Sky Bet Championship leaders Reading suffered a third successive defeat after being beaten 3-0 at home by Stoke.
First-half goals from Tyrese Campbell and Steven Fletcher set the Potters on course to prolong the Royals' poor run of form.
Substitute Jacob Brown compounded the hosts' misery in added time as the efficient visitors scored with each of their three attempts on target to climb to eighth.
Stoke City's Jacob brown celebrates after his late strike sealed a 3-0 win at the Madjeski
Watford moved to within a point of the summit thanks to Ismaila Sarr's late penalty in a 3-2 comeback success over Coventry at Vicarage Road.