Reading’s hopes of League One survival took a costly hit as a late penalty saw them defeated by Wycombe Wanderers.
Reading recovered with a Sam Smith leveller in a rejuvenated second-half before Clinton Mola dived in recklessly in the box to conceded a penalty.
The converted spot kick saw Lubala net the winner to give the Chairboys all three points.
Despite the defeat, Reading stay five points above the relegation places.
Ruben Selles named an unchanged side from Reading’s win at Carlisle United as they looked to continue their plot for League One safety.
The Royals have been in fine form in the past few months before another points deduction brought them right back into the relegation mix prior to their victory over Carlisle.
Former Royals man Garath McCleary lined up for the Chairboys who made their first trip to the Select Car Leasing Stadium since October 2020 where Reading won 1-0 courtesy of a Lucas Joao winner.
Despite playing in front of the biggest home crowd of the season, it was an uninspiring display on the pitch from the hosts in the opening 45 minutes.
Reading found themselves pinned back in their own half for the majority of the first half an hour.
The Chairboys found themselves in front after 16 minutes, deservedly taking the lead when the ball dropped from the air for Nigel Lonwijk who found the net with a stunning acrobatic effort.
Wycombe looked the more likely to add to the score when quick feet from McCleary allowed him to make space away from two blue shirts before Kieran Sadlier’s shot was deflected behind.
Having finally worked a way out of their own half, Reading managed a couple of shots on goal before the break with a tame effort first from Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan before Femi Azeez cut in and saw his shot held comfortably.
David Button had to rush off his line to cut out a dangerous cross from McCleary with Sadlier lurking.
The visitors then had a golden chance to double their advantage when McCleary picked out Sadlier unmarked in the middle who scuffed his shot wide to let Reading off the hook heading into half-time.
Presumably unimpressed with his team’s first-half, Selles made a double switch at the break which saw Charlie Savage replace Craig in central midfield.and Ben Elliott replaced Ehibhatiomhan.
Reading showed more energy and desire from the restart and hit the post just two minutes into the half when Bindon rose high to win a header which bounced off the frame of the goal.
Bindon then had another sighter after a cross was floated into the box with his header sailing over the top.
Reading continued to pile bodies forward as Sam Smith knocked his marker off the ball but couldn’t beat Franco Ravizzoli in the Wycombe goal.
A rejuvenated second-half display was eventually rewarded when a short corner saw Azeez clip the ball in for Smith to nod home from close range to square the game.
Reading’s hard work was undone when Mola went to ground in the box and brought his man down, leaving the referee no choice but to award Wycombe a penalty.
Lonwijk sent Button the wrong way to net his second of the game which proved to be the winner.
The loss means Reading drop down to 20th and are now only four points above the relegation zone.
Reading: Button, Yiadom, Bindon, Mbengue, Mola, Craig, Wing, Knibbs, Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan, Smith
Subs: Pereira, Elliott, Dean, Savage, Mukairu, Wareham, Abrefa
Wycombe Wanderers: Ravioli, Grimmer, Scowen, Tafazolli, Butcher, Leahy, McCleary, Potts, Lonwijk, Sadlier, Lubala
Subs: Shepherd, Vokes, Campbell, Taylor, Kone, McCarthy, Kodija
Goals: Lonwijk 16’, Smith 74’, Lubala (pen) 87′
