Reading 3 Middlesbro' 2
By SUN ONLINE REPORTER
LEROY LITA completed Reading's amazing comeback on their Premiership debut.
The Royals trailed to goals from Stewart Downing and Yakubu inside the opening 20 minutes.
But after Dave Kitson and Steve Sidwell levelled, sub Lita hit the winner 10 minutes after the break.
Middlesbrough were left fuming, though, when Mark Viduka's late effort was harshly ruled out for offside.
Reading manager Steve Coppell was not about to be denied, though, as he got the better of new Boro boss Gareth Southgate, who once played for Coppell at Crystal Palace.
Coppell revealed it was pride in the club that inspired his side's victory.
He said: "It was an exciting performance from us. Both managers could criticise aspects of play but from our point of view it was terrific to come back like that.
"We started nervously and looked anxious, which is human nature given the position we're in.
"When their second one went in, we relaxed a bit and had a go at them.
"The timing of our first goal was critical and it gave us a real boost. I was pleased that we continued to play with that tempo after we scored.
"We played in such a way that you can see what this means to everybody. I know how many good luck texts and phone calls I've had for today and it was the same for the players.
"We've worked really hard to be here and getting into the Premiership was a very big thing for us. You could see that on the pitch.
"As soon as we started stringing passes together I thought that we might get back at them."
Southgate had no complaints with the result. He said: "It was a roller-coaster. We knew we had to dig in after going 2-0 up and Reading threw everything at us.
"We missed a great opportunity to get a win. I wasn't surprised Reading played like that because of the energy and spirit they showed last season."
The former England defender refused to dwell on Viduka's disallowed goal.
He added: "The goal looked onside but it was very tight and hopefully those will go for us another day.
"We didn't do enough in the second half to get the win."
Boro looked a classier outfit early on with Downing leading the charge with a rampaging run down the left.
But Reading were soon into the swing of things as Mark Schwarzer displayed lightning reflexes to tip over a Seol Ki-Hyeon free-kick and then deal with a Bobby Convey effort.
The Madejski Stadium crackled with expectation at Reading's start but home fans were soon brought back down to earth when the visitors opened the scoring in the 11th minute.
George Boateng made the initial inroads through midfield before feeding Yakubu who picked out Downing at the far post with a precision cross the England man buried emphatically.
Sidwell blazed over as the lively Convey continued to get joy down the left but a mistake then saw Reading concede a second in the 21st minute.
James Harper hacked down Yakubu on the edge of the area and Fabio Rochemback managed to slip a low free-kick through the wall.
Marcus Hahnemann spilled the shot into the path of Yakubu who gleefully prodded home from close range.
Reading refused to buckle and their first Premiership goal nearly arrived through Kevin Doyle only for Schwarzer to save and Chris Riggott to get across to prevent Kitson converting the rebound.
Kitson should have scored in the 35th minute but his header from Graeme Murty's pin-point free-kick was weak.
Murty then curled a free-kick inside the near post only to be denied by Schwarzer's fingertips.
Reading dominated the last 20 minutes of the first half and their endeavour was rewarded with two goals.
Seol supplied the first with a tricky run and cross that should have been cleared but was converted by Kitson as Schwarzer and his defenders dithered.
An unmarked Sidwell then smashed home after picking up a crafty pass from Ivar Ingimarsson.
Sidwell jumped into the stands to celebrate - earning a yellow card from referee Mark Halsey - before Kitson limped off seconds before the break with a knee injury that will rule him out for a few games.
Reading's unlikely victory became a reality in the 55th minute when Seol squared for Kevin Doyle and although the Irishman failed to scramble it home, Lita capitalised on the loose ball.
Rochemback was booked for an off-the-ball shoulder charge on Seol before Viduka was then denied his late equaliser when the flag went up.
