Reading returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Sheff Wed which lifts them back into second spot.
Long nets late winner for Reading
Reading returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday which lifts them back into an automatic promotion place.
Shane Long scored a controversial late goal to seal the three points with the Owls furious that play had been waved on after a possible foul on Michael Duberry moments earlier.
Wednesday had taken the lead through Sean McAllister on the stroke of half-time before Kevin Doyle made it 1-1.
The Owls threatened twice inside the first 10 minutes, but the ball ran away from Leon Clarke in the penalty area and Michael Gray's left-footed free-kick from 20 yards curled inches the wrong side of the post.
Marek Matejovsky then went close to giving the Royals an early lift, bursting into the area and skimming a low shot across Lee Grant's goal and wide.
The visitors were denied a 22nd-minute lead when Stephen Hunt's free-kick, after West Midlands referee Andy Hall had harshly penalised Gray on the right side of the area, beat Grant and came back off the crossbar.
But for the next quarter of an hour there was zero goalmouth action at either end until Reading's Noel Hunt was booked for diving.
But with most in the crowd wondering where a goal would come from and getting ready for their half-time cuppa, Marcus Tudgay played the ball into Clarke in the area and following the big striker's lay-off McAllister planted a neat volley beyond Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici.
Intent
Liam Rosenior forced Grant into a superb save shortly after the restart and it was not long before Reading's new-found intent was rewarded.
Matejovsky's corner was flicked on by Noel Hunt and visiting skipper Doyle headed home his 18th goal of the season to level in the 56th minute.
It was much better fare. Reading sensed their first league win in five matches and Wednesday were in no mood to sit back.
Laws sent on James O'Connor and Wade Small for Darren Potter and Gray with 15 minutes left and Long was sent on for Reading's Noel Hunt soon after.
The Royals substitute slammed home an angled shot from Stephen Hunt's throughball and rubbed salt into Wednesday wounds in the dying seconds when clearing a shot from goalkeeper Grant, who had stormed forward for a corner.
