Matt Crooks has now scored six goals for Middlesbrough this season
Matt Crooks scored a 95th-minute winner as in-form Middlesbrough came from behind to beat Reading and make it six wins in seven Championship games.
Former England striker Andy Carroll scored his second goal for Reading as they bounced back from a 7-0 thrashing by Fulham to take the lead.
Middlesbrough had come closest in a goalless first half with a Jonny Howson shot deflected just wide and a rebound off Reading defender Josh Laurent after Luke Southwood had saved from Andraz Sporar hit the post.
They drew level when Crooks headed past Southwood and in added time he met Isaiah Jones' cross for his second to move Chris Wilder's side up to sixth in the table.
- Relive Saturday's EFL action
The Royals remain 21st, just three points clear of the relegation places, and have now failed to win in their last six visits to the Riverside Stadium.
Boss Veljko Paunovic resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes after the embarrassing result against Fulham, with Andy Rinomhota coming in for Scott Dann as the only change to the starting line-up.
Boro had the better of the opening 45 minutes with recent loan signing from Brighton Aaron Connolly twice going close, but found themselves behind just before the hour when Carroll found the net with a looping header from Tom Dele-Bashiru's cross.
Reading pushed for a second as John Swift's right-foot shot forced a save from Joe Lumley, only for Marcus Tavernier to pick out Crooks, who made no mistake from his cross.
Lumley saved from Laurent as the clock ticked beyond 90 minutes, but it was Middlesbrough who came up with the winner as Crooks took his tally for the season to six goals - just four days short of a year since his last double, for Rotherham against Stoke in a 3-3 draw.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsMiddlesbrough
Formation 3-5-2
1Lumley2Dijksteel6Fry17McNair35Jones25Crooks16Howson7Tavernier3Taylor11Sporar26Connolly
- 1Lumley2DijksteelSubstituted forWatmoreat 72'minutes6Fry17McNair35Jones25Crooks16HowsonSubstituted forCoburnat 84'minutes7TavernierBooked at 74mins3Taylor11Sporar26ConnollySubstituted forBalogunat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Payero14Peltier18Watmore22Bamba28Daniels37Coburn47Balogun
Reading
Formation 4-2-3-1
22Southwood16Tetek3Holmes28Laurent41Bristow15Drinkwater8Rinomhota23Hoilett10Swift19Dele-Bashiru9Carroll
- 22Southwood16Tetek3Holmes28Laurent41BristowBooked at 12mins15DrinkwaterBooked at 65mins8Rinomhota23HoilettBooked at 36minsSubstituted forCamaraat 56'minutes10SwiftSubstituted forLucas Joãoat 88'minutes19Dele-Bashiru9Carroll
Substitutes
- 18Lucas João32Camara39Clarke47Puscas50Collins51Holzman
Referee:James LiningtonAttendance:21,634Match StatsHome TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamReadingPossessionHome63%Away37%ShotsHome10Away10Shots on TargetHome5Away4CornersHome5Away5FoulsHome11Away17Live TextPost update
Match ends, Middlesbrough 2, Reading 1.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 2, Reading 1.
90'+5'goalGoal!
Goal! Middlesbrough 2, Reading 1. Matt Crooks (Middlesbrough) header from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Isaiah Jones with a cross.
90'+4'Post update
Offside, Middlesbrough. Josh Coburn tries a through ball, but Duncan Watmore is caught offside.
90'+2'Post update
Matt Crooks (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Lucas João (Reading).
90'+1'Post update
Attempt saved. Josh Laurent (Reading) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Tom Dele-Bashiru.
90'Post update
Foul by Folarin Balogun (Middlesbrough).
90'Post update
Dejan Tetek (Reading) wins a free kick on the right wing.
88'Post update
Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'Post update
Foul by Danny Drinkwater (Reading).
88'Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Lucas João replaces John Swift.
87'Post update
Foul by Matt Crooks (Middlesbrough).
87'Post update
Andy Carroll (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'Post update
Hand ball by Dejan Tetek (Reading).
84'goalGoal!
Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Reading 1. Matt Crooks (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcus Tavernier with a cross following a corner.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Josh Coburn replaces Jonny Howson.
84'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Luke Southwood.
83'Post update
Attempt saved. Matt Crooks (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Andraz Sporar.
83'Post update
Attempt missed. Andraz Sporar (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Marcus Tavernier with a cross following a corner.
Page 1 of 6rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward
Source: bbc.com