WANDERERS saw precious points slip their grasp at Reading as late goals from Charlie Savage and Caylan Vickers earned the Royals an unexpected boost after a tough week.

Ruben Telles’ side had dropped into the relegation zone this week after the EFL deducted another three points from their total – and home fans made their anger at club owner Dai Yongge perfectly clear throughout.

Bolton looked to be in control going into the final quarter of the game, leading through Dion Charles’s first-half effort, they missed a hatful of chances to extend their lead thereafter.

But they left the door open for a Reading comeback, and the home side took full advantage with two well-taken goals as reward for a lively performance.

Considering the uncertainty at Reading, the home side attacked the first half looking relatively stress-free, making for an entertaining, unpredictable, and unusually open contest.

Wanderers will feel they should have taken more than a goal lead back down the tunnel but equally Reading had their moments and revelled in the space offered to them.

Bolton’s opener came just seconds after the game had been restarted following a protest from the home fans, who rained tennis balls on to the pitch from the stands.

The delay seemed to work in the Whites’ favour as Charles buried his sixth of the season after running on to Kyle Demspey’s pass, wrestling the ball from defender Tyler Bindon, then lashing a shot past David Button from a tight angle.

Ironically, it was one of the trickier chances Bolton had in the half. Victor Adeboyejo’s link-up play was exemplary but he twice failed to beat Button when through on goal, his touch deserting him at the vital moment.

Eoin Toal had a header blocked on the line – again by Button – and just before the break Thomason launched an attack with a fine ball from the back, Adeboyejo fed Charles, but for once the Northern Ireland international failed to get a shot away.

Reading played their part too – and despite all their problems, clearly have some young and exciting players on their hands.

Femi Azeez hit the top of the bar with a shot from distance and debutant Dominic Ballard got two good looks at Nathan Baxter’s goal without managing to get a meaningful effort on target.

Wanderers established some control at the start of the second half and will feel they were denied a penalty when Charles beat Bindon to a bouncing ball and was then sent tumbling. Much to the annoyance of the 1,700 travelling fans, referee Lee Swabey gave the free-kick against him.

Nathan Baxter still had to be on guard, though, and he made a fine save from sub Paul Mukairu on the hour in what was the hosts’ first real attack after the break.

The result should have been put beyond doubt on 73 minutes when a flowing move down the right finished with Sheehan rolling a cross in for Charles, who could only steer his shot inches wide of the post.

Four minutes later they paid for their profligacy, Charlie Savage – son of Robbie – driving a 20-yard shot into the bottom corner.

Wanderers needed to muster a response but with Charles and Adeboyejo flagging, their secondary strike force of Cameron Jerome and Dan Nlundulu struggled to make any sort of impression.

Instead, it was Reading who took the initiative and homegrown midfielder Caylan Vickers put his side ahead with four minutes left on the clock, turning in a cross from Amadou Mbengue for his first senior goal.

Royals fans continued to make their point way into stoppage time and could have gone further ahead through Azeez, only for Baxter to make another good stop.

Evatt threw on Jon Dadi Bodvarsson to try and save the game in seven minutes of stoppage time but the Whites struggled to make anything substantial.

Players slumped to their knees at the final whistle knowing full well they had thrown a result away.