Marc McNulty missed an 89th minute penalty as Reading were edged out by Leeds at Elland Road.
The Royals competed well during a goalless first half but succumbed to the home side’s pressure to fall behind on the hour mark when Stuart Dallas swept in.
But Reading kept in the contest and earned a golden chance to snatch a point after substitute Josh Sims was brought down in the box by Barry Douglas.
Up stepped fellow sub McNulty, who slammed his spot kick low towards the bottom left corner but he was denied a first goal in Reading colours by a fine Bailey Peacock-Farrell save.
The defeat keeps the Royals 20th in the Championship table, level on points with the bottom three while Leeds go up to second.
Paul Clement made four changes to the side which drew at Wigan Athletic on Saturday with the inclusion of Danny Loader for his first ever senior start the most eye-catching selection. Andy Yiadom, Tiago Ilori and Leandro Bacuna also returned with Garath McCleary, Tyler Blackett, John O’Shea and Sone Aluko all dropping to the bench.
But it was promotion-chasing Leeds who flew out of the traps, almost taking the lead inside 80 seconds when Barry Douglas headed just wide inside the box.
At the other end Bacuna almost caught out goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell with his long-range free-kick but chances were few and far between for the visitors.
Leeds controlled the possession but Reading were defending resolutely with Ilori making a big block to deny Kemar Roofe.
The Royals began to grow into the contest with Loader firing a shot into team-mate Yakou Meite before Chris Gunter also saw an effort blocked.
There was a brief nervy moment for Reading just moments before half-time when Ezgjan Alioski went down in the box under a challenge from Ilori, but referee Mike Dean correctly booked the Macedonian for diving.
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Marcelo Bielsa made two subs at the break and they both combined instantly with Jack Clarke picking out Samuel Saiz who fired goalwards, but Yiadom made a crucial block.
The pressure was building and only a brilliant diving stop from Anssi Jaakkola denied Roofe from giving Leeds the opening goal.
Jaakkola thwarted Roofe again soon after following a Douglas cross, but Dallas was on hand to tuck in the rebound.
Clement turned to his bench to try and find a way back into the contest with McCleary, Sims and McNulty all introduced but the closest they came was when Loader connected with a Gunter cross only for Peacock-Farrell to make the save.
Leeds looked to wrap up victory with three minutes to go when Roofe fired goalwards from close-range but Jaakkola continued to win his personal battle with the striker.
And those saves looked to be crucial as Reading got a late chance to take a point after Sims was tripped in the box by Douglas.
In this fixture last season it was Leeds who saw a late penalty saved by Vito Mannone but the table were turned this time as McNulty failed to beat Peacock-Farrell and the game was lost.
Reading host Stoke City on Saturday (3pm).
READING: Jaakkola; Yiadom, Ilori, Moore (c), Gunter; Kelly (McNulty 77), Rinomhota, Bacuna; Loader, Swift (McCleary 61), Meite (Sims 70).
Subs not used: Walker, O’Shea, Blackett, Aluko.
Yellow cards: McCleary (64), Bacuna (75)
LEEDS: Peacock-Farrell; Dallas, Phillips, Cooper (c), Douglas; Forshaw; Hernandez, Baker (Clarke 45), Klich (Shackleton 73), Alioski (Saiz 45); Roofe.
Subs not used: Huffer, Halme, Harrison, Roberts.
Goal: Dallas (60)
Yellow cards: Alioski (44), Douglas (55), Dallas (81)
Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 27,806
