Reading stretched their unbeaten run to six matches as Tyler Bindon’s late goal meant they returned from Wigan with all three points.
The result keeps Noel Hunt’s men firmly in the play-off chase. They are in 9th position on 53 points from 33 games, just three points off the top six.
After a goalless first-half, it was the Latics who struck first when Jason Kerr’s header squeezed through the legs of Joel Pereira on the hour mark.
Reading replied a little over 10 minutes later when Jayden Wareham took a neat touch in the box to kill the ball before he poked past the keeper to equalise.
The Royals now had the momentum to go for the winner and were in the ascendancy.
Amadou Mbengue came agonisingly close when he struck the crossbar, but the Royals did take the lead with their next chance.
After failing to clear from a corner, it was Bindon who gobbled up the chance to slam the ball into the net on the rebound in the 85th minute.
That proved to be the winning goal to keep Reading in the chase for a play-off position.
Speaking to Reading FC’s media team after the match, Hunt said: “The boys were magnificent. We upped the tempo, opened them up and had some great chances. We went a goal down and that was a test of our character and we were brilliant.”
Reading are back in action on Tuesday night when they host relegation battling Exeter City at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Wigan Athletic: Tickle, Sibbick, Aimson, Kerr, Mellish, Adeeko, Norburn, Smith, Darcy, Dale, Taylor
Subs: McHugh, McManaman, Rankine, Robinson, Smith, Watson, Weir
Reading: Pereira, Rushesha, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia, Savage, Wing, Knibbs, Camara, Bodin, Wareham
Subs: Akande, Abrefa, Button, Holzman, Yiadom, Sackey, Stickland
Goals: Kerr 59’, Wareham 71’, Bindon 85’
