Reading 5 (Harper 59, Doyle 65, Oster 69, Long 73, 83)
Derby 0
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty (c), Shorey, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Harper, Sidwell, Little (Oster 68), Convey (Hunt 68), Doyle, Kitson
Subs: Stack, Gunnarsson, Long
Derby: Camp, Jackson, Wright, Moore, Nyatanga, Barnes, Bolder (Bisgaard 72), Idiakez, McIndoe, Peschisolido (Ainsworth 72), Smith
Subs: Poole, Hanson, Thirlwell
Attendance: 22,981
Reading are Champions of the Football League after thumping Derby today, while Sheffield United drew at Stoke.
Steve Coppell's side have won the greatest prize in the Club's 135-year history, and they did it in style with a dominant second half performance.
All five goals came after the break, with Reading carving County open, despite Terry Westley's side being on top for much of the first half.
Full report
Derby started well, and on seven minutes Giles Barnes broke from his own half, only to see his 25-yarder saved low by Marcus Hahnemann.
County continued to impress, and put together a couple of flowing moves but without creating a clear chance. The home crowd sprung into life with 15 minutes gone when news came through that Sheffield United were trailing at Stoke.
Then on 20 minutes Dave Kitson battled on the edge of the box, and after appearing to be fouled he was still able to unleash a 30-yarder that went not too far over.
After a spell where Reading enjoyed the majority of possession, Terry Westley's side again began to control the game. When Reading were able to break the final ball or cross seemed to go awry.
On 32 minutes Glen Little was able to cross from the right, and Kitson inadvertently flicked on to Bobby Convey, only for the American's rasping drive to nick off Kits' head and fly over.
60 seconds later Reading had their best chance up that point, when Steve Sidwell got on the end of his one-two with Kitson, but he had to stretch and could only shoot over from 20 yards.
Four minutes before the break James Harper played a high ball into the area, and Kevin Doyle claimed handball as Adam Bolder cleared.
With the first half coming towards an end, Little hung up an excellent cross from the right and Richard Jackson did well to clear on his goalline.
The 48th minute was by far the liveliest so far, with Doyle first doing well to muscle his man off the ball, but Lee Camp saved well. County broke straight away, and Tommy Smith was clean through on goal, but shot over when he really should have hit the target.
With 12 minutes of the period played, Derby got forward well and Michael McIndoe shot left-footed for the far corner, but Hahnemann saved well.
Finally the deadlock was broken on 59 minutes. Kitson received the ball from Harper, and the striker's backheel fell back to the midfielder, with the aid of a deflection. Harper was clean in on goal, and made no mistake with a prodded finsh from 12 yards.
Two minutes later Little danced past his men inside the area following good play by Doyle. As Little unleashed his shot, half the ground thought he had scored but it had hit the side netting with goalkeeper Lee Camp scrambling.
With 25 minutes to go Reading doubled their lead. Little held position before releasing Convey on the right. The American's precise cross found Doyle at the back post, and he had the simple task of heading home.
Reading then made a double substitution, and the two new wingers combined to make it 3-0. Stephen Hunt did very well down the left, and his persistence allowed him to cross. Darren Moore completely missed it, and John Oster steered home excellently with what was probably his first touch.
The Royals were running riot, and sub Shane Long thumped home a superb header from Graeme Murty's brilliant cross.
With 77 minutes gone Sidwell was played in by Kitson, but Camp saved very well low to his left.
The Mexican wave then began taround the ground, and Chairman John Madejski joined in in the Director's Box, while the Derby fans also took part!
Another great move on 80 minutes saw Reading stream forward, and Oster hit the post when clean through after Long's unselfish pash.
Long added his second of the game, with Hunt playing him in after the ball was well won by Sidwell. It was a neat finish by the youngster after his first touch seem to take him wide. At the same moment, news filtered through that Sheffield United had equalised.
With five minutes to go Reading almost conceded but Murty somehow stopped it on the line after a corner.
