Mackie grabbed the winner in the 56th minute with a fine strike from distance, just three minutes after Chris O'Grady had cancelled out his 24th minute opener.

The on-loan forward has now scored Reading's last four goals in the league and is surely writing himself into Steve Clarke's plans for next season, if a deal can be agreed.

He picked up February's Player of the Month award before the game and would've gone a long way to earning himself March's award after a man-of-the-match performance.

As well as the two goals, it was another tireless effort from the match-winner as he never stopped running until Clarke took him off towards the end.

It was a deserved victory for Reading and they will be left wondering how it wasn't a bigger margin of victory as several chances were spurned throughout.

But three points would've been the demand from Clarke and his side delivered as Reading move up to 16th in the table, 13 points above the drop zone and surely on the verge of safety.

As expected after the heavy toil of Saturday, Clarke made several changes to his side as Chris Gunter, Jake Cooper, Hope Akpan, Nick Blackman and Garath McCleary all returned to the side.

Stephen Kelly, Alex Pearce and Jordan Obita missed out completely whilst Oliver Norwood and Pavel Pogrebnyak started on the bench.

Having lost their last three home games without scoring a goal – and finding the net in just two of their last nine home games – Reading knew they needed a big performance in front of the Madejski Stadium crowd and they got off to a positive start.

Cooper went within inches of putting the hosts ahead in the eighth minute when he connected with McCleary's free-kick, but Jake Forster-Caskey was on the line to clear from danger.

Moments later and another glorious chance was wasted as Hal Robson-Kanu fired over despite being well placed inside the box to test the Brighton 'keeper.

Despite the missed chances, it was a solid start from Clarke's side and they soon got their reward in the 24th minute.

David Stockdale's clearance was poor and Hope Akpan was first to react, feeding Mackie 30 yards from goal. The on-loan Nottingham Forest man advanced with the ball and dribbled wide of Lewis Dunk before unleashing a venomous effort that deceived Stockdale and gave Reading their first home goal since January.

Just two minutes later it should've been 2-0 but Michael Hector somehow blazed over from six yards with the goal gaping.

Robson-Kanu's cross was parried into the path of the centre-back but with Stockdale stranded, he couldn't hit the target and Clarke was left to ponder how his side weren't two goals ahead.

Brighton were struggling to create anything of note and Robson-Kanu's low, drilled effort was the only real chance towards the end of the half.

Reading were improved from recent home showings but they'd have been surprised at the lack of fight shown by a dismal Brighton side.

But the missed chances threatened to come back and haunt them early in the second half as Cooper showed a slight sign of his inexperience by placing a hand on Emmanuel Ledesma in the box.

The tricky winger was making his Brighton debut and he went down fairly easily but the referee had no choice but to point to the spot.

It was an otherwise flawless display by the impressive Reading youngster but O'Grady made him pay for one moment of weakness as he sent the spot-kick high into the roof of the net and Brighton were undeservedly level – though it didn't last long.

Just two minutes later and Mackie again took centre stage, cutting in from the right-hand side and unleashing a superb left-footed effort from 25 yards that nestled in the bottom corner.

It was the perfect response from Clarke's men and they went close to extending their lead in the 61st minute but Blackman's dipping free-kick was well held by Stockdale.

Blackman again went close with a volley as Reading played with a freedom that's been lacking in recent weeks.

The Madejski Stadium was clearly impressed with what they were seeing and they'd have been left wondering how a third Reading goal didn't arrive.

The closest the home side came was in the 78th minute when a goalmouth scramble ensued after a McCleary corner and Pogrebnyak, Blackman and Akpan were all kept out by a combination of desperate Brighton defenders and Stockdale.

Brighton's Leon Best tested Federici late on with a well-hit volley but the Reading 'keeper held on to it and the hosts saw the game out with relative ease to gain a massive three points that should see them safe.

There was more good news for Reading fans in added time as Niall Keown came on to make his Reading debut.

Reading Adam Federici; Chris Gunter, Jake Cooper, Michael Hector, Nathaniel Chalobah, Hope Akpan, Danny Williams (Niall Keown '90), Jamie Mackie (Oliver Norwood '79), Hal Robson-Kanu (Pavel Pogrebnyak '76), Nick Blackman, Garath McCleary. Subs: Mikkel Andersen, Jake Taylor, Yakubu, Simon Cox.

Brighton David Stockdale, Greg Halford, Gordon Greer, Lewis Dunk, Joe Bennett, Rohan Ince (Leon Clarke '76), Jake Forster-Caskey, Beram Kayal, Chris O'Grady, Kazenga Lua-Lua, Emmanuel Ledesma (Bruno '87). Subs: Casper Ankergren, Aaron Hughes, Inigo Calderon, Danny Holla, Joao Teixeria.

Attendance 14,748. (1,116)