Kitson (left) celebrates with goalscorer Harper

James Harper's injury-time goal gave Reading victory and ended their run of eight straight Premier League defeats.

Middlesbrough had the majority of the chances but Harper scored with an unchallenged strike from six yards out after a pass from Stephen Hunt.

Boro's Tuncay Sanli and Stewart Downing were a threat, but new signing Afonso Alves forced the best save of the first half from a dipping free-kick.

Downing was booked late on for trying to win a penalty for the home side.

606: DEBATE This result is great tidus_mi2

Reading began positively, embarking on a number of forays into Boro's half without posing any serious threat on goal.

The Royals' best effort in the opening exchanges came when Liam Rosenior crossed accurately from the left only for Shane Long to direct his close-range header over the bar.

Reading's finishing in recent times had been a cause for concern, with none of their strikers having scored in 2008.

Hunt's miss, with his shot ballooning high over the bar, was symptomatic of their problems.

Although Boro were seven points ahead of their opponents at the start of play, there was not a marked difference in the play of both sides.

That was to change midway through the opening half, with the home side gaining the ascendancy.

Middlesbrough's most likely source of a goal looked to be Downing, who had two long-range efforts comfortably saved by Marcus Hahnemannn.

Downing was a constant threat and was again involved when he rounded the advancing Hahnemann only to see his cross blocked.

That near-miss seemed to stir Reading into life.

Kevin Doyle put the ball in the back of the net but had the goal disallowed after Andre Bikey was ruled to have fouled Mark Schwarzer.

Boro bounced back but Luke Young failed to hit the target following a slick passing move with George Boateng and Tuncay while an Alves free-kick forced a sharp save from Hahnemann.

Both teams demonstrated great levels of energy but there was a distinct lack of quality at times.

However, Harper showed great composure in the closing moments racing on to Hunt's pass and calmly placing the ball past Schwarzer.

But Coppell will be delighted with this victory that ends his side's dismal run and gives them renewed hope.

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Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate:
"We did not do enough to win it although we looked the more likely team to score.

"They had a high energy about them and that was hard for us after our FA Cup match went into extra-time.

"We lacked the quality to break them down.

"The whole atmosphere in the stadium was flat and some times the fans need to lift."

Reading boss Steve Coppell on ending a run of eight straight league defeats:
"It was a great result for us. Having not won away from home all season we had to approach the game in a certain manner and our game-plan went reasonably well.

"We were mindful of the 120 minutes Middlesbrough had played in midweek and we knew it was going to be factor in the last 10 to 15 minutes and that proved to be the case.

"A clean sheet would have been significant and to get all three points was a massive, massive boost. Psychologically I hope it is is going to have a real long-term effect."

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Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Wheater, Pogatetz, Grounds, O'Neil, Boateng (Johnson 74), Arca (Cattermole 59), Downing, Alves (Mido 68), Sanli. Subs Not Used: Jones, Hines.

Booked: Boateng, Wheater, Grounds, Downing.

Reading: Hahnemann, Rosenior, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Shorey, Oster (Kitson 68), Harper, Matejovsky (Kebe 85), Hunt, Doyle (Cisse 85), Long. Subs Not Used: Federici, Sonko.

Booked: Bikey, Rosenior, Hunt, Shorey, Long.

Goals: Harper 90.

Att: 23,273

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

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BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match:

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished. Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing on 7.33 (on 90 minutes)