LUCAS Piazon came off the bench to haunt his former club after a 10-man Fulham snatched a 1-1 draw against Reading  at Madejski Stadium.

The game got off to a flyer when Fulham’s Tomas Kalas received his marching orders for a clumsy foul on Modou Barrow after just 30 seconds.

Royals piled on the pressure but struggled to break the deadlock despite numerous opportunities.

But their dominance finally told when Joseph Mendes found Kelly on the edge the box after 61 minutes. Kelly made no mistake from 18-yards, drilling home his third goal of the campaign.

Reading looked certain to take all three points but a lapse of concentration at the back saw Joey van den Berg gift former Royals' loanee Piazon a one-on-one, and the midfielder made no mistake from inside the box.

Stam welcomed captain Paul McShane into the starting line-up while Modou Barrow replaced Pelle Clement and Joseph Mendes came in for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, who picked up an injury at Loftus Road.

Fulham’s Sone Aluko was expected to be the centre of plenty of attention following his link with a switch to Berkshire during the summer transfer window and Cottagers’ boss Slavisa Jokanovic named the Nigerian forward as his captain.

The match got off to a dramatic start when Tomas Kalas was dismissed after just 30 seconds on the clock.

Joseph Mendes had dispossessed the defender before playing Modou Barrow through on goal, but Kalas left a leg out and bought down the former Swansea City forward.

Referee Simon Hooper made no hesitation and reached straight for his back pocket, sending Kalas for an early bath.

Royals immediately gained control with some slick passing moves and had a shout for a penalty turned down in the eighth minute.

A deep cross from Evans was cut out by Cottagers’ defence, sparking appeals from the crowd for a spot-kick.

Joseph Mendes almost opened the scoring after Tiago Ilori’s defence-splitting pass found Chris Gunter on the right. The Welshman cut inside before delivering a floated cross to the far post, Frenchman Mendes got his head on the ball and forced a stellar save from David Button.

Some neat skill on the left saw John Swift drift past his man before squaring the ball perfectly to the on-rushing Blackett.

The former Manchester United defender’s first touch was too heavy however and Royals squandered a chance to break the deadlock.

Reading continued to pile on the pressure and the visitors were pegged back deep inside their own half but Royals lacked a killer pass in the final third.

Despite scoring twice in midweek, it was Liam Kelly who missed the most gilt-edged chance of the first-half after an awful mistake at the back by Fulham. Button’s pass was picked up by the onrushing midfielder who only had the goalkeeper to beat, but Kelly’s effort was tame and Button cleared the ball for a corner.

Reading continued to probe and Modou Barrow found Blackett inside the box with a delicate pass after 34 minutes. Blackett took a touch and found Swift, who tried to make space for a shot, but he was boxed out of the area.

Oliver Norwood nearly returned to Madejski in style with a stunning effort from 25-yards out. The midfielder hit the ball first-time and forced a stunning fingertip save out of Vito Mannone.

A mix-up at the back then gifted Floyd Ayite with a chance to put the Cottagers ahead but skipper McShane was on hand to deal with the danger.

McShane then had his heart in his mouth when he saw his defensive header narrowly drift past Mannone’s near post on the brink of half-time.

Reading almost broke the deadlock within moments of the restart when Swift produced a magnificent save by Button.

Supporters were already cheering when Swift’s curling effort from the edge of the area looked destined for the top-corner, but Button produced a finger-tip stop to deny him.

Liam Kelly then charged towards the Cottagers’ defence before finding Barrow on the right. Barrow’s neat cross was aimed towards Mendes but Fulham managed to clear for a corner.

The visitors looked sharp on the counter-attack but Royals’ defence managed to hold firm. Aluko was allowed to cut inside on his favoured left-foot but the shot was well wide of Mannone’s post.

Sessegnon continued to threaten Royals’ right-hand-side with his blistering pace. The youngster delivered a dangerous cross with 58 minutes played but captain McShane was on hand to cut it out.

But Royals eventually took the lead through Kelly, he scored his third goal in the space of five days.

Some neat work down the left saw Barrow play the ball to Mendes, the Frenchman laid the ball off to Kelly who crashed his shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

And Mendes should have doubled Reading’s lead within seconds when Blackett’s delivery fell perfectly onto his head. However, the striker’s connection was poor and the ball looped out harmlessly for a goal-kick.

Kelly meanwhile was brimming with confidence and could have doubled his tally with 65 minutes played. He picked up the ball on the edge of the area and sent a curling shot towards goal but Button was able to smother.

Fellow midfielder Swift could have doubled Royals’ lead when he picked up the ball unmarked at the far-post. The 21-year-old opted to turn his man instead of hitting the ball first time and allowed Fulham to clear the ball for a corner.

Royals looked certain to hold on to their first three points of the season a lapse in concentration at the back gifted Fulham the equaliser through former Royal Lucas Piazon.

The Brazilian midfielder was allowed to pounce on van den Berg’s mistake and run clean through on goal before slotting the ball past Mannone.

The visiting fans were left outraged when Moore looked to have tripped Aboubakar Kamara. Referee Hooper blew his whistle for a foul but Moore escaped without punishment.

The pressure was then on Reading to restore their lead with just minutes remaining on the clock. Swift had an effort from 25-yards but the ball sailed well high of Button’s goal.

Fulham supporters were incensed when Moore appeared to handle the ball inside the six-yard box. Referee Hooper deemed the former Leicester City player used his chest however and awarded the Cottagers a corner.

Pelle Clement teed up Mendes inside the box and the Frenchman went for glory with an optimistic overhead kick but snatched at the ball with seconds remaining.

Fulham seemed all too happy to sit back and defend for the seconds of the match and the game finished 1-1.

Reading face Aston Villa next on Tuesday (8pm).