Reading conceded two second-half penalties as they were forced to settle for a point against Blackburn at Ewood Park.
The Royals are at least off the mark in the Championship having lost their opening three games, but they looked well on their way to all three points thanks to an early Jon Dadi Bodvarsson brace.
However, two reckless fouls by captain Paul McShane after the restart allowed Rovers back into the contest with Charlie Mulgrew twice netting from the penalty spot to earn the hosts a share of the spoils.
Blackburn piled on late pressure in search of all three points, but the visitors held on to earn a draw.
Paul Clement was left raging at his players following Saturday’s defeat to Bolton and he made three changes to the side with Leandro Bacuna, Sone Aluko and Bodvarsson recalled as David Meyler, John Swift and Marc McNulty all dropped to the bench, where they were joined by new recruit Josh Sims.
Still seeking a first point heading into matchday four for the first time since 1959, Reading made a shaky start and were inches away from falling behind when Joe Rothwell let fly from the edge of the box, but his effort came back off the crossbar.
Vito Mannone was then called into a fine save to deny Adam Armstrong as unbeaten Rovers sensed an early goal.
However, the visitors soaked up the pressure and pounced to take the lead out of nothing when Bodvarsson capitalised on a defensive mix-up to nip in ahead of David Maya and flick the ball home.
Yakou Meite went close to doubling the tally, heading over from a free-kick, but the Ivorian had a big role to play minutes later when another header was this time saved and Bodvarsson was alert to turn in the rebound.
Blackburn, who came into the game without a home league defeat in 21 games since September 2017, rallied again before the break and came close to pulling a goal back but McShane and Liam Moore produced vital defensive interceptions.
But just five minutes after the restart, the deficit had been halved.
Elliott Bennett burst down the left and McShane tripped him in the box, allowing captain Mulgrew the chance from the penalty spot, which he clinically dispatched down the middle of the goal.
Rovers had their tails up, buoyed by the goal and fresh legs of former Royals striker Dom Samuel on as a half-time substitute.
But Reading almost netted a third when a fierce cross from the right just evaded Bodvarsson in the centre.
Clement made his first change of the evening just past the hour mark, replacing Aluko with Southampton loanee Sims for his debut.
Already without dynamic attacking duo Bradley Dack and Kasey Palmer from the start, Blackburn also lost Armstrong and Samuel to injury during the contest.
But that failed to deter the hosts as they got back on level terms with quarter of an hour to play as McShane was penalised again for a foul in the box on Mulgrew, who stepped up himself to tuck into the bottom corner for his second goal of the night.
Clement immediately introduced Barrow from the bench, but Blackburn were not done there, piling on the pressure in search of a winning goal and almost grabbed one when substitute Joe Nuttall headed just over.
Reading were dangerous on the break themselves and McNulty tried his luck seconds after coming on, curling wide from 20 yards.
Blackburn looked the more likely winners in the six additional minutes but the points were shared.
The Royals stay 23rd in the table and go to Aston Villa on Saturday (3pm).
READING: Mannone; Yiadom, McShane (c), Moore, Blackett; Aluko (Sims 63), Bacuna, Kelly, Meite (Barrow 77); Baldock (McNulty 84), Bodvarsson.
Subs not used: Walker, O’Shea, Meyler, Swift.
Goals: Bodvarsson x2 (12,25)
BLACKBURN: Raya; Nyambe, Lenihan, Mulgrew (c), Bell; Smallwood (Samuel 45 (Nuttall 72)), Evans; Bennett, Rothwell, Armstrong (Conway 45); Graham.
Subs not used: Leutwiler, Downing, Travis, Hart.
Goals: Mulgrew x2 (pen x2) (51,76)
Referee: Oliver Langford
Attendance: 11,818
