Blues made the perfect start just six minutes in when in-form Scott Hogan lobbed onrushing Reading goalkeeper Rafael.

But the visitors came out firing on all cylinders after the break, with goals from Matt Miazga and Yakou Meite in quick succession to put them in front.

Reading added a third through Pele to record just their third win in 12 league games.

Birmingham took the lead after the visitors failed to deal with Marc Roberts' long ball early on, allowing Hogan to run clear of their defence.

The Republic of Ireland international's clever dinked finish looped over Rafael to give him his seventh goal in eight Championship games since signing on-loan from Aston Villa in January.

The hosts had chances to stretch their lead before the break with Lukas Jutkiewicz's flick-on going wide, before Hogan's acrobatic stretch sent the ball over.

Blues lived to regret those misses after the break when Miazga smashed a shot past Camp after a great delivery from a tight angle by Andy Rinomhota.

Five minutes later, John Swift whipped in a dangerous free-kick, which was headed home by Meite for his 12th goal of the season.

Frustrations continued for Birmingham when the referee waved away their appeal for a penalty after Jude Bellingham appeared to have been pulled over in the box.

Mark Bowen's side then made sure all three points would be heading back to Berkshire when Pele was found in space and sent a delightful curling effort into the bottom corner.

The result lifts Reading up three places into 13th place in the table while Birmingham, who have won one home game since October, slip one place to 16th.

Birmingham boss Pep Clotet told BBC WM 95.6:

"I think it was tough for us, the fact that we have played so many games with such a thin squad.

"I cannot really complain because in the end, the players have put their bodies on the line with injuries, trying to keep playing games.

"They have been superb for the club, but of course these things can happen.

"We played very good football and we were on top of the game for the most part of it, apart from the worst ten minutes."

Reading manager Mark Bowen told BBC Radio Berkshire:

"The first half, I put down to hangover from Tuesday.

"We talked about it second half in terms of what we needed to try and do.

"As soon as we got that goal from Matt, I always felt we would go on and win the game.

"That result was built on heart, guts and determination after the week we have had with extra time as well."