Who said you make your own luck? The Gods were undeniably not on Albion's side last night in an unfortunate fourth defeat in a row.

Disrupted by injuries and another illness scare surrounding Mark McCammon, the Seagulls succumbed to a controversial goal from a player drafted into the Reading squad at the 11th hour.

Substitute Nicky Forster was only on the Reading bench because Lloyd Owusu pulled out with a stiff neck.

Albion manager Mark McGhee was convinced Forster handled as he headed in after 64 minutes to edge the visitors back into the play-off zone.

McCammon, forced off at half-time by illness at Stoke earlier this month, suffered the same fate, although this time he had to be stretchered off.

Adam Virgo began the match in midfield, reverted to the centre of the defence when Adam Hinshelwood jarred a knee midway through the opening period and ended the evening back upfront.

That was not the whole story of Albion's misfortune. Kerry Mayo also limped off early in the second half with a knee injury.

Reading manager Steve Coppell, back at Withdean for the first time since leaving Albion for Berkshire 17 months ago, sympathised with his old club afterwards.

Another former Albion manager, Coventry's Micky Adams, was an interested spectator.

The Seagulls are sent to Coventry next for a match made all the more significant by this result.

Albion looked a little shaky at the back again in the opening stages.

A surging run by Glen Little, the Reading right-winger, ended with Rami Shaaban smothering at Dave Kitson's feet at the expense of a corner.

There was more confusion in the Albion defence when Mayo, recalled to the starting line-up, allowed the ball to bounce just inside the area.

Mayo retrieved the situation by denying Kitson, with Shaaban stranded.

Steve Sidwell scored several goals for Albion with unguarded runs into the box during a loan spell from Arsenal two seasons ago.

The Seagulls should have known better when Reading's flame-haired midfielder arrived unmarked for a cross from Nicky Shorey which was just too high for him to direct his header on target.

Charitable defending cost Reading dear when they let in a late winner at rock-bottom Rotherham on their previous outing.

They almost did the same for Albion when Marcus Hahnemann, trying to prevent a corner, made a mess of his clearance.

Unfortunately for the Seagulls, McCammon's resultant shot lacked the power to beat Reading's custodian.

The value of the versatile squad developed by McGhee was emphasised when Hinshelwood hobbled out of the heart of the defence in the 24th minute. The disruption was minimal, Virgo dropping back with Dean Hammond introduced in the middle of midfield.

It was, nevertheless, frustrating for McGhee to be forced to switch the adaptable Virgo from his revised roll in the centre of the park.

Reading continued to look the more composed side, the ball flashing dangerously across the face of the Albion box on more than one occasion.

The threat from the Seagulls was less apparent, although Hammond could have given them an interval lead when he sent a downward header wide from Leon Knight's corner.

Albion were forced into further adjustment for the second half following a disturbing incident involving McCammon during the half-time break.

The big target man had already received treatment when he sunk to his knees as the players headed for the dressing rooms.

He was eventually stretchered off, McPhee taking his place upfront.

The Seagulls, despite their adversity, could have seized the initiative at the start of the second half when Butters headed straight at Hahnemann from Knight's free kick.

Albion's incredible catalogue of misfortune increased with under an hour played with Mayo also going off injured.

This prompted yet another reshuffle, Nathan Jones coming on and Dan Harding dropping back into the defence.

The Seagulls still came close to breaking the stalemate against all the odds. McPhee somehow failed to connect with a header from Knight's cross and Virgo had a free-kick from 35 yards held by Hahnemann.

Luck had well and truly deserted Albion when Forster, out-of-favour recently, put Reading ahead in fortunate fashion, five minutes after replacing Dean Morgan.

His close range header from Little's cross hit his arm and was blocked by Shaaban, only for the ball to rebound in off the former Gillingham forward's chest.

Virgo, sent upfront in the search for an equaliser, nearly restored parity with a snap-shot from the edge of the area which Hahnemann parried for a corner.

Albion's bad luck continued to the bitter end. Oatway failed by inches to supply a touch at the far post to Hammond's header from Knight's corner.

Deep into stoppage time, Knight curled a free-kick into the side netting, which summed up the Seagulls' night.

  • ALBION (4-4-2): Shaaban 6; Reid 7, Hinshelwood 6, Butters 8, Mayo 6; Hart 7, Virgo 8, Oatway 6, Harding 8; Knight 7, McCammon 6. Subs: Watson, Jones for Mayo (injured 57), McPhee 6 for McCammon (ill 46), Hammond 7 for Hinshelwood (injured 24), May.
  • Albion booking: Butters (14) foul.
  • Albion scorer: None.
  • READING: (4-4-2): Hahnemann; Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey; Little, Sidwell, Newman, Hughes; Kitson, Morgan. Subs: Keown, Forster for Morgan (withdrawn 59), Harper, Brooker, Young.
  • Reading booking: Newman (83), foul.
  • Reading scorer: Forster (64).
  • Fans View.

Mervyn Coomber (South Chailey) - I coulnd't understand the long-ball route employed against a 6ft 6in defender who swallowed it up all evening. The injuries didn't help us but we seemed down on confidence and lacking ideas. We've got a break now and have got to re-group for the Coventry game, which really is massive for us.

Kev Short (Shoreham) - We've lost the plot because we've started hoofing the ball a lot, which we got away with last season but can't get away with against teams who keep the ball more. Paul Reid is supposed to be a midfielder and Adam Virgo is a defender. All our best moments came when Leon Knight moved out wide.

Simon Dawes (Burgess Hill) - Dean Hammond did well when he came on but we didn't have much inventiveness until Knight went wide. We are probably going to stay up but it's going to be a struggle and I hope it doesn't come down to the last game against Ipswich.

Jane Joseph (Reading fan) - Brighton looked what they really are - a decent League One team that has finally been found out in this division. The contrast between the midfields said it all and I'm sure they would still like to have Steve Sidwell's class in their side.