Shane Long's double was enough to give Reading a win which saw them leapfrog Burnley in the Championship table.
Burnley, with Stuart Gray in charge as caretaker boss after Brian Laws' sacking, took the lead as Ross Wallace finished from Tyrone Mears' cross.
But the Royals levelled within three minutes as Shane Long hit his 11th goal of the campaign with a cool finish.
And Long headed in the winner from Jobi McAnuff's corner in the 68th minute to secure the points for the home side.
It made it six goals in five games for Long as Brian McDermott's side kept up the pressure on the play-off pack.
Reading began well and Long sliced a left-footed strike wide and sent a header past the post early on.
But the visitors began to control midfield and Jack Cork and Chris Eagles combined to create the opener in the 28th minute.
Eagles then fed a fine overlapping run from Mears and the full-back was able to cut the ball back perfectly for Wallace to strike home powerfully from 15 yards.
But Reading soon levelled as Noel Hunt won a header on the halfway line and Long had the pace to race clear of the defence and the composure to slide the ball past goalkeeper Lee Grant.
Clarets midfielder Dean Marney then smashed a strike against the crossbar as an end-to-end half came to a close.
The home side began the second-half strongly, but Hunt and Long both missed chances before Long's second goal arrived in the 68th minute.
McAnuff delivered the ball from the right and Long got across his marker to power in a header which gave Grant no chance.
Marney had the best chance to equalise for the Clarets when he arrived on to a deep cross but could only steer his volley wide.
Live text and stats
Monday, 3 January 2011
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Reading
2-1
Burnley
FT
(HT 1-1)
Long 31
Long 68
Wallace 28
Reading
01 Federici
02 Griffin
05 Mills
23 Harte
26 Pearce
04 Karacan (Robson-Kanu 67)
08 Leigertwood
11 McAnuff
14 Kebe yellow card
09 Long
10 Hunt (Church 72)
Substitutes
41 McCarthy,
15 Khizanishvili,
24 Cummings,
07 Tabb,
19 Robson-Kanu,
20 Howard,
18 Church
Burnley
01 Grant
04 Duff yellow card
05 Carlisle
14 Mears yellow card
24 Easton (Iwelumo 84)
06 Cork
08 Marney (Rodriguez 71)
11 Elliott
22 Wallace
33 Eagles
30 Thompson yellow card (Guidetti 79)
Substitutes
12 Jensen,
02 Alexander,
15 Edgar,
21 Bikey,
09 Iwelumo,
19 Rodriguez,
20 Guidetti
Ref: ScottAtt: 16,151
READING
BURNLEY
Possession
Reading46%
Burnley54%
Attempts on target
Reading5
Burnley6
Attempts off target
Reading7
Burnley6
Corners
Reading4
Burnley1
Fouls
Reading9
Burnley12
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:46 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00+1:52 Matt Mills is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Ross Wallace produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick,
90:00+0:59 The assistant referee signals for offside against Simon Church. Lee Grant takes the indirect free kick.
90:00+0:16 Shane Long is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Lee Grant takes the free kick.
89:30 Free kick awarded for a foul by Mikele Leigertwood on Jack Cork. Michael Duff takes the direct free kick.
89:00 The ball is crossed by Tyrone Mears, Matt Mills manages to make a clearance.
87:23 Chris Eagles takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici. Short corner taken by Wade Elliott from the left by-line, The ball is sent over by Ross Wallace, Ian Harte manages to make a clearance.
86:52 Jobi McAnuff has a drilled shot. Clarke Carlisle gets a block in.
86:07 Foul by Jack Cork on Shane Long, free kick awarded. Ian Harte restarts play with the free kick.
83:57 Substitution Brian Easton goes off and Chris Iwelumo comes on.
82:39 Centre by John Guidetti, Matt Mills gets a block in.
81:57 Wade Elliott gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jobi McAnuff. Andy Griffin takes the free kick.
80:11 Jimmy Kebe takes a shot. Blocked by Brian Easton. Corner taken by Jobi McAnuff, Clarke Carlisle makes a clearance.
79:21 Chris Eagles takes a shot. Matt Mills gets a block in.
78:42 Substitution John Guidetti on for Steven Thompson.
77:35 The referee blows for offside. Michael Duff takes the free kick.
75:30 Ross Wallace fouled by Jimmy Kebe, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Michael Duff.
75:30 Booking Jimmy Kebe goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
74:34 The ball is sent over by Hal Robson-Kanu, Wade Elliott gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Hal Robson-Kanu played to the near post, Wade Elliott makes a clearance.
74:05 The assistant referee flags for offside against Steven Thompson. Alex Pearce takes the free kick.
73:57 Centre by Shane Long, clearance made by Brian Easton.
72:26 The ball is sent over by Jay Rodriguez.
70:56 Centre by Chris Eagles, Dean Marney produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
70:56 Substitution Simon Church comes on in place of Noel Hunt.
70:56 Substitution (Burnley) makes a substitution, with Jay Rodriguez coming on for Dean Marney.
69:59 The ball is crossed by Hal Robson-Kanu, clearance made by Michael Duff.
67:57 Jobi McAnuff provided the assist for the goal. Corner from the left by-line taken by Jobi McAnuff,
67:57 GOAL - Shane Long:Reading 2 - 1 Burnley Shane Long finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Reading 2-1 Burnley.
66:02 Shane Long crosses the ball, Jimmy Kebe produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
66:02 Substitution Hal Robson-Kanu on for Jem Karacan.
64:55 Noel Hunt challenges Chris Eagles unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Brian Easton from left wing.
62:15 Shane Long crosses the ball.
61:48 Ross Wallace sends in a cross, Chris Eagles takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.
61:18 The ball is delivered by Wade Elliott, clearance made by Matt Mills.
60:14 Shot from outside the area by Ian Harte misses to the left of the target.
60:04 Andy Griffin delivers the ball, clearance by Clarke Carlisle.
58:21 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Eagles by Noel Hunt. Lee Grant restarts play with the free kick.
57:59 Jimmy Kebe sends in a cross, blocked by Brian Easton.
56:56 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Duff on Jimmy Kebe. Ian Harte crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, clearance by Brian Easton.
56:56 Booking Michael Duff goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
55:15 Ross Wallace sends in a cross.
53:43 Shane Long is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Lee Grant restarts play with the free kick.
53:31 A cross is delivered by Jimmy Kebe, Clarke Carlisle makes a clearance.
52:24 Tyrone Mears challenges Jobi McAnuff unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ian Harte crosses the ball in from the free kick, Michael Duff makes a clearance.
52:24 Booking The referee books Tyrone Mears for unsporting behaviour.
49:57 Shane Long produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
49:39 Mikele Leigertwood concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Eagles. Free kick taken by Jack Cork.
47:33 Jobi McAnuff sends in a cross.
47:24 Centre by Jimmy Kebe.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
Half Time
45:00+3:11 The first half comes to an end.
45:00+1:40 Dean Marney challenges Jobi McAnuff unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Federici.
45:00+1:26 Ross Wallace sends in a cross.
45:00+0:13 The assistant referee flags for offside against Jimmy Kebe. Lee Grant takes the indirect free kick.
44:14 Wade Elliott has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses right.
42:52 The official flags Noel Hunt offside. Lee Grant takes the free kick.
42:32 A cross is delivered by Jimmy Kebe, clearance by Dean Marney.
40:49 Corner taken right-footed by Jobi McAnuff from the left by-line, save made by Lee Grant.
38:53 The ball is swung over by Jobi McAnuff, Michael Duff makes a clearance.
37:59 Effort on goal by Noel Hunt from inside the box misses to the right of the target.
37:36 Wade Elliott produces a cross, clearance by Mikele Leigertwood.
37:18 Tyrone Mears produces a cross, clearance made by Alex Pearce.
33:56 Dean Marney takes a shot.
32:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jem Karacan by Chris Eagles. Adam Federici takes the direct free kick.
30:43 Noel Hunt provided the assist for the goal.
30:43 GOAL - Shane Long:Reading 1 - 1 Burnley Shane Long finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Reading 1-1 Burnley.
29:44 The ball is delivered by Shane Long, Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Noel Hunt misses to the right of the target.
28:00 Tyrone Mears provided the assist for the goal.
28:00 GOAL - Ross Wallace:Reading 0 - 1 Burnley A goal is scored by Ross Wallace from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Reading 0-1 Burnley.
25:06 Chris Eagles challenges Jobi McAnuff unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ian Harte takes the free kick.
24:19 The ball is sent over by Chris Eagles.
23:42 Shot from close range by Dean Marney misses to the right of the goal.
22:40 Jimmy Kebe fouled by Dean Marney, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andy Griffin.
21:41 Jobi McAnuff takes a shot. Save made by Lee Grant. The assistant referee flags for offside against Shane Long. Free kick taken by Lee Grant.
20:52 Wade Elliott concedes a free kick for a foul on Noel Hunt. Ian Harte restarts play with the free kick.
20:18 Dean Marney takes a shot. Save made by Adam Federici.
15:31 Shane Long concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Eagles. Tyrone Mears takes the free kick.
13:12 Shane Long gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Clarke Carlisle. Lee Grant takes the direct free kick.
12:24 Wade Elliott crosses the ball, clearance by Matt Mills. Shot from just outside the box by Jack Cork goes over the bar.
12:07 Noel Hunt is caught offside. Free kick taken by Clarke Carlisle.
11:26 Ian Harte produces a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Shane Long misses to the right of the goal.
10:28 Noel Hunt gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dean Marney. Free kick taken by Michael Duff.
9:02 Foul by Steven Thompson on Alex Pearce, free kick awarded. Adam Federici takes the free kick.
8:34 The assistant referee signals for offside against Noel Hunt. Lee Grant takes the free kick.
5:48 Shane Long produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
4:48 Alex Pearce gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Clarke Carlisle. Free kick taken by Lee Grant.
3:36 Free kick awarded for a foul by Steven Thompson on Jem Karacan. Andy Griffin takes the free kick.
3:36 Booking Steven Thompson is shown a yellow card.
2:36 Free kick awarded for a foul by Wade Elliott on Alex Pearce. Adam Federici takes the direct free kick.
2:29 The ball is delivered by Tyrone Mears, Jem Karacan makes a clearance.
2:12 Chris Eagles takes a shot from 20 yards. Blocked by Ian Harte.
0:00 The match gets underway.
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