MIDDLESBROUGH (AFP) - A last-minute goal from James Harper handed Reading what could be a vital three points in their bid to stave off relegation from the English Premiership, securing a 1-0 win Saturday at Middlesbrough.

Harper's alert finish after taking a Stephen Hunt pass in his stride was a rare moment of sparkle in a dull encounter which left Middlesbrough mired in midtable.

Reading can now harbour real hope of staying afloat as they went level with Bolton - who play Liverpool on Sunday - and closed the gap on Sunderland to just two points in taking their tally to 25, with a Newcastle in freefall now only three points better off than the Royals.

Though they left it late, Reading should actually have taken a sixth-minute lead when Shane Long headed over from close range following a cross from John Oster.

Hunt then volleyed over as Steve Coppell's men found their Riverside rhythm.

A left-foot effort by Stewart Downing brought Marcus Hahnemann into belated action at the other end after 23 minutes.

But there was precious little else to rouse the crowd on Teesside and a spate of bookings in the run up to the break - for Liam Rosenior and Andre Bikey of Reading and David Wheater and George Boateng of Middlesbrough likewise failed to inflame passions.

Dave Kitson, on for Oster, saw Schwarzer smother a snapshot just after the hour mark before Downing and Boro colleague Jonathan Grounds and Reading pair Nicky Storey and Hunt became the latest participants to see yellow as referee Howard Webb fished into his top pocket eight times.

With the exception of a Gary O'Neil effort for Boro which sailed over ten minutes from time the action looked set to peter out altogether before Harper struck.