A superb second half performance saw Barnsley come from behind to overthrow the Royals in Berkshire.
Goals from Herbie Kane, Devante Cole and Max Watters helped earn the Reds a big three points this afternoon in Reading.
After conceding in the opening stages of this one, Neill Collins' side showed commitment and composure to come from behind and win, the first time that has happened in a league fixture for 766 days.
As said, it wasn't the ideal start as the Reds fell behind inside five minutes at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. After former Barnsley defender Andy Yiadom had brought the ball deep into the final third he was upended centrally, some 30 yards from goal. The free-kick was swung into the box by Lewis Wing, nodded towards the near post by Tyler Bindon where Harvey Knibbs stole in and headed in unmarked from a couple of yards out.
There was a decent response to that setback from Collins' men as they looked to create openings via the work of striker Sam Cosgrove who was dominating his marker. He had a couple of opportunities himself, first firing a strike wide from the edge of the box before hooking a half-volley over the crossbar inside the box having landed on Cole's knockdown.
However, the Royals could have doubled their advantage but for the reactions of Reds 'keeper Ben Killip who had to dive low to his right at full-stretch to divert Bindon's header away from the bottom corner.
We then had a second stoppage following a barrage of tennis balls dropping onto the pitch as Reading supporters continued their ownership protests. Soon after that delay, Nicky Cadden succumbed to an earlier knock and was replaced by Callum Styles on the left flank.
With 38 minutes played Barnsley had the chance to equalise from 12 yards. After some pinball in the Royals' box, referee, Oliver Yates saw a handball as Corey O'Keeffe looked to get a shot off. Up stepped Kane who struck the penalty high and true, right into the top corner giving goalkeeper David Button no chance. We were level going into the interval.
HALF TIME: Reading 1-1 Barnsley
The Reds were in the ascendancy and began the second half in similar fashion with even more gaps appearing down the sides of the Reading defence which allowed an early opportunity for Kane to cross deep for the arriving Cosgrove but the forward fluffed his lines somewhat and then Kane's attempts to squeeze a shot in at the front post were blocked.
Our hosts were still a threat, particularly down their right-hand side with Azeez continuing to run at Jamie McCart and just prior to the hour-mark he skipped by the defender only to see his eventual shot turned away well by the impressive Killip.
But the Reds were on top and after Cosgrove was hauled down on the edge of the box, Adam Phillips fizzed a strike just wide. Then the midfielder slipped Cosgrove in a minute later but Sam's powerful effort from just inside the box was parried away by Button.
After a terrific shift up top, Cosgrove was subbed off for Portuguese youngster Fábio Jaló and he would go on to have a pivotal impact on the game.
It wasn't until the 80th minute though that Collins' side took a deserved lead but that second goal was well worth the wait! A diagonal ball towards the box from Luca Connell was chested down brilliantly by Kane into the path of Cole who was lurking, 20 yards out and he crashed home a thunderous effort that sent the 700+ Reds supporters to the right of that goal into raptures.
And slightly before we entered injury time, Barnsley added a third goal and put the contest to bed as two substitutes combined to great effect. Another Connell ball over the top saw Jaló scamper clear of the defence and down the right and his low cross into the six yard box was inch-perfect for Max Watters to tap home under a strong challenge from a defender. The striker stayed down - much like John McAtee did in midweek - and despite treatment from Physio, Vikki Stevens he wasn't able to continue.
The Reds would see out 10 minutes or so of time remaining with 10 men and did so comfortably, earning another victory on the road and maintaining their pursuit of the play-off pack.
FULL TIME: Reading 1-3 Barnsley
Killip, O'Keeffe (Cotter), Williams, de Gevigney, McCart, Cadden (Styles), Kane, Connell, Phillips, Cosgrove (Jaló), Cole (Watters).
Unused: Cooper (GK), Łopata, Russell.
