in the net. The supporters made sure the home players knew they needed to give more, and they certainly looked to force the issue. However, skipper Nelson Abbey and newbie Tyler Bindon were in control from the start, with Boyce-Clarke needing to use his hands just once to stop a long-range strike. Caylan Vickers and Mamadi Camara both enjoyed productive first half displays, looking to create for the imperious Ehibhatiomhan. Battling through seven minutes of stoppage time, half the job was done and the hosts trapsed off to a smattering of boos from the East London faithful, while the visitors were serenaded by the 700 or so travelling fans.

Fast starters in the first half, the Royals hit early in the second too as Ehibhatiomhan grabbed his brace in a goalmouth scramble after Caylan Vickers hit the post. Visibly stunned, the home supporters at the Den were apoplectic throughout as the high-flying Championship side continued to get beaten to the ball by an eager Reading outfit. Not without their efforts, Boyce-Clarke was forced to palm a near-post effort behind for a corner while Cooper came close again with a header. If the visiting fans were on the moon before, they were dancing on the stars with 25 minutes remaining as substitute Savage curled a delightful free-kick into the top corner- a cue for many home supporters to head for the exit.

 Just to add the cherry on the top of a delicious cake, Mamadi Camara tucked home in the final minute to complete the rout and empty the once fierce Den.

Over 1,000 now travel to Port Vale on Saturday, hoping to back up this scintillating performance with a crucial league win.