Thompson red costs Leeds

Substitute Adam Le Fondre's late double sent Reading top of the npower Championship following a gritty 2-0 win over 10-man Leeds.

The striker came off the bench to net twice in the final six minutes of a pulsating and at times ill-tempered clash at the Madejski Stadium as the visitors paid the price for the early sending-off of defender Zac Thompson. Playing his first match since January 31, the youngster was sent off by referee Darren Drysdale after just 12 minutes for a wild lunge on Jobi McAnuff, leaving Leeds to absorb wave after wave of Reading attacks. Ian Harte's teasing cross evaded everyone before striking a post after 20 minutes while, after the break, Alex Pearce saw his header cleared en route to goal. Leeds had their chances to win it late on, with Ross McCormack and Robert Snodgrass going close without success. Le Fondre thought he had put his side ahead with eight minutes remaining, only to be denied by an offside flag, but he made the most of his next two sights of goal to fire the Royals to the division's summit. Jimmy Kebe's deep cross to the back post was met by Hal Robson-Kanu who sent a delicate header back across goal for Le Fondre to chest home the first. And two minutes later Le Fondre completed the job. Again the required finish came from less than two yards but the former Rotherham man was on hand to knock in Jason Roberts' cross-shot and spark mass delirium amongst the home supporters.