PAUL Clement felt Reading FC failed to grasp a golden opportunity in the race for Championship survival after today’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland.

Clement was hoping to continue his 100% home record following wins against QPR and Preston to further ease their relegation worries.

But Royals needed a late Yann Kermorgant equaliser to salvage a point against Chris Coleman’s Black Cats, who slipped to the bottom of the table.

Liam Kelly’s penalty put Clement’s men in front, but Paddy McNair equalised two minutes after the break before Lee Cattermole headed the visitors into the lead in the 67th minute.

However, Kermorgant notched only his second goal of the campaign when he headed in a Chris Gunter cross in the 80th minute to make it 2-2.

The draw leaves Reading 19th in the table and five points above Barnsley in 22nd place, although the Tykes, who drew 2-2 at Bolton, do have one game in hand.

Clement said: “It was important not to lose the game with the way other results went so it could be a good point.

“We’re disappointed we didn’t get all three as I think it was a missed opportunity, I really do.

“We didn’t play very well today. The fighting spirit was there but we looked a bit lethargic.

“We found some energy at the end but I think that was adrenaline from the occasion.”

He added: “We showed a good response to going behind, we put on another striker and got some crosses into the box.

“We looked dangerous at the end but when it’s so open like that you are vulnerable going the other way.

“It wasn’t a good game from a coach’s point of view, you want to be more in control. I actually thought our control of the game and shape at Fulham was better even though we lost that game.

“It was one of those that was great to watch as a neutral but hard to watch as a coach.

“There were some real positive things, but also some horrible things.

“We have to be smarter over the next three games. The more we play like we did today the more it’s in the lap of the gods.”

Kermorgant’s equaliser sparked a dramatic finish that saw Reading go desperately closing to snatching a last-gasp winner.

The Frenchmen forced the best out of Sunderland keeper Lee Camp with a curling effort towards the corner of the net.

Then from the flag-kick Kermorgant set up Mo Barrow at the far post, only for the Royals winger to miss a header from a couple of yards out.

Clement groaned: “It was an incredible finish, anything could have happened at the end.

“When we got back to 2-2 we really pushed for a winner and two or three fantastic chances to go and win it with Mo Barrow at the back post, Yann Kermorgant chipping the keeper which I thought was the wrong decision, then Barrow should have been more accurate with a final pass across the area.

“It was an unbelievable finish to the game.”

Reading go to Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday.