Ten-man Reading were left fuming after losing two points to a controversial last gasp Ipswich penalty.
The visitors looked to be coasting to a 1-0 win after Steve Sidwell's goal, but lost Nicky Shorey to a red card and then saw Tommy Miller level from the spot.
It had been a game of few chances in stifling heat and for much of the game it looked set to end goalless.
Both teams had players booked early on in a frenetic start, before Richard Naylor's excellent tackle halted Andy Hughes on the edge of the box.
Miller had a low shot blocked for Town and then volleyed a Pablo Counago pass over.
Scott Murray had a header deflected wide, before Fabian Wilnis made a great challenge to stop Nicky Forster reaching a Shaun Goater pass.
The chance of the half came on 35 minutes when Hughes got behind the Ipswich defence and fired in an angled shot which Kelvin Davis dived to tip round the post.
Hughes then fired over from a Shorey pass before Town's Georges Santos was just wide with a 35-yard screamer.
The second half also began quietly before Forster broke clear and crossed for Sidwell to turn and score on 59-minutes.
Reading went into their shell after their goal, but for all their possession Ipswich rarely threatened.
Town were given a lifeline on 78 minutes when Shorey was sent off for pulling back Counago as he chased a Miller throughball.
Sub Matt Richards blazed the free-kick over and time seemed set to run out for a home side lacking in ideas.
Deep in stoppage time, though, new Town skipper Jim Magilton went down under Steve Brown's challenge and Miller stepped up to coolly to send Marcus Hahnemann the wrong way from the penalty spot.