Nobody was more relieved then Doyle who somehow spurned an identical chance early in the second half but inexplicably headed wide of an open goal from two yards out.
And now he wants to be the natural successor to last season's top scorer Kitson who hobbled off with an ankle injury in the 39th minute.
Leroy Lita gave the Royals a dream start after seven minutes with a sublime finish from Kitson's cleaver pass for his fifth of the season.
But the hosts were dealt a series of setbacks either side of half time - starting with the loss of Kitson.
Then three minutes later Ade Akinbiyi equalised from the edge of the box - the first goal Reading have conceded in the league for 402 minutes - and left-back Nicholas Shorey failed to reappear after the break with a knee problem.
However, Doyle soon atoned for his earlier miss with a winner from Convey's cross following a short Glen Little corner.
Burnley nearly equalised again eight minutes later but Marcus Hahnemann pulled off a tremendous save to deny James O'Connor.
And more frustration followed for the visitors who saw Wayne Thomas limp off with a serious knee injury and Garreth O'Connor red carded for lashing out at Convey.