Shaun Goater found the target for the first time with his new club, Reading, on Saturday, enjoying his best match yet of the young season as the Royals carved out an impressive 3-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest.

With Reading dictating play throughout most of the match, Goater was at the heart of the action and unlucky not to have ended up with a hat-trick.

In the 34th minute he found the net with a header from Scott Murray's corner only for the `goal' to be disallowed by the referee for an infringement.

Then midway through the second half, the former Manchester City star was denied by an outstanding save from Forest `keeper Darren Ward.

But with Reading already 2-0 up, Goater provided the icing on the cake with a simple tap-in 11 minutes from time.

All of Reading's goals came in the second half but they should have gone into the break with the advantage after being awarded a penalty in the 29th minute when goalkeeper Ward clattered into Steve Sidwell inside the box. However, the keeper redeemed himself by saving Nicky Shorey's spot kick.

But the relentless pressure from Reading finally told after half-time when clinical finishes from Sidwell, Murray and Goater killed off the visitors.

Reading claimed the lead they deserved four minutes after half-time as a quality finish from Sidwell earned the former Arsenal trainee his third goal of the season. Kevin Watson swung a dangerous ball into the box and Sidwell pounced to rattle a low shot past Ward and into the net.

With 59 minutes gone, Watson produced another excellent cross which Murray hammered home from six yards to settle an enthralling clash.

And then it was left to Goater to provide the finishing touch.

Reading remain unbeaten from three games, having drawn away to Ipswich in their First Division opener last Saturday and beaten Third Division Boston 3-1 in a League Cup match in midweek.