Reading started this season sluggishly, as if hung-over from the disappointment of last season's defeat in the play-off final, but 12 wins and a draw from their last 14 matches means they are finishing the campaign with a charge.

Southampton will regain top spot if they beat Portsmouth on Saturday but will not relish facing Brian McDermott's team when the sides meet next Friday in a duel that will go a long way to determining not just who gets promoted but who wins the title. If the match is as feisty as this one, the referee will have a testing time.

A spate of injuries and suspension meant Leeds United had to take on the Championship's most in-form side without six first-team regulars due to injuries and suspension and their task was complicated further in the 12th minute when Zac Thompson got himself sent off for a splenetic lunge at Jobi McAnuff.

Leeds could have been reduced to nine players a few minutes later when Danny Pugh performed an ugly tackle on Jem Karacan. Even Neil Warnock, who insisted Thompson should not have been dismissed, agreed that Pugh should have been sent off, although, characteristically, he suggested Reading were responsible for the skirmishes that disfigured much of the match thereafter. "Reading have always been like that," claimed Warnock.

"There were always five or six of them surrounding the referee to complain, and there was lots of rolling around. That sort of thing does have an influence. We have to get Elland Road intimidating like this place next season." If that was a dubious analysis, what was not in doubt was that the pitch was awash with bad blood.

Between the Thompson and Pugh fouls, Ian Harte struck an upright with a cross from the left. Just after the half-hour mark, with Reading embedded in the opposing half, McAnuff curled a shot from the left just over.

For all their possession, Reading found creating chances difficult, other than the constantly dangerous Harte set pieces. Leeds almost snatched a goal against the run of play in the 72nd minute when Jimmy Kébé slipped outside his own penalty box, enabling Ross McCormack to crack a 20-yard shot off the post. Two minutes later McCormack dribbled infield from the left before slipping the ball through to Robert Snodgrass, who was free 15 yards from goal. The midfielder shot straight at Adam Federici.

Reading renewed their attacks and finally, in the 84th minute, ended Leeds' resistance. Hal Robson-Kanu did well to nod a Kébé pass back across the face of goal and the substitute Adam Le Fondre nudged it into the net from close range.

One minute from time Le Fondre struck again, helping a Jason Roberts shot over the line from two yards. "There were some questionable tackles in the match, to say the least," McDermott said. "But I'm pleased with the way our players kept their discipline and did what they had to do to win."