Reading

21

Hamer

5

Mills

3

Armstrong

2

Rosenior

26

Pearce

25

Sigurdsson

8

Matejovsky

17

Henry

15

Harper

12

Mooney

29

Bignall *

On The Bench

31

Andersen

28

Antonio

7

Tabb

4

Cisse

27

Davies

14

Kebe

10

Hunt N * (61)

Burton Alb

1

Poole

8

Corbett

5

Branston

15

Austin

3

Boertien

19

Maghoma

4

Simpson

6

McGrath

10

Walker *

18

Pearson

10

Penn

On The Bench

13

Redmond

5

James

2

Edworthy

7

Stride

17

Phillips * (46)

22

Knowles

Paul Peschisolido's side were making their debut in the League Cup but it proved one to forget as 46-year-old goalkeeper Kevin Poole was beaten three times in the opening 10 minutes.

David Mooney marked his first start for the Royals with two goals, while 19-year-old debutant Nicholas Bignall hit a brace of his own.

Gylfi Sigurdsson also grabbed a fine strike as Reading's impressive youth system showed that Stephen Hunt may not be missed when he completes his move to Hull.

Peschisolido's side started brightly and could have gone ahead in the third minute when Greg Pearson shot straight at debutant Ben Hamer in the Reading goal.

But the Brewers' night soon turned into a nightmare thanks to three goals in just four minutes.

Mooney opened the scoring in the sixth minute when he was afforded too much space in the area to collect James Henry's pass and place a shot high past Poole into the top corner for the first goal under Rodgers.

Bignall then opened his Royals account a minute later when he ran onto Marek Matejovsky's through ball to slip a cool side-foot finish beyond Poole.

Czech Republic international Matejovsky was enjoying playing against League Two opposition and carved out the third in the ninth minute when he again found Bignall, and after rounding Poole the youngster passed into an open goal.

Burton managed to hold out until the 27th minute but were four down when Sigurdsson capped his first start for the club by crashing a stunning 35-yard effort in off the far post.

Reading took their foot off the gas after the break as thoughts turned toward Saturday's trip to Newcastle and substitute Jimmy Phillips grabbed a consolation for Burton on the hour mark when he cracked in a half-volley from the edge of the area which deflected past Hamer.

Mooney concluded the scoring with 13 minutes left when he followed in Poole's save from substitute Noel Hunt's low shot to tap home.