READING FC were edged out in a five-goal thriller at Derby County as they slumped to a second successive Championship loss.

Royals were aiming to bounce back from a home defeat by QPR to strengthen their position in the play-offs.

But Jaap Stam's men fell short at Pride Park and dropped to fifth in the table, with their lead over seventh-placed Derby cut to three points.

In many ways the result was harsh on Reading who arguably deserved a point from a cracking Championship fixture in front of a near 30,000 crowd.

After all, they became the first team to score against the Rams at home since September and looked a danger throughout.

But it was also the fifth time this season Stam's side had conceded three or more goals on their travels, and they have now failed to keep a clean sheet in theit last 10 matches in all.

It had started so well for Reading when John Swift put them ahead with his fifth of the season.

But Darren Bent levelled before the break then goals from Tom Ince on 63 minutes and Will Hughes nine minutes later put Derby in control.

Yakou Meite made it a nervy finish when he grabbed his first Royals goal with 10 minutes remaining, but it was too little too late.

And to compound Reading's frustrations, Jordan Obita was sent off in injury time for a second yellow card, ruling him out of Tuesday's home clash against Fulham (8pm ko).

Stam handed a debut to Tiago Ilori following his move from Liverpool in midweek in one of two changes from the side that lost 1-0 at home to QPR last time out.

Skipper Paul McShane also returned to the starting line-up after recovering from a wrist operation, with Joey van den Berg and Roy Beerens the men to miss out, the latter not even making the bench.

Derby, meanwhile, named three ex-Royals in their squad with Chris Baird and Alex Pearce in defence and former loan striker Matej Vydra on their bench.

But there was no sign of Nick Blackman following his big-money switch to the Rams a year ago.

Reading took a while to find their rhythm and their range, no more so across their three-man defence of Liam Moore, McShane and Ilori.

They steadily grew in confidence and went close in the 11th minute when Garath McCleary fired narrowly over after good work from Yann Kermorgant and Jordan Obita.

But Derby failed to heed the warning and Royals did go in front on the quarter-hour mark.

McCleary's run created space then Liam Kelly drifted past two defenders before picking out Swift at the near post.

The ex-Chelsea midfielder managed to lose his marker before hitting a crisp finish past Scott Carson for his fifth of the season.

It was the first league goal Derby had conceded at Pride Park in eight games stratching back to September 24.

And they almost shipped a second one seven minutes later when Kelly's long pass split the Rams open, but Dany Williams could only shoot straight at Carson when anywhere else would have done.

McClaren's men fought back but a series of promising moves were quickly repelled by Royals, with Ilori making a crucial clearance when under pressure.

There was no respite for Carson at the other end as McCleary's effort stung his hands with 31 minutes gone.

So when the home side equalised six miniutes later from their first real effort on target, there was disbelief on the visitors' bench.

Stam's men failed to clear a corner and Richard Keogh picked up the scraps before fizzing a cross to the back post for Bent to bundle home.

McShane was screaming for handball against the former England and Tottenham striker, but referee Peter Bankes did not want to know.

Suddenly, the momentum had changed and Derby piled on the pressure for the remainder of the half, with Bent and Tom Ince prominent.

But they wasted a gilt-edged chance to snatch the lead when Johnny Russell missed the target from six yards after an excellent ball from Hughes.

The break came at the perfect time for Reading and they were far more organised when play re-started.

Now Derby were being pushed back and the hosts breathed a sigh of relief when Kermorgant's shot squirmed through Carson's hands and out for a corner.

And from Kelly's flag kick, Moore headed directly at Carson as another chance went begging.

Derby, though, responded and moments after Baird blazed over, they snatched a 63rd minute lead through Ince.

A poor pass by Moore was easily cut out and, after McClaren's men had worked their way forward, Ince took a Craig Bryson pass before coolly slotting past Ali Al-Habsi.

Swift wasted a decent chance to level it up two minutes later when he failed to keep a free-kick on target from just outside the box.

Derby responded when Markus Olsson got the better of Chris Gunter before whipping over a cross, but Bent's header lacked power.

But Hughes' goal with 16 minutes remaining wrapped up the points for the home side.

With Gunter out of position following a storming run forward, Olsson countered by racing almost the length of the pitch in the other direction.

Unforunately for Royals, his final ball took a deflection straight into the path of Hughes who converted from 10 yards.

Stam's men would not give up and they set up a grandstand finish when Meite superbly headed home from Kelly's flag-kick in the 80th minute for his first goal for the Royals.

Now Rams were looking nervous and Reading almost grabbed an injury-time equaliser when Kelly's dangerous free-kick flashed across the face of goal and inches in front of Meite and McCleary.

But Royals couldn't find a way through and their hopes ended in the dying moments when Obita was red carded for his second booking of the game after pulling back Hughes.

Derby: Carson, Baird, Keogh (c), Pearce, Olsson, de Sart, Bryson (Christie 88), Hughes, Russell (Shackell 90) Ince, Bent (Vydra 88). Subs not used: Roos, Camara, Hanson, Vernam. Booked: Bryson 79, Russell 85, Ince 90.

Reading: Al-Habsi, Gunter, Obita, McShane (c), L.Moore (Samuel 75), Ilori, Kelly, Swift (Meite 75), Williams, McCleary, Kermorgant. Subs not used: Jaakkola, Van den Berg, Evans, Blackett, Watson. Booked: Swift 41, Obita 87 & 90. Red card: Obita 90.

Referee: Peter Bankes.

Attendance: 28,393.