Stevenage missed the chance to go top of Sky Bet League One as they lost 1-0 at lowly Reading with an early Charlie Savage goal condemning the defeat.
Boro needed a win to leapfrog leaders Stockport but could not survive a goalmouth melee after just four minutes.
Savage, on his 100th league appearance, collected a loose ball and gleefully curled home from the edge of the area.
Boro responded positively but produced little of the final product apart from a brace of Lewis Freestone’s header that drifted wide.
The Royals could have doubled their lead before the break but Daniel Kyerewaa and Paddy Lane squandered good openings.
A strange incident occurred just before half-time, with referee Ben Speedie receiving a second yellow card and later a red card for a foul on home left-back Jeriel Dorsett.
However, after consulting his assistant, Speedie withdrew Dorsett’s red and instead booked team-mate Kyerewa for a foul.
Boro had to force a draw five minutes into the second period. Gassan Ahadme had a goal of his own, but his shot hit the crossbar.
Home goalkeeper Joel Pereira made excellent late stops to deny Dan Kemp and Phoenix Patterson and Reading held on for a first win in new manager Leam Richardson’s first league game.
