READING FC’s three-match winning streak in the Championship was ended by Queens Park Rangers in front of the lowest Madejski Stadium crowd for a league match this season.

Jamie Mackie turned the tables on his former loan club by firing home in the 28th minute to settle this hoops derby.

But in truth Rangers belied their league position and deserved to win by more.

With the game live on television and heavy snow before kick-off, there was little wonder many stayed at home as only 12,655 turned up including a thousand Rangers fans.

No doubt even more home supporters who braved the freezing conditions probably wished they had too.

This was one of Reading’s worst displays in the Championship this season, and one Stam is unlikely to tolerate again.

They were second best from the first whistle and the possession-based, passing game that is their hallmark and has brought nine wins from the previous 11 matches was nowhere to be seen.

In fact, it was Rangers who looked like a side in third place in the Championship rather than one labouring in 17th before kick-off.

This was a gilt-edged chance for Reading to close the gap on second-placed Newcastle before the weekend’s fixtures.

But they threw that opportunity away after a second straight loss in all competitions.

Stam made two changes from Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at Manchester United.

Ex-United defender Tyler Blackett picked up a knock at Old Trafford and was replaced by Jordan Obita.

Meanwhile, fit-again John Swift got the nod ahead of George Evans in midfield, while Chris Gunter retained the captain’s armband in Paul McShane’s absence on his 400th club appearance.

Royals created a clear chance with less than four minutes on the clock.

Yann Kermorgant used his strength to nod the ball down to McCleary whose 25-yarder whistled just over the crossbar.

But Rangers looked lively on the counter attack and gave a warning of their own threat when Joey van den Berg lost possession allowing Mackie a sight on goal, only for the striker to blaze over Ali Al-Habsi’s crossbar.

In fact, Reading’s slick passing game was nowhere to be seen as Stam’s men gave the ball away far too cheaply.

It nearly came back to haunt them in the 19th minute when a stray pass from Moore was easily cut out by Mackie.

Mackie then burst in the area and drilled a cross-shot across the face of Al-Habsi’s goal, but an inch too far in front of Idrissa Sylla unmarked on the back post.

So there was little surprise when Rangers broke the deadlock in the 28th minute.

Again, Royals were caught napping as Pawel Wszolek raced down the right before picking out Ryan Manning.

Manning’s effort was well off target, but Mackie snuck around the back of everyone to convert at the back post.

Royals looked to hit back immediately with Swift rifling an effort narrowly wide on the angle from around 25 yards.

But they were fortunate not to fall further behind on the half-hour mark when Wszolek’s cut-back found Mackie, whose shot from 12-yards took enough of a deflection to divert it just past the far post.

Reading, however, lacked any punch up front. Danny Williams did test Alex Smithies from distance, but it was no more than a token effort.

Then with seven minutes left of the first-half Rangers almost doubled their lead again when Mackie was sent through on goal with only Al-Habsi to beat.

Luckily, the Oman stopper pushed the hungry striker wide enough allowing van den Berg to clear.

Stam’s men briefly stepped it up as half-time approached and a Liam Kelly free-kick into the six-yard box required all of Nedum Onuoha’s attention, with the Rangers skipper nodding it away.

Reading had rarely been out of second gear for 45 minutes and they were roundly booed off at the interval.

And they were immediately under pressure again after the restart as a Jake Bidwell effort deflected over off Liam Moore’s back in the 47th minute, before Stam’s men survived a series of corners.

There was a lack of cohesion whatever the home side did. They were laboured, sluggish and miles off the pace.

Their decision-making at crucial times was also poor, a prime example being when Kermorgant took Swift’s pass and carved a clear opening for himself in the 58th minute. But instead of shooting, the Frenchman squared the ball to no-one, much to Rangers’ relief.

Back came Holloway’s men and it needed a fine one-handed stop from Al-Habsi to deny Sylla from the edge of the area.

Then on the hour mark, van den Berg found fellow Dutchman Roy Beerens in the Rangers area, but his effort was bravely blocked by Jake Bidwell.

Moments later Mackie threatened again when he turned past two defenders, but failed to trouble Al-Habsi.

Royals were hanging on while Rangers kept pushing for a second. It almost came in the 67th minute when Bidwell’s cross found Sylla, only for the striker’s effort to deflect narrowly behind with Al-Habsi rooted to the spot.

And from that corner Joel Lynch’s effort hit Obita and spun wide of the opposite post.

Reading, though, almost snatched an equaliser from nowhere with 70 minutes on the clock, but Kermorgant saw his header clip the crossbar from McCleary’s right-wing cross.

Stam looked to his bench for inspiration and threw on Yakou Meite for a tiring Swift with 17 minutes remaining.

And Royals did almost level it up in the 83rd minute when Kermorgant met a Beerens cross with a towering header toward the opposite corner, only to miss the target by inches.

Kermogant received a bloody nose in the process to sum up Reading’s night.

Mackie, meanwhile, exited with 90 minutes up, leaving the field with cheers from the Rangers fans and jeers from the Royals ringing in his ears.

Mackie may have celebrated his goal too enthusiastically, but it was his first of the season after an eight-month injury lay-off, and his treatment was harsh.

He led Reading with distinction during a season-long loan from Forest in 2014-15, scoring five times in 32 league games.

He was merely a scapegoat on the night that Reading will quickly want to forget.

Reading: Al-Habsi, Gunter (c), Obita, Van den Berg, L.Moore, Swift (Meite 73), Williams, Kelly, Beerens, McCleary, Kermorgant. Subs not used: S.Moore, Cooper, Evans, Samuel, Wieser, Watson. Booked: Van den Berg 88.

QPR: Smithies, Bidwell, Hall, Onuoha, Lynch, Mackie (Comley 90), Wszolek, Luongo, Furlong, Sylla (LuaLua 73), Manning (Doughty 84). Subs not used: Ingram, El Khayati, Ngbakoto, Shodipo. Booked: Mackie 33, Wszolek 88.

Referee: Oliver Langford.

Attendance: 12,655 (QPR 963).