Duane Holmes scored his first goal for Derby since his August move from Scunthorpe
Derby maintained their FA Cup feelgood factor after knocking out Premier League side Southampton by defeating struggling Reading.
Duane Holmes fired the Rams into an early lead with his first senior goal for the club when Harry Wilson's through ball found his run behind the Royals' labouring defence.
Wilson doubled the lead with a heavily-deflected finish for his 12th goal of the season, after a one-two with Martyn Waghorn.
Ovie Ejaria robbed Fikayo Timori and sent Sone Aluko away to halve the deficit as Reading hit back strongly, but tiring County held on.
Despite playing 120 minutes in their penalty shoot-out win on the south coast on Wednesday, Rams boss Frank Lampard made just one change as Holmes came in for Craig Bryson.
And it was Holmes who scored the opener in a breathless start for the Rams who could have been 3-0 up inside 10 minutes, with Reading's defence twice gifting chances to Jack Marriott, whose first effort was saved, and then saw his lob clear the bar.
After a shambolic start, the Royals settled into their possession-based football under new boss Jose Gomes and dominated the second half as the hosts tired from their midweek exertions.
The Royals arrived with an excellent record at Derby, with eight victories and three defeats in their previous 13 visits, but have won just once on the road this season, and despite creating nervous moments for the home fans, they failed to make their good spells count with an equaliser.
Derby, who hope to tempt former England full-back Ashley Cole to join them this month, stayed sixth, while Reading, who have picked up four points in Gomes' first five games in charge, remained 22nd, two points adrift of safety.
Derby County manager Frank Lampard told BBC Radio Derby:
"Today was a home game we badly wanted to win. And I think we deserved to win, it could have been more comfortable.
"I didn't underestimate this Reading team at all. They're a strong team who are playing well at the moment and they tested us in ways.
"But our football at times was really good. We just weren't clinical enough to make it a more comfortable last 20 minutes."
Reading boss Jose Gomes:
"I am disappointed in the way that we started was completely out of our process and football philosophy and Derby used this as an advantage.
"In the second half we completely controlled the game, created a lot of goal situations but what I felt was my players started the game like they were scared. We are in the bottom of the table and we play against Derby who are in the top of the table.
"We cannot play very well and have hope for the future, we need to win and get points. We need to transfer the way we are playing into good results."
