JON DADI BODVARSSON netted his first goal at Madejski Stadium to grab Reading a point against Hull City.
Royals looked set for a third straight home defeat after Fraizer Campbell’s first half strike, but substitute Bodvarsson popped up with a brilliant finish in the 87th minute to earn a share of the spoils.
And it so nearly got even better with the final kick of the game as Liam Moore scuffed a shot from deep inside the area.
The draw keeps Reading in 18th with nine points from their eight games so far.
As expected, Jaap Stam made big changes from the midweek cup defeat to Swansea City, reverting back to the majority of the side which drew 1-1 at Brentford last Saturday.
There was just one change from that side at Griffin Park with Roy Beerens preferred to Bodvarsson, meaning Sone Aluko and Garath McCleary rotated the central striker berth.
Reading dominated possession during the early stages, but Hull defended well and afforded no clear cut chances for the hosts.
That was until the 20th minute when a Liam Kelly corner was floated to the back post for Moore, but the defender’s free header was planted straight into the hands of goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
And despite not threatening beforehand, Hull caught Reading cold to take the lead on 28 minutes when a Seb Larsson through ball just evaded the outstretched leg of Chris Gunter.
That allowed Campbell in one-on-one and the striker coolly dispatched past Vito Mannone.
Royals responded and almost levelled before the break when Beerens clipped a cross to the back post for the onrushing Aluko but, under pressure from Stephen Kingsley, he fired wide.
That was as good as it got as Stam’s charges continued their unwanted record of not scoring a first half goal all season in the Championship, cueing a few boos from the home faithful as the sides went off at the break.
Things almost went from bad to worse just minutes after the restart as Larsson lined up a free-kick from 25 yards, but his effort bounced back off the crossbar.
Reading did up the tempo and began to look more threatening, albeit without testing the keeper, with a header from Aluko the closest they came during the early second half skirmishes.
Stam made two changes, bringing on Jordan Obita for Tyler Blackett at left-wing back before more boos rang around the ground when he replaced Liam Kelly with centre-back Tiago Ilori with 25 minutes to play.
The ball was camped in the Hull half, barring a couple of counter-attacking opportunities, with Joey van den Berg seeing an effort deflect just wide while McCleary blazed off target.
Stam made his final roll of the dice with 15 minutes to play, introducing Bodvarsson in place of Gunter, who had featured in every minute this season until that switch.
But it was Hull who carved out two quick chances to kill the contest. First Nouha Dicko got in down the right and smashed straight at Mannone before Fikayo Tomori drifted past three challenges before sliding his shot wide.
However, there was time for a late twist. Aluko, who had been Reading’s liveliest spark all game, clipped a ball through for Bodvarsson to chase and the Icelander lashed a brilliant low strike across goal and into the far corner.
Buoyed by the goal, Royals sought a dramatic winner and came so close when a last minute corner bobbled around in the box and fell to Moore, but he could not connect with his strike.
There was bad news for Reading after the final whistle as Obita had to be stretchered away after a clash with the hoardings.
READING: Mannone; McShane (c), Moore, van den Berg; Gunter (Bodvarsson 76), Edwards, Kelly (Ilori 65), Blackett (Obita 51); McCleary, Beerens, Aluko.
Subs not used: Jaakkola, Evans, Swift, Clement.
Goal: Bodvarsson (87)
HULL: McGregor; Tomori, Dawson (c), Hector; Aina, Meyler, Irvine, Kingsley; Bowen, Larsson (Toral 77), Campbell (Dicko 65).
Subs not used: Marshall, Mazuch, Clark, Henriksen, Diomande.
Goal: Campbell (28)
Referee: Stephen Martin
Attendance: 15,749 (inc. 713 away)
