Midfielder Charlie Savage – against the team managed by his father, Robbie – was one of the Royals’ goalscorers in what was their biggest ever away win in the competition.

Richardson said: “That’s three times now we’ve scored five goals this season.

“That’s something that we work on, the connections that we want to be better at.

“I thought on Wednesday night (at Oxford) we weren’t as good in the transition of possession, but tonight we were, so huge credit to the players.

“I’m really pleased. I think there were some really good individual performances, collectively we were excellent in parts and we’re really pleased to progress to the next round.

“The players will take the credit for it and the plaudits for it.”

Reading were effectively through before half-time when Daniel Kyerewaa’s deflected shot and Jack Marriott’s diving header was added to by Charlie Savage’s effort in first-half stoppage time.

Jamie Reid then scored his first two Royals goals to complete the rout, first striking off Paudie O’Connor’s header down before finishing from Liam Fraser’s through ball.

Peterborough boss Robbie Savage said: “We played four midfield players and didn’t win a second ball, they ran the midfield and they ran every department.

“There was a lack of belief – that was the worst that they’ve played under us, as a management group.

“We changed shape, we worked on it all week, it didn’t work, the subs didn’t make an impact and it was a real bad day at the office.

“They’re a great group, they need belief, but you have to go out over that white line and show everybody on the TV and it was miles off it.”