Burnley ended a run of seven league games without a win with what turned out to be a comprehensive victory over Reading.
The Clarets, with Stan Ternent taking charge of the team for his 250th league match, celebrated in style with a brace from Robbie Blake and a terrific strike from Richard Chaplow.
But the scoreline doesn't begin to tell the story of the game.
Burnley started well and opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute when Robbie Blake's wicked cross-shot skipped off the greasy turf into the far corner.
Reading slowly came into the game with their fluid passing movements stretching the Clarets and they created a number of excellent opportunities in the first half.
First, Steve Sidwell blazed over after Nicky Forster had outpaced David May and picked out the former Arsenal man and then May was forced into a desperate block to deny Forster after Andy Hughes' slide rule pass.
A calamity from Burnley keeper Brian Jensen almost cost Burnley as he went out to collect the ball, ushered it into the area only to see Forster steal it before the big Dane made a red-faced recovery.
However, Burnley went into the break almost adding a second as Arthur Gnohere headed wide from Blake's corner when well placed.
The home side came out flying after the break and had a great chance to score within 22 seconds only to see Glen Little's header beaten away by Marcus Hahnemann.
But within a minute, Burnley doubled their lead when a mix-up between Ivar Ingimarsson and Hahnemann resulted in Chaplow clipping the ball into an empty net from 20 yards, and five minutes later it was 3-0 when Blake's free-kick was deflected beyond Hahnemann.
The game somewhat petered out after this although Reading contrived to miss a number of decent half chances, summing up their miserable evening.