Norwich scored six first-half goals as they thrashed Championship play-off contenders Reading. The hosts were 4-0 up within 31 minutes through Nelson Oliveira's penalty, Wes Hoolahan's chip, Alex Pritchard's 25-yard shot and Russell Martin's tap in. Pritchard slotted in his second before Yann Kermorgant pulled one back, only for Hoolahan to tap in for 6-1. Mitchell Dijks hit the bar for the Canaries before substitute Cameron Jerome slotted in number seven late on. Reading, who had won their previous three games, remained fourth in the table with five games remaining, seven points ahead of seventh-placed Sheffield Wednesday, who face Newcastle later on Saturday.

Norwich, who confirmed on Friday that caretaker boss Alan Irvine will remain in charge for the rest of the season, had lost their previous two games without scoring a goal. But they ripped the Royals apart to become the first side since Portsmouth hammered York in November 2015 to score six goals in one half of an English league game. Oliveira started the rout from the spot in the third minute after being fouled by Chris Gunter, before Hoolahan chipped over Al-Habsi from six yards from Timm Klose's pull-back.

Pritchard made it 3-0 with a snap-shot from 25 yards into the top corner and steered the fifth into the bottom corner, with Martin having added the fourth from close range after Oliveira's shot was parried. Kermorgant headed in from close range to pull one back but Hoolahan immediately restored the Canaries' five-goal advantage by tapping in from two yards out. The second half was played at a slower tempo, but Norwich saw Al-Habsi deny Pritchard, Jacob Murphy and Klose before Jerome completed the rout.