Reading suffered a third successive defeat, this time 3-2 at the hands of relegation threatened Burton Albion.

Rumarn Burrell and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson had the hosts in a two-goal lead at half-time but a quickfire pair of strikes from Michael Craig and Harlee Dean looked to have earned the Royals a point.

That was until the second minute of stoppage time when Burrell sealed his brace and earned a third win in a row for the East Midlands outfit.

Looking for a reaction from the last two defeats, Reading and Burton played out an even opening exchange, with both sides mixing up the short and long play. Charlie Savage had the first effort, fizzing over the bar inside seven minutes after Chem Campbell’s cross.

The Royals gave themselves a hill to climb after 10 minutes as the hosts edged ahead. Armer’s cross from the left found Burrell, unmarked in the box, who had the simple job of heading past Joel Pereira at his near post.

Overall, Reading looked okay in the flow of the game and saw plenty of half chances come and go. Sam Smith nearly headed in from close range, but his header deflected wide off a defender. Harvey Knibbs, busy throughout, had a smart snapshot saved well from inside the box after Michael Craig picked up a loose second ball of Smith’s header.

Just as it looked as though they were settling into a rhythm, the Brewers controversially extended their lead. A deep free kick was headed down and former Royal Bodvarsson converted from inside the box, albeit from what looked like an offside position.

Taking the wind out of their sail, Reading failed to truly test Max Crocombe in the final stages of the half. Savage came close, curling narrowly wide of the far post, but in truth the hosts managed the end of the half well and saw Reading head back down the tunnel with their tail firmly between their legs.

Reading had the first attempt of the half, Smith knocking Ehibhatiomhan’s cross over the bar from close range, but the Brewers had a handful of efforts as the half wore on to put the match out of sight.

JJ McKiernan saw a strike drift agonisingly wide of the far post before a powerful cross went through the box and out the other side as the hosts pressed for a third. Chem Campbell had the best chance early on for the Royals, hitting the crossbar with a header from Savage’s deep cross.

With 25 minutes to go, Reading looked to have halved the deficit when Crocombe dropped the ball in the box, only for the referee to find a foul in a mass of bodies on the Burton goal line. Incensing the Reading players and bench but also giving them a chance to regroup as Ryan Sweeney was seen to, it was to spark the unlikeliest of comebacks. With 20 minutes remaining, Reading did have a goal back. Substitute Mamadi Camara won the ball high and fed Smith in the box. His drilled cross found Craig at the back post, who looped a curled effort into the far corner.

Less than two minutes later, the scores were level as Dean rose highest to head a corner goal bound, although Smith ran away and appeared to touch the ball over the line on route to nestling in the net.

The hosts did regain a foothold, Bodvarsson nearly netting again but seeing a header rest on the roof of the upright. They certainly had their footing back in stoppage time as a quick counter and low cross found Burrell at the back post for the heart-breaking winner.

Unable to find a third, the Royals fell to the floor and fell to their third straight defeat. On Saturday, Bolton Wanderers visit the SCL Stadium.