Alan Pardew endured a miserable return to Reading as a brace from striker Dave Kitson secured a deserved victory for the home side.
West Ham boss Pardew was back at the Madejski Stadium for the first time since his acrimonious departure in September and it was his former club who came out on top.
Kitson opened the scoring with a cool finish after 35 minutes and volleyed home a second in the 52nd minute - his third goal for Reading - to seal the points.
Steve Coppell's men comfortably held on to move level on points with their opponents.
Reading, who had claimed a 2-1 win at Coventry with 10 men in their previous outing, made one change to their line-up, with Paul Brooker coming in for Shaun Goater.
West Ham named an unchanged side following their 2-1 win against Gillingham.
The home side made a lively start, but it was the Hammers who created the first noteworthy chance after 11 minutes.
A well-worked free-kick involving Matthew Etherington and Jon Harley set-up Marlon Harewood, whose curling effort on the turn was beaten away by goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown.
West Ham goalkeeper Stephen Bywater was called into action for the first time 10 minutes later.
The ball came to Graeme Murty on the edge of the area, and his powerful drive was spilled by the young England stopper.
Bywater made amends, however, as he reacted quickly to deny Kitson from the rebound.
Dean Morgan tried his luck with a half-volley from the left side of the box shortly afterwards, before the Hammers hit back.
Bobby Zamora lofted the ball over the Royals defence and into the path of David Connolly, who flicked the ball over Ashdown but inches past the post.
Striker Harewood looked bemused as manager Pardew withdrew him from the action seconds later. Adam Nowland came on in his place.
Reading finally broke the deadlock after 35 minutes.
Murty curled the ball in behind the visitors' defence and Kitson stole between Andy Melville and Bywater to slot home.
They doubled their advantage shortly after the restart as an inswinging free-kick from James Harper was not dealt with by the West Ham defence and the ball ricocheted into the path of Kitson.
The forward, full of confidence after his first strike, gave Bywater no chance as he lashed a volley into the top corner.
The Royals were dominating, with the impressive Morgan stinging Bywater's palms with a speculative 30-yard shot. It was his last action of the afternoon, though, as he was replaced by Lloyd Owusu.
Zamora sent a header past the far post and substitute Don Hutchison almost poked the ball past Ashdown, while at the other end John Salako fired straight at Bywater.
But neither side could add to the scoring and Reading held on.
Teams
Reading Ashdown, Murty, Hughes, Ingimarsson, Newman, Brooker,
Harper, Sidwell (Watson 90), Salako, Morgan (Owusu 73), Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Goater, Young.
Booked: Newman.
Goals: Kitson 35, 52.
West Ham Bywater, Repka, Melville (Hutchison 71), Dailly,
Harley, Harewood (Nowland 28), Reo-Coker, Carrick, Etherington,
Connolly (Deane 56), Zamora.
Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Mullins.
Booked: Reo-Coker, Repka.
Att: 21,718
Ref: P Joslin (Nottinghamshire).
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