CHRIS Wood scored twice including a late winner to condemn Reading FC to defeat at Elland Road and a third loss on the spin.

The powerful Kiwi punished an unfortunate error by Jake Cooper by firing past Ali Al Habsi in the 85th minute to win it for the home side.

In a dramatic finish, substitute Deniss Rakels had drawn Reading level at 2-2 only four minutes earlier after Leeds duo Wood and Toumani Diagouraga had scored in between Michael Hector's opener for the visitors.

It was a bitterly disappointing end to a week Reading will want to forget. They lost in injury time at Middlesbrough on Tuesday, lost Paul McShane and Danny Williams to suspension after their bust-up at the Riverside and have now lost three Championship matches in a row.

Reading's gutsy display for most of the Elland Road clash will give boss Brian McDermott plenty to think about, but that is unlikely to ease the pain of losing against his former club on his first return to Leeds.

McDermott was forced to delve deep into his squad due to injuries and suspensions, with Chris Gunter, Jordan Obita, McShane and Williams all missing from Tuesday's line-up at Boro.

Wiliams and skipper McShane were serving the first of their three match bans after their on-field confrontation at the Riverside, with Al Habsi taking the captain's armband.

Royals boss was also missing both full-backs - Obita and Gunter - through injury meaning winger Garath McCleary filled in on the right and Andrew Taylor stepped in on the left.

The absence of Williams from a midfield already missing Aaron Tshibola and Hal Robson-Kanu with long-term problems, meant a first start since January for George Evans, while Hector got the nod ahead of Anton Ferdinand in place of McShane at centre-back.

McDermott was also without Yann Kermorgant up front as the Frenchman's wife was due to give birth.

With his resources severely stretched, three Academy players - Aaron Kuhl, Josh Barrett and Tennai Watson - made the bench.

Reading had not tasted defeat at Elland Road on their previous five visits.

But there has been little to choose between them this season after a 0-0 a draw at Madejski Stadium in August, and only goal difference keeping Reading (14th) above Leeds (15th) in the table.

The hosts threatened first with a hopeful shot from Stuart Dallas that failed to test Al Habsi in the first minute.

Royals also got out of jail with seven minutes gone when Cooper's desperate clearance off the line saved Al Habsi's blushes after fumbling Mirco Antenucci's shot.

But back came the visitors and Simon Cox should have done better when Matej Vydra's clever dummy sent him clear, but he couldn't beat Marco Silvestri, who saved with his legs.

Evans then missed the target from Norwood's corner when a little composure was needed by the ex-Manchester City midfielder.

Chances came thick and fast as Antenucci fired wide before a Wood header from a Dallas set-piece sailed past Al Habsi's post.

Neither side could make the most of their opportunities as Hector failed to hit the target with a glancing header from Stephen Quinn's flag-kick.

But Reading began to get a grip of the game around the half hour mark, and Cox's well-timed strike from just outside the area whistled an inch wide of the post after some tidy link-up play.

And Leeds' resistance was finally broken in the 39th minute by a quality set-piece from McDermott's men.

Norwood swung over an excellent free-kick and Hector peeled off his marker before stroking a cinical half-volley beyond Silvestri and into the opposite corner for his second of the season.

Leeds hit back, but Wood wasted another chance when heading Charlie Taylor's centre wide, and Reading deserved their lead at the break.

Yet it was wiped out by Leeds less than three minutes into the second half.

A sloppy restart by Royals was punished when Gaetano Berardi broke down the right and whipped over a back-post cross which was put away by Diagouraga with a clinical header.

And Steve Evans' men threatened to go in front three minutes later only for Wood to head wide from Taylor's delivery.

Royals recovered from that spell and Lucas Piazon twice went close from the edge of the area as the hour approached.

But they swicthed off in defence in the 69th minute, and paid a heavy price.

Taylor curled an inviting ball to the back-post where Wood was unmarked to plant a header across Al Habsi and over the line.

Royals' keeper did claw the ball away, but the referee's assistant deemed it had already crossed the whitewash.

To the visitors' credit, they continued to create chances. Quinn's shot took a slight deflection and flew past the post then Rakels nodded wide from Norwood's corner with 74 minutes gone.

A minute later, Quinn linked up with Reading's Taylor who picked out Cooper with a pin-point cross, only for Silvestri to deny the centre-back with a vital save.

But Royals did grab an equaliser in the 81st minute when Cox's effort rebounded off the woodwork to Quinn, who unselfishly laid the ball off for Rakels to sweep home his second for the club.

Yet there was another twist to a rollercoaster clash when Leeds regained the lead four minutes later.

It all stemmed from a huge slice of bad luck as Cooper slipped when dealing with a long-ball, allowing Wood to pick up possession before slotting past Al Habsi to send Elland Road wild.

The win sent Leeds above Reading into 12th in the table, while McDermott's men slip down to 15th.

It doesn't get any easier for Royals either with fourth-placed Hull City the visitors to Madejski Stadium on Tuesday (8pm ko).

Leeds: Silvestri, Berardi, Bellusci, Cooper, Taylor, Diagouraga (Phillips 66), Murphy, Cook, Dallas (Coyle 90), Antenucci (Erwin 80), Wood. Subs not used: Peacock-Farrell, Wootton, Sloth, Botaka. Booked: Antenucci 65, Cooper 89.

Reading: Al-Habsi (c), McCleary, Taylor, Cooper, Hector, Evans (Rakels 71), Norwood, Quinn, Piazon (John 78), Vydra, Cox. Subs not used: Bond, Ferdinand, Kuhl, Watson, Barrett. Booked: Evans 35, McCleary 65, Norwood 79.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire).

Attendance: 20,881.