Middlesbrough 1-1 Reading: The Sunday Mirror match report

It's time for Donna O’Neil to start digging out those summer holiday brochures.

And she might like to send David Wheater a postcard when she gets there – as a thank you for the blunder that keeps her wish of an early get-away right on track.

Chris Killen headed Boro in front straight after the break, but Reading were soon deservedly level thanks to Wheater’s embarrassing own goal, to leave boss Gordon Strachan fuming – and Mrs O’Neil planning her trip to the sun.

The Teesiders moved a point nearer the to top six – but play-off rivals Cardiff and Leicester, who both play today have two games in hand to leave Boro big outsiders to sneak into the end-of-season lottery.

And that will delight Gary O’Neil’s indiscreet better half – who left the £5million midfielder red- faced by posting on Facebook that every dropped point meant less chance of having the family vacation disrupted by those pesky play-offs.

Killen put an early header just wide, but made amends to break the deadlock just 75 seconds after the restart.

Keeper Federici could do nothing as the New Zealand star’s looping header from Justin Hoyte’s cross dropped into the far corner.

Reading carved out plenty of chances to keep their winning run going, but found Brad Jones hard to beat as the goalkeeper impressed in his first start in three months.

Jones pulled off a brilliant one-handed save to keep out Shane Long’s header from Jobi McAnuff’s cross before the break, but could do nothing as Reading drew level just after the hour.

The impressive Jimmy Kebe fired in a low cross that was deflected into the net from close range by the unlucky Wheater.

Reading boss Brian McDermott admitted: “We showed a lot of character to come back from a goaldown and we’re satisfied with a point.

“It took us a while to get to grips with Boro, but at the end we were going for the win.

“We’re not talking about the play-offs right now, we’re trying to get out of trouble.

“We were in the bottom two at the end of January and we’ve come a long way in a short space of time.

“It’s testament to the players to even talk about the play-offs.”