MIDDLESBROUGH'S Adam Forshaw hit an injury-time winner on a night when Reading's Danny Williams was involved in an on-field bust-up with skipper Paul McShane.

Royals were heading for a decent point against the title-challengers after Simon Cox's first goal of the season cancelled out Emilio Nsue's opener.

But the visitors lost the plot with 10 minutes to go when Williams and McShane squared up on the pitch.

Referee Scott Duncan finally calmed things down, but Reading boss Brian McDermott is certain to fine and punish the pair in the coming days.

It sparked a disastrous finish for the Royals that saw Matej Vydra miss a sitter to win it moments before Forshaw struck in the 94th minute to send Boro top of the table.

But the inquest has only started into the ugly Williams and McShane clash - and the rift in the dressing room it might have exposed.

McDermott had picked an unchanged side on Saturday - only to witness a lacklustre display and 2-0 defeat by Birmingham City in Royals' first home Championship loss of 2016.

But he made only one change at the Riverside as Vydra replaced injured striker Yann Kermorgant.

McDermott was no doubt giving the majority of those players - who had beaten Nottingham Forest 2-1 before that - the chance to redeem themselves.

Yet within 10 minutes they were already behind after Nsue raised the Riverside roof with Boro's opener.

Reading gave possession away cheaply and Nsue capitalised by feeding George Friend whose cross found Jordan Rhodes.

The ex-Reading transfer target forced a save from Ali Al Habsi, but Nsue was there to sweep home the rebound on the follow up.

Equatorial Guinea international Nsue had already gone close moments earlier when his shot was deflected over, but Reading failed to heed the warning.

The Boro striker fired wide again soon after before Chris Gunter was forced off with a suspected groin injury with 17 minutes gone.

In between that, Daniel Ayala had headed wide from a Boro corner during a sloppy start from the Royals.

More chances for the home side came, but Al Habsi prevented a second goal with some first-class saves to deny Stewart Downing and then Rhodes.

But the Reading goal led a charmed life when Al Habsi denied Albert Adomah before George Friend's 25-yard ripper from the resulting corner took a fortunate nick and went behind.

Yet despite all of that, McDermott's men almost snatched an equaliser on the stroke of half time when a goal-bound drive from Williams was blocked in the area.

Apart a couple of hopeful long-range efforts from Simon Cox, Reading lacked any punch up front.

But as long as Boro kept missing their chances it would have given them hope.

And after an ear-bashing from McDermott at the interval, they finally started playing.

Before the equaliser, they were lucky to survive when Ritchie De Laet's inviting cross fell to Adomah, who mis-kicked from close range.

But Boro were exposed at the back in the 50th minute when Cox's shot from a pinpoint pass from substitute Andrew Taylor was superbly blocked by Friend.

Reading, though, equalised four minutes later - after Taylor and Cox linked up again.

A stinging drive from half-time sub Taylor was too hot for Dimi Konstantopoulos to handle, and Cox was alert to pick up the scraps and dink the ball over the Boro keeper.

Suddenly, the natives were restless. They demanded a response, and a powerful free-kick from substitute Gaston Ramirez was well held by Al Habsi midway through the second period.

Royals keeper was alert again to clutch on to a Ben Gibson header from De Laet's centre.

At that point it was Boro who were showing tension, but after McCleary's header from Ola John's cross had been saved, Reading lost their heads as Williams and McShane squared up with the USA international seemingly the aggressor.

In a spicy finish, a David Nugent header was then saved by Al Habsi after Williams gave the ball away.

But Reading should have secured the points - and the double over Boro this season - when Stephen Quinn played in Vydra.

Sadly, the Czech striker fired well over the bar with only Konstantopoulos to beat.

It was the invitation Boro needed to pile forward and win a corner in the dying moments which Reading failed to clear twice before Forshaw squeezed the ball home at the back post.

Reading face another away trip this Saturday when they go to Elland Road to face Leeds United, who won 2-1 at Birmingham tonight.