Reading had to come from behind at St Mary's to clinch a 1-1 draw and stay second in the table.
Reading stay second with 1-1 draw at Southampton
Reading had to come from behind at St Mary's to clinch a 1-1 draw and stay second in the Championship table.
David McGoldrick fired Southampton in front with 16 minutes to go but Reading responded to snatch a dramatic late equaliser.
Shane Long grabbed the goal six minutes from time and both sides then had chances to secure all three points in a frenetic finale.
With four changes from the side which drew with Cardiff on Boxing Day, Reading were largely disappointing in a first half that was dominated by the home side.
Apart from a cross-shot from Stephen Hunt that Kelvin Davis did well to hold and a low drive from Long that Davis smothered, the Royals registered little as an attacking force and were lucky not to be behind at the interval.
The Saints very nearly went ahead with 21 minutes gone, when McGoldrick produced a smart turn on the edge of the box before crashing an effort against the bar.
That was as close as either side came in the opening period, although Southampton did continue to create opportunities, with Lee Holmes and Simon Gillett both forcing Adam Federici into neat saves.
Strong
The theme of the first half continued into the second too, as Southampton started the half strongly, with McGoldrick again in the thick of the action, forcing his way into the box only to fire over from six yards after his initial effort was blocked.
The game was now becoming an end-to-end affair as Reading found themselves robbed of possession whilst attacking and were fortunate not to be caught on the break as Federici did well to get down and save from Matthew Paterson.
Jimmy Kebe then spurned Reading's best chance as he fired wide from six yards and he was made to pay for the miss as the home side deservedly went ahead through McGoldrick.
The goal was made by young midfielder Kayne McLaggon, who surged his way through the middle before feeding McGoldrick who showed sufficient composure to slide the ball past Federici.
Reading's response was impressive, though, with Long pouncing for his third goal of the season, before Kevin Doyle cannoned an effort off the crossbar with three minutes remaining.
Southampton had a late chance too, with loud appeals for a penalty after an apparent handball by Duberry was waved away by the officials, before Doyle again went close in a pulsating finish.
