Royals were bidding for a third successive victory at home following 3-0 wins over Blackpool and Rotherham United.

But Charlton proved to be much tougher opposition and secured the points thanks to Igor Vetokele's 39th minute header.

Reading did hit the post in the second half through Oliver Norwood, but Nigel Adkins' men were poor in front of goal.

They also found Addicks keeper Stephen Henderson in imperious form for Bob Peeters' visitors.

Royals have now lost seven of their last 11 games in all competitions and are in danger of falling further behind their rivals in the race for promotion.

As expected, Adkins made one enforced change to the team which started against Rotherham in Tuesday night's win.

Anton Ferdinand failed a fitness test after picking up a calf strain only minutes into his Royals debut and was replaced by Michael Hector in central defence.

Otherwise, it was the same team and set-up that brushed Rotherham aside, a move that will have delighted Royals fans who had given Adkins stick for his team selection in the 3-1 loss at Blackburn last weekend.

The hosts started on the front foot with Glenn Murray heading over from Stephen Kelly's cross in the sixth minute.

They were also desperately unlucky not to take a 20th minute lead when Jordan Obita's first-time strike from outside the box from a short-corner routine deflected inches wide of Henderson's post, with the Addicks' keeper beaten.

Adam Federici was a spectator at the other end, but Royals keeper was forced to make a smart save low down to keep out Johann Berg Gudmundsson's 20-yard grasscutter from Addicks' first real attack on 26 minutes.

But Charlton picked up the tempo and threatened again five minutes later through Callum Harriott, whose shot was blocked by Alex Pearce on his 200th start for the Royals.

Royals hit back and Danny Williams volleyed wide from outside the area from a half-cleared Norwood corner.

But it was Charlton who finally broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when they punished some sloppy defending from the Royals.

The visitors broke down the right through Chris Solly who cut inside and whipped over a perfect cross which the unmarked Vetokele headed past Federici into the far corner.

It was a quality header from the Charlton striker, but he was given too much time and space to pick his spot.

Royals mounted an immediate fightback, with Cox almost equalising with a deflected shot from the angle of the box.

Then from that corner, Hector somehow headed wide of the target from point-black range after Norwood picked out the youngster lurking at the back post.

Obita was also guilty of missing the target with a header at the start of the season half and Murray saw a long-range effort held by Henderson.

Royals' luck also appeared to be out when Norwood struck the woodwork in the 57th minute.

With Charlton pinned back, Mackie laid the ball back to Norwood whose dipping, 25-yard effort had Henderson beaten but cannoned off the far post and away to safety.

Addicks, though, remained a threat on the break and the pacey Harriott went close with a shot that curled wide of the far post.

But for all Reading's possession and neat build-up play, they lacked composure in the final third.

As the chances began to dry up, the natives grew restless as a series of attacks floundered on the Addicks' defence which was superbly marshalled by ex-Royal Andre Bikey.

And when they did break through they found Henderson in unbeatable form, with the Addicks' keeper reacting brilliantly to a powerful Mackie drive with nine minutes to go.

It could, in fact, have been even worse for Royals as they poured men forward and left spaces at the back.

Only a sensational double save from Federici to deny substitute George Tucudean's shot and then the follow up prevented a second Charlton goal with five minutes to go.

Royals did muster one final attack when substitute Nick Blackman whistled a shot wide from long range, but Charlton held on to secure the points and become the third Championship team to win at Madejski Stadium this season.

Adkins now has almost two weeks to sort out his defensive problems during the international break before Reading's next fixture, a trip to Cardiff City on November 21.

Reading (4-4-2): Federici – Kelly (Blackman 78), Hector, Pearce, Gunter (c) - Mackie (Pogrebnyak 87) , Norwood, Williams, Obita – Cox (Robson-Kanu 77), Murray. Subs: Andersen, Cooper, Akpan, Taylor. Booked: Cox 74, Obita 86.

Charlton (4-4-2): Henderson - Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Fox – Gudmundsson (Bulot 88), Buyens, Jackson (c), Cousins – Harriott (Tucudean 81), Vetokele (Coquelin 64). Subs: Pope, Wilson, Gomez. Onyewu. Booked: Gudmundsson 88.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick.

Attendance: 16,989 (Charlton 1,449).