READING FC remain in the Championship relegation zone after  a Bolton Wanderers sucker-punch.

Royals were heading for their first away win since September and out of the bottom three thanks to Nelson Oliveira’s 75th minute penalty and his first goal for the club.

But four minutes into five of time added on and it was all square again as Jack Hobbs scored his first goal in more than five years to snatch a point for the hosts.

It was a bitter ending for Reading and undoubtedly Jose Gomes himself. Rarely you hear manager admits a game is a ‘six-pointer’ – in this case he did.

And that is sure to intensify the frustration at having let two precious points slip in the battle for survival and against one of your chief relegation rivals.

The former Rio Ave boss has had a big impact in a short space of time since replacing Paul Clement in December.

It has been a while since a transfer window brought so much change and so much promise as this one.

And there is no doubt Reading look a far better outfit that they did a month ago – and they were again at the University of Bolton Stadium.

But it is still just one win in six Championship matches under the new boss, a new regime and new way of playing.

Sadly, it is victories Reading desperately need or the trap door to League One will edge ever closer.

They are unlikely to get much help either when Aston Villa visit this Saturday.

Gomes made five changes from the side that lost 2-1 at Derby County last time out including debuts for on-loan trio Matt Miazga, Martinez and Oliveira.

Chris Gunter also returned to the starting XI, but there was no place in the squad for Anssi Jaakkola or Vito Mannone as Gomes looks to offload a keeper since Martinez’s arrival from Arsenal.

Ovie Ejaria could only make the bench after picking up a knock, Omar Richards missed out through injury and Tiago Ilori was sealing a permanent move to Sporting Lisbon.

So many changes could have been a major hurdle, but it was more a case of missed chances that held Reading back.

Josh Swift had already threatened before Gunter, who had not featured under Gomes before tonight, was involved in a move that nearly gave the visitors a 10th-minute lead.

He whipped in an inviting cross which Mo Barrow flicked across goal, but Swift could only head wide from close range when he should have scored.

A wayward Jason Lowe drive from 20 yards led the Bolton response, then Royals went close on the half-hour mark, Leandro Bacuna stabbing wide.

But the visitors were patting Martinez on the back after a crucial save to deny Criag Noone who had broken free of the Reading defence.

However, Gomes’ men threatened to take the lead again soon after.

On this occasion, former Royals loanee Andrew Taylor came to the Trotters rescue by turning Sone Aluko’s effort over from Andy Yiadom’s assist.

Oliveria also had a sniff at goal on the stroke of half time by shaking off Noone, only to sky a shot into the stands.

Yiadom was involved a minute after the restart when he drove into space before rifling one narrowly wide.

But Bolton missed a gilt-edged chance three minutes later, Gary O’Neill nodding over the crossbar from Noone’s right-wing cross before the same Trotters player forced a routine save from Martinez.

Parkinson’s men kept probing and Martinez was at his best again when denying Luca Connell from outside the box.

There was no switching off for Trotters keeper Remi Matthews either as Oliveira tested him with a pinger from distance.

Bolton’s keeper followed that with some sharp thinking to snuffle out Barrow who had been played in by Swift.

Martinez continued to do a top job at the other end and was alert to fierce Clayton Donaldson drive that looked like going in with 20 minutes to go.

But the breakthrough finally arrived in the 74th minute as Trotters’ defence switched off.

Pawel Olkowski brought down Garath McCleary with a clumsy challenge and Oliveira’s spot-kick had enough power to fly past Matthews, who guessed the right way.

It may have been no more than Reading deserved, but Parkinson’s men wouldn’t lie down, Donaldson lashing over from a decent position.

And there is no such thing as a comfortable lead when you are down near the bottom, nothing is certain until the final whistle blows.

So it proved in painful fashion when Bolton snatched an equaliser a minute into added time.

Sammy Ameobi swung in a cross from the right which Hobbs met with a sweet header that Martinez got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.

It was a hammer blow at the death on a night when Reading could and perhaps should have moved out of the relegation zone after a rare and vital away victory.

Sadly, Gomes’ new-look Royals still have a long way to go and face more relegation battles ahead with Rotherham, Ipswich and Wigan all on the horizon.

Bolton: Matthews, Olkowski (Magennisat 79), Wheater, Hobbs, Taylor, Lowe, Connell (Pritchardat 72), Ameobi, O'Neil, Noone (Buckleyat 67), Donaldson. Booked: Noone 35, Taylor 58.

Reading: Martinez, Gunter (McCleary 61), Miazga, Moore, Yiadom, Rinomhota, Bacuna, Aluko, Swift (Blackett 83), Barrow, Oliveira (Loader 90). Subs not used: Walker, Baker, Ejaria, Harriott. Booked: Gunter 53, Rinomhota 60, Swift 63.

Referee: Scott Duncan.

Attendance: 12,915 (Reading 329).