John Halls' first goal for Reading against the club he left to join the Royals' Championship charge put the seal on a comprehensive victory for Reading and saw them make it 102 points for the season.
That means they need four points from their final two games at Sheffield Wednesday and at home to QPR to top Sunderland's record points haul at this level – and the Royals also need four more goals to reach 100.
But Adam Rooney's first senior goal for Stoke means the other record being chased by Reading – that of the division's meanest defence – is now in the hands of play-off qualifiers Preston.
Despite resting six first-team regulars including captain Graeme Murty, top scorer Dave Kitson and goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, Reading were always in control.
It took them 25 minutes to make the breakthrough when Steve Sidwell headed home unmarked from an Ivar Ingimarsson free-kick as Stoke appealed in vain for offside.
Kevin Doyle doubled the advantage from the penalty spot 10 minutes into the second half.
The Irish striker was tugged down by Carl Hoefkens and got up to fire home his 19th goal of the season from the penalty spot.
Half-time substitute Rooney gave Stoke a glimmer of hope when he came off the bench to poke home after Ingimarsson had headed against his own goalpost on the hour.
But that was as good as it got for Stoke, who were undone by a sweeping move two minutes later as Steve Hunt crossed for Halls to side-foot home and mark his first start with his first goal.