READING FC paid for a dire 17-minute spell as their eight-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end at Brentford.

Royals were a whisker away from taking the lead when George Evans headed against the post in the 39th minute.

But by half time they were 2-0 down after Josh Clarke's 41st-minute opener and a second from Lasse Vibe three minutes later.

It got worse for the Royals when Bees full-back Maxime Colin lashed home a third in the 58th minute.

There was a glimmer of hope for Jaap Stam's men when Yann Kermorgant pulled one back from the spot in the 64th minute shortly after Callum Harriott had hit the woodwork.

But Brentford regrouped and Scott Hogan grabbed a fourth four minutes before the end.

This was Reading's joint-heaviest defeat this season, matching the 4-1 loss at Newcastle United back in August.

Stam had argued the result at St James' Park was harsh on the Royals, but the Dutchman could have no complaints on this occasion.

His players were quick to apologise on social media, with defender Liam Moore, a former Brentford loanee, tweeting: "We wasn't good enough tonight!! Good thing about this league is games come around fast. Focus on Saturday now."

It is now 43 years since legendary keeper Steve Death last kept a clean sheet for Reading on the road at Brentford.

And they will have to show a marked improvement on their display on Tuesday night to have any hope of ending that run.

Stam made one change from the side that knocked Huddersfield Town off top spot with Saturday's 1-0 home win.

It came in central midfield where George Evans was brought in for Danny Williams who was unavailable through injury.

Reading's starting X1 also included two former Bees loan players in John Swift and Moore.

But they were back-tracking in the early exchanges as Hogan and Andreas Bjelland went close for the hosts.

Stam's men weathered that pressure and enjoyed a decent spell of their own.

Harriott wasn't too far away with a decent effort in the 25th minute and Swift also fired narrowly wide against his former loan club.

Brentford hit back when Clarke tested Royals keeper Ali Al Habsi, but Roy Beerens also kept Daniel Bentley alert at the other end.

And two minutes before Brentford took the lead, luck went against Stam's men when Evans headed against the post from Swift's delivery before Paul McShane and Kermorgant had shots blocked in the ensuing scramble.

Brentford quickly cashed in on their break with a super team goal.

Vibe broke down the right and his cross was helped on first by Hogan and then Alan McCormack for Clarke to finish with aplomb.

And before Royals could regoup they conceded a second of all their own making when Evans lost the ball outside his own area, allowing Hogan to set up Vibe with an easy finish.

Stam tinkered at the break by replacing Joey van den Berg with Stephen Quinn, with the Dutchman already in the book.

And Royals almost pulled one back four minutes after the restart when Kermorgant's diving header from Gunter's cross was hacked off the Bees line.

Yet there was little respite for the visitors or Al Habsi who had to be at his best to keep out a stinging Hogan effort.

There was only so much the Oman stopper could do, and further pressure from the Bees eventually brought a third goal, this time Colin drilling home at the far post from Vibe's assist.

It was becoming a painful lesson for the Royals, but they refused to throw in the towel and came storming back.

A minute later Harriott was an inch away from reducing the deficit when he poked the ball past Bentley but against the outside of the post after a strong run by Beerens.

Then Royals did pull one back with 64 minutes gone through Kermorgant's clinical spot-kick after Colin barged Quinn over.

However, Brentford quashed any hopes of a fightback with a fourth in the 86th minute, Hogan tapping home from Josh McEachran's assist.

And though Kermorgant flashed a header narrowly wide late on, Romaine Sawyers, Sullay Kaikai, McEachran and Dean all had further chances to increase the home side's lead.

The result saw Brentford claim fourth place in the table from Reading who drop down to eighth.

This Saturday they host Derby County, who won 2-0 at Cardiff City tonight (3pm ko).

Brentford: Bentley, Colin, Dean, Egan, Bjelland (Barbet 70), McCormack (McEachran 85), Yennaris, Clarke, Sawyers, Vibe (Kaikai 88), Hogan. Subs not used: Macleod, Saunders, Bonham. Booked: Dean 5, McCormack 19, Bjelland 69, Yennaris 81.

Reading: Al-Habsi, Gunter, Obita, McShane (c), Moore, Van den Berg (Swift 46), Evans, Swift, Harriott (Samuel 85), Beerens (Mendes 85), Kermorgant. Subs not used: Jaakkola, Watson, Gravenberch, Kelly. Booked: Van den Berg 16, Swift 19.

Referee: Oliver Langford.

Attendance: 9,679 (Reading 1,646).