Match ends, Reading 3, Derby County 3.
ReadingReading3DerbyDerby County3
Reading twice came from behind as they earned a draw against Derby and avoided losing a fifth league game in a row for the first time in their history.
Under-pressure Royals boss Jaap Stam saw his side trail to Kasey Palmer's close-range strike, but the hosts went in front through Liam Kelly's 25-yard hit and Mo Barrow's one-on-one finish.
Richard Keogh's shot and Tom Lawrence's solo effort put the Rams ahead again.
But Jon Dadi Bodvarsson levelled before Chris Baird's late red card for Derby.
Baird's 85th-minute red card, for a lunging challenge on Barrow, provided the spark for a frantic spell of home pressure that Derby just managed to withstand.
But their failure to hold on to a lead they twice held meant they dropped a place to fourth in the Championship table following Aston Villa's victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Prospects of an away win had looked good when Palmer smashed in the opener for the Rams.
However, Kelly's long-range shot made it 1-1 and some sloppy play allowed Barrow to run through for Reading's second.
More dubious defending saw Keogh control the ball on his thigh and level at 2-2, and the Rams had the perfect platform for victory thanks to Lawrence's low strike inside a minute of the restart.
Former Manchester United defender Stam had called for unity from the fans in the build-up to the game and an improved home performance started to lift spirits as the game opened up even more.
Rams keeper Scott Carson made a breathtaking save from another sumptuous hit by Kelly, while at the other end Cameron Jerome twice went close, including a header which clipped the bar.
But Iceland striker Bodvarsson earned Reading a point, following up to net after Carson had made another stunning stop in the build-up.
Reading manager Jaap Stam:
"We gave away cheap goals and that's not the first time we're saying that.
"We wanted to keep the score at 2-1 and then maybe go forward and go for a third goal.
"You knew that Derby had to score and you know that maybe opens them up. But then they score a goal from a set-piece.
"We kept on pushing to get back into the game again and we got a deserved equaliser. So that's a good point."
Derby manager Gary Rowett:
"It was a good game for the neutral bystander, a good spectacle. But for a manager, you don't want the game to be full of so many swings.
"We started well, but a few things frustrated me today, especially our decision-making defensively. That's cost us a chance to win the game.
"I had a real go at the players at half-time. It's the first time I'd done that probably all season, but we responded well."
"The referee saw the [Baird] tackle as two-footed and reckless from behind. I won't appeal, because it won't look to be obviously not a red card."
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Mannone
- 2Gunter
- 20Ilori
- 6MooreBooked at 83mins
- 50RichardsBooked at 49mins
- 19Bacuna
- 38KellySubstituted forMcClearyat 81'minutes
- 14Aluko
- 22ClementSubstituted forSwiftat 70'minutes
- 17BarrowSubstituted forEdwardsat 90+4'minutes
- 23Bödvarsson
Substitutes
- 4van den Berg
- 10Swift
- 12McCleary
- 16Edwards
- 24Blackett
- 31Jaakkola
- 55Smith
Derby
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1CarsonBooked at 86mins
- 12BairdBooked at 85mins
- 6KeoghBooked at 83mins
- 33Davies
- 29OlssonBooked at 20mins
- 44Huddlestone
- 36Ledley
- 19WeimannBooked at 83mins
- 7PalmerBooked at 50minsSubstituted forJohnsonat 78'minutes
- 10LawrenceSubstituted forWisdomat 88'minutes
- 32JeromeSubstituted forNugentat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Anya
- 14Wisdom
- 15Johnson
- 16Pearce
- 21Roos
- 28Nugent
- 34Thorne
- Referee:
- Tony Harrington
- Attendance:
- 17,647
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamDerby
- Possession
- Home72%
- Away28%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away6
- Corners
- Home8
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 3, Derby County 3.
Post update
Attempt blocked. John Swift (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. David Edwards replaces Modou Barrow.
Post update
Liam Moore (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Tom Huddlestone (Derby County).
Post update
Chris Gunter (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Bradley Johnson (Derby County).
Post update
Attempt missed. Jón Dadi Bödvarsson (Reading) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Leandro Bacuna with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Andre Wisdom replaces Tom Lawrence.
Post update
Attempt missed. Leandro Bacuna (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Modou Barrow.
Booking
Scott Carson (Derby County) is shown the yellow card.
Dismissal
Chris Baird (Derby County) is shown the red card.
Post update
Modou Barrow (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Chris Baird (Derby County).
Post update
Attempt blocked. David Nugent (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Ledley.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tom Huddlestone (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Foul by Liam Moore (Reading).
Post update
Tom Huddlestone (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Andreas Weimann (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
