Reading FC suffered a devastating last-minute defeat as Matt Crooks’ late brace earned Middlesbrough victory at The Riverside Stadium.

The home side, on the back of five wins in their last six, enjoyed the better of the first half but couldn’t make their pressure count before Andy Carroll gave Reading the lead in the 68th minute with a terrific looping header.

And despite constantly increasing Middlesbrough pressure, it appeared Reading might hang on until a pair of Crooks headers in the 84th and 95th minutes consigned Veljko Paunovic’s men to a supremely harsh defeat.

With the squad stretched by injuries and international duty call-ups, Paunovic made just one change from the team that was crushed 7-0 by Fulham on Tuesday night.

The big story was the return of Lucas Joao who started on the bench for the Royals, his first appearance in the matchday squad since August 14th.

With Scott Dann forced off against Fulham due to a hamstring injury, Josh Laurent once again deputised at centre-back alongside Tom Holmes with Dejan Tetek at right-back and 20-year old academy graduate Ethan Bristow at left-back.

In midfield, Andy Rinomhota started next to Danny Drinkwater while John Swift, Tom Dele-Bashiru, and Junior Hoilett were charged with supplying the attacking threat behind Andy Carroll - himself potentially playing in his last Reading game as his contract is set to expire this weekend.

After a sleepy opening 20 minutes with Middlesbrough dominating the ball but creating very little, it was Reading who went up the other end and had the first shot of the match. Hoilett latched onto Swift’s delicate back-heel but could only slice his shot well wide.

Moments later Middlesbrough went inches from taking the lead when Jonny Howson saw a shot from 25 yards deflect off Laurent and spin just wide with Southwood beaten. 

That was close, but the hosts went even closer in the 32nd minute. Andraz Sporar reacted first to a low cross but Southwood did superbly to come out and save. Luck hasn’t been on Reading’s side in recent weeks but they were blessed here as the ball ricocheted off Laurent and against the inside of the post before Holmes was able to clear.

Paunovic’s side could count themselves extremely fortunate to get to the break level as Middlesbrough piled on the pressure late on in the half. Aaron Connoly touched a cross just wide before Marcus Tavernier curled one a fraction over with half the stadium already celebrating.

And just when it seemed that Reading had successfully navigated the first period, Holmes gifted them one last chance, this time Southwood managing to parry Connolly’s effort away from goal.

The second half started in the same manner as the first, with both sides struggling to get anything of note going. After 57 minutes Hoilett was forced off holding the back of his leg. Mamadi Camara was the chosen replacement and the youngster nearly had an instant impact linking up with Swift who broke into the box and saw a shot blocked.

While Middlesbrough worked their back into the second half, Reading’s endevaur was rewarded in the 68th minute when Andy Carroll broke the deadlock. A speculative cross was hung up in his direction by Dele-Bashiru and the big striker did the rest, sending an expertly placed looping header over Joe Lumley and into the far corner.

Buoyed by increased volume from their crowd, Middlesbrough came roaring back and nearly found a route to goal through Sporar. But just as the forward was lining up his shot, Rinomhota got back to make a perfect goal-saving sliding challenge.

Moments later Southwood was needed at his best to stretch and keep out a header aimed at the top corner but it would prove to only be a temporary reprieve. From the ensuing corner, Reading cleared the first ball but when it came back into the box, Matt Crooks rose highest to nod home the 84th minute equaliser.

And with time about to expire, Crooks got free at the back post to nod in his second of the game as Reading suffered a devastating defeat at the Riverside Stadium.

READING FC XI: Southwood; Tetek, Holmes, Laurent, Bristow; Drinkwater, Rinomhota; Dele-Bashiru, Swift (88’), Hoilett (Camara 57’); Carroll