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AN ANDREW ROBERTSON strike 11 minutes from time saw Reading beaten for the fourth game of the spin on Tuesday night.
The fixture, however, will be remembered for a controversial decision at 1-1 to overturn a decision to award Royals a penalty early in the second half when Deniss Rakels was bundled to the ground by Hull’s Harry Maguire.
Official Fred Graham, following consultation with an assistant, instead signaled for a corner, much to the fury of the majority in a 12,000-plus crowd, the lowest gate in the league at Madejski Stadium this season.
The hosts, frustratingly, played some entertaining football at times, but a problem which has plagued the club too often this season – finishing – reared its ugly head once again.
On countless times, especially in the first half, the side sliced City wide open, only to be let down by indecision or the lack of a cutting edge.
And because of this Hull, needing the points to secure a play-off spot, were able to convert one of two big chances which fell their way after the break, with full back Robertson lashing home the winner from just inside the box.
The defending leading up to the goal, though, was questionable, with the defender allowed the time and space to pick his spot and finish with aplomb.
Defeat leaves Royals 15th in the table with three matches to play – but it could have been all so different as a bright start saw Jake Cooper give the side a three minute lead.
Yet Steve Bruce’s visitors were back in the game when Able Hernandez nudged home an equaliser on 18 minutes.
Nothing would then separate the sides for some 70 minutes when Robertson settled the contest.
Boss Brian McDermott made two changes from the side beaten 3-2 at Leeds United on Saturday, dropping George Evans and Lucas Piazon to the bench, with Rakels added to a front three of Cox and Vydra, while Anton Ferdinand slotted in at the back.
And the manager will have been pleased with the start made by his charges as they looked to end this current losing streak.
Royals were quickest out of the traps and immediately had City pinned back, with Andrew Taylor and Stephen Quinn profiting the most down the left flank during the early stages.
But knocking the ball around confidently in general would create an opening for Cox.
Slipped in by Vydra, the forward got the better of Andy Robertson, and although he had time to pick his spot, Cox would take too much in the end and his strike was charged down by an opponent.
Charging forward went the hosts once more, and it was when Quinn was impeded by David Meyler over on the left touchline where Reading would take the lead.
Set-piece specialist Oliver Norwood swung over a delicious free-kick which Jake Cooper climbed highest, unmarked too, to powerfully nod past Allan McGregor in the City goal from six yards.
It was just deserts for the hosts, and with the fixture just a few minutes old, optimism around the ground was growing.
Hull, though, were to amount an immediate response, but Hernandez was over with a pop-shot from just inside the area.
A neat move down the right would then present captain Meyler with a sight of goal from some 18 yards, but the midfielder could only produce a scuffed effort which trickled wide of a post.
But the Humberside outfit would not be behind for much longer, with Hernandez pouncing to net his 19th of the season on 18 minutes.
And it was route one stuff from the visitors. Tom Huddleston’s perfectly-weighted ball over the top sent Hernandez and Cooper off on a foot race.
But it was the striker who won this contest, and in doing so also go to the ball before Ali Al Habsi, where the Uruguyian coolly nudged his shot under the Reading ‘keeper and into the back of the net.
The contest was now an open affair, with Rakels sending a header from a corner into the side netting and Huddlestone saw Al Habsi tip over an ambitious effort in traded missed opportunities for both chances.
Yet Reading remained inventive and carved Hull open at the back on numerous occasions, only to be let down by the final pass or the lack of team-mates in the box.
A threaded Hector pass allowed Quinn to throw over a centre which went unpunished, while a clever touch from Vydra would sadly end up in the arms of McGregor.
If trying to work their way to goal was not quite having the desired affect then doing so from range almost did.
A ball into the box was only cleared by the guests as far as Norwood who was lurking some 25 yards out.
The midfielder, who has netted from similar distances already this term, allowed it to sit up before pulling the trigger with a first-time effort which looked destined for the bottom corner.
McGregor, though, would produce a smart stop to turn the effort around a post and for a corner.
Reading continued to play with a greater sense of purpose, but would frustratingly see a number of encouraging situations fizzle out due to a lack of cutting edge before the interval.
It could, perhaps, be argued the home side were guilty of playing too much, with some making the additional pass when the option to shoot was available.
Although another tireless performance from Vydra, it just was not happening for the on-loan Czech, and he was withdrawn nine minutes into the second half, with McDermott instead going with the more direct option in Yann Kermorgant.
The session was slow to get going, but all that was to change when Rakels was wrestled to the ground inside the box by Maguire as the pair fought to win a hopeful ball forward.
Confusion would meet the incident, with the referee initially pointing to the spot – only to then instead award Reading a corner following a miscommunication with his assistant on the far side.
Naturally the decision was greeted by disapproval by those up in the stands, but they would be further incensed soon after by a number of dubious challenges they felt warranted punishment as Royals continued to attack – but didn’t.
In between these decisions, Rakels was off target when meeting a Kermorgant flick on, while Quinn would try his luck against his former club, but his low effort amid a run into the box lacked the conviction to beat McGregor.
Up until now Hull had created next to nothing going forward, but that would change when two chances came and went in quick succession, with substitute Chuba Akpom involved in both.
He would blaze way over when laid on by Snodgrass and it was then his cute dummy which played in Hernandez, but his shot under pressure was easy pickings for Al Habsi, although Akpom did claim his was impeded, but the match official was having none of it.
This spell of pressure would also yield a big chance for Hernandez. Again laid on by Snodgrass, the unmarked forward would pick his spot and went for the corner, but Al Habsi read the situation well and produced a smart block from point-blank range.
Hull were now beginning to pose a greater threat on proceedings, and in the 79th minute they went ahead.
An unfortunate slip from McCleary allowed Robertson to make advances down the left, where Royals’ failure to stop the run allowed the full back to dart into the box before firing across Al Habsi and into the corner.
This came just minutes after Reading had gone close up the other end. Kermorgant did well to meet a McCleary cross from deep under pressure – and get it on target – but McGregor got both hands behind the attempt and plucked it from under the crossbar.
The home side duly pushed men forward in an attempt to snatch an equaliser, but could only create the one opening late on, which Norwood curled way wide of an upright.
McDermott and his players have long spoken about the need to try and finish the season with a flourish, but are running out of games to do this and also arrest this recent run of poor form.
Up next is the short trip to west London, where they are guests of Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (3pm).
READING: Al Habsi (c), McCleary, Cooper, Ferdinand, Taylor, Norwood, Hector, Quinn, Vydra (Kermorgant 54), Rakels, Cox (John 72).
Subs not used: Bond, Evans, Piazon, John, Kermorgant, Watson, Barrett
Goal: Cooper 3.
HULL CITY: McGregor, Odubajo, Davies, Maguire Robertson, Huddlestone, Snodgrass, Diomande (Akpom 67) Maloney (Clucas 83), Hernandez, Meyer (c) (Hayden 55).
Booked: Hayden.
Subs not used: Jakupovic, Bruce, Clucas, Akpom, Hayden, Aluko.
Goal: Hernandez 18, Robertson 79.
Referee: Fred Graham
Attendance: 12,949.
