Reading opened their maiden Barclays Premiership campaign with a 3-2 win when Leroy Lita completed a stunning comeback from the newcomers.

Boro looked to be on course to take a simple three points from last season's Championship winners when Stewart Downing and Aiyegbeni Yakubu grabbed a 2-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

But the scoreline clearly flattered Boro, who had goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to thank for their advantage, with Dave Kitson, Seol Ki-Hyeon and Kevin Doyle going close.

As the first half neared its conclusion, Reading were in full control and were rewarded with two goals in as many minutes from Kitson and Steve Sidwell.

The salvo was no more than Reading deserved and they completed the fightback through substitute Lita, who had replaced the injured Kitson.

Australian striker Mark Viduka thought he had snatched a point for the visitors with eight minutes to go, but the goal was harshly disallowed for offside.

Aside from the performances of Downing and Schwarzer, it was a deflating start to the managerial career of Gareth Southgate.

Reading, however, can look ahead with confidence as their kind introduction to the Premiership will continue with fixtures against Aston Villa, Wigan, Manchester City and Sheffield United.

Boro looked a classier outfit early on, with Downing leading the charge with a rampaging run down the left.

But Reading were soon into the swing of things as Schwarzer displayed lightning reflexes to tip over a Seol free-kick and then deal with a Bobby Convey effort.

The Madejski Stadium crackled with expectation at Reading's start, but home fans were soon brought back down to earth when Boro opened the scoring in the 11th minute.

Boateng made the initial inroads through midfield before feeding Yakubu who picked out Downing at the far post with a precision cross the 22-year-old buried emphatically.

Steve Sidwell blazed over as the lively Convey continued to get joy down the left, but a mistake then saw Reading concede a second in the 21st minute.

James Harper hacked down Yakubu on the edge of the area and Fabio Rochemback managed to slip a low free-kick through the wall.

Marcus Hahnemann spilled the shot into the path of Yakubu, who gleefully prodded home from close range.

Reading refused to buckle and their first Premiership goal nearly arrived through Kevin Doyle only for Schwarzer to save and Chris Riggott to get across to prevent Kitson converting the rebound.

Kitson should have scored in the 35th minute, but his header from Graeme Murty's pin-point free-kick was weak.

Murty then curled a free-kick inside the near post only to be denied by Schwarzer's fingertips.

Reading dominated the last 20 minutes of the first half and their endeavour was rewarded with two goals - both of which highlighted frailties in Boro's defence.

Seol supplied the first with a tricky run and cross that should have been cleared but was converted by Kitson as Schwarzer and his defenders dithered.

An unmarked Sidwell then smashed home after picking up a crafty pass from Ivar Ingimarsson, who had started in place of hamstring injury victim Glen Little.

Sidwell jumped into the stands to celebrate - earning a yellow card from referee Mark Halsey - before Kitson limped off seconds before the break.

Reading's unlikely victory became a reality in the 56th minute when Seol's intelligent running creating problems before he squared to Doyle and although he failed to scramble it home, Lita capitalised as the ball emerged from a melee of defenders.

Rochemback was booked for an off-the-ball shoulder charge on Seol, before Viduka was then denied his late equaliser when the flag went up.