Scunthorpe came from behind to hold Reading to a 2-2 draw in a thrilling game at Glanford Park.
Reading's late charge halted after 2-2 draw
Scunthorpe came from behind to hold Reading to a 2-2 draw in a thrilling game at Glanford Park.
The Iron needed only a point to secure their Championship survival but it looked like they would have to wait until at least the weekend as Reading opened up a two-goal lead thanks to an Alex Pearce strike and Gylfi Sigurdsson penalty.
Gary Hooper reduced Scunthorpe's arrears with just eight minutes remaining and Matthew Sparrow then equalised to spark celebrations on the terraces.
The result lifts Nigel Adkins' side five points clear of the relegation zone with two games remaining, but they cannot slip into the bottom three as Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday still have to face each other on the final day.
For Reading it will feel like a defeat and ends any faint hopes they harboured of gate-crashing the play-off positions as they can no longer overhaul sixth-placed Swansea.
Open start
With both teams desperate for points for differing reasons, there was an open start to proceedings as both had early efforts.
Royals skipper Brian Howard was in the thick of the action for his side as he drove a 20-yard effort inches wide of the post before curling a free-kick just over, while Scunthorpe midfielder Grant McCann had a free-kick of his own saved by Adam Federici.
The goalmouth action continued and Reading created a fine opportunity to open the scoring on the half hour.
Jimmy Kebe broke down the right, got to the byline and pulled back for Sigurdsson who inexplicably blazed over from eight yards.
The hosts were full of endeavour but struggled in the final third with star attraction Hooper - fresh from a hat-trick at the weekend and under the scrutiny of Premier League managers Iain Dowie and Mick McCarthy - having an off day.
But Scunthorpe finally got behind the visitors' backline in first-half stoppage time when Garry Thompson's cross found Martyn Woolford, whose controlled volley evaded Federici and bounced back off the crossbar.
Scunthorpe were denied by the woodwork again within a minute of the restart as McCann whipped in a wicked free-kick from the right, which skimmed off the top of Federici's bar.
And in an action-packed start to the second period, Reading took the lead immediately after when Pearce volleyed home after Simon Church had climbed highest from Howard's free-kick.
Roused
The setback roused the home side and Hooper missed a perfect opportunity to show potential suitors his value by squandering a gilt-edged chance.
After a fine passing move, Paul Hayes fed Hooper in on goal, he rounded Federici but, from six yards and with the goal gaping, he shot wide while off balance.
But they were unable to capitalise on their momentum and fell further behind with 20 minutes remaining.
A fine Sigurdsson pass fed in Jobi McAnuff and just as he was about to shoot, Scunthorpe skipper Cliff Byrne felled the winger from behind.
Byrne was lucky to escape with a yellow card, but Sigurdsson dealt out harsher punishment by squeezing the resulting spot-kick under the dive of Joe Murphy.
Scunthorpe gave themselves hope in the final 10 minutes when Hooper hooked in from six yards after Thompson's shot was too hot to handle for Federici.
And, in a frantic finale, their safety was confirmed when Sparrow's 89th-minute deflected effort from 16 yards went in.
