Reading FC Women are still left looking nervously over their shoulders after they were on the end of another damaging defeat.
The Royals shipped four goals at home to Blackburn Rovers in a 4-1 loss which leaves them just two points above the drop zone.
Reading came agonisingly close to taking the lead through Rachel Dugdale after her 25-yard piledriver was spilled onto the post by the keeper.
However, the hosts did eventually go in front in their Women’s Championship contest at the Select Car Leasing Stadium through Keira Flannery who controlled just inside the box and hit a half volley into the corner.
But a double suckerpunch right before the break saw the visitors score twice to snatch the lead.
Megan Hornby levelled the match when she ghosted in behind the Royals backline and lobbed the ball over Emily Orman.
Hannah Coan was then allowed a free header at the back post and nodded Rovers ahead.
Rovers increased their lead with 20 minutes left to play when the visitors worked the ball from their own half with Lucy Shepherd applying the finishing touch.
The game was put beyond all doubt in the 86th minute when Reading sloppily surrendered possession in their own half and were punished by Hornby who grabbed her second of the contest.
The result leaves Reading in 10th place and just two points above the relegation zone with three games left to play.
Reading manager Liam Gilbert said: “Obviously, it’s another difficult result to take. I think we need this reset, cause at the minute things aren’t falling for us.
“You look at the spilled effort from Rach (Dugdale) in the first-half, it comes off the post and that’s where our luck is right now, but I thought we were so much better in the first-half.
“We got the goal, looked firmly in control so it’s disappointing to be stood here having not followed it through to get the win.
“The conversations we’ve had this week, we were in a good place to kick on and get a result.
“The goals we conceded, the timing, how quick they turned it around at the end of the first-half was really disappointing.
“The timing of the break, probably for the first time this year, is a welcomed time.
“Then we come back, we have to reset and go again.”
