Last updated on .From the section Championship

Bryan Ruiz's winning goal for Fulham was his first in eight matches

Bryan Ruiz scored a dramatic winner in the third minute of injury time as Fulham beat Reading to end a run of three successive Championship defeats.

Fulham's Hugo Rodallega hit the post before Alex Kacaniklic put them ahead, calmly scoring from the edge of the box following Scott Parker's drilled pass.

Reading's Pavel Pogrebnyak headed in Oliver Norwood's corner to level.

But Fulham moved further away from the relegation zone when Ruiz headed home from close range.

The Cottagers move up to 15th following a revival under manager Kit Symons, who has steered them away from the bottom three since taking over in late October.

They move above Steve Clarke's Reading side, who are now four places above the drop zone.

The Royals had chances to take the lead early but Alex Pearce's header missed the target while Hal Robson-Kanu's curled effort cleared the bar.

Value for money? Bryan Ruiz has only scored 13 goals for Fulham in 93 appearances since joining them for £10.6m in August 2011

Fulham almost went into the break 1-0 up but Rodallega's thunderous strike hit the post after Reading keeper Adam Federeci had made an excellent save to keep Shaun Hutchinson's header out of the net.

The breakthrough came in the 55th minute when Kacaniklic scored his first goal for Fulham since returning from a loan spell at Danish side FC Copenhagen, neatly controlling Parker's firm pass before finishing well.

Reading were soon level as Pogrebnyak used his strength to nod in a corner from eight yards, but Ruiz won it for Fulham after Cauley Woodrow had headed Ross McCormack's cross towards the Costa Rican striker.

Fulham manager Kit Symons on the prospect of Bryan Ruiz leaving on a free transfer when his contract expires in six months: "I had a good chat with him on Friday and he's very committed. He wanted to be involved. He's just come back from a little injury and he was good. So I involved him and he came on and scored the winner, so I'm delighted.

"Both Alex [Kacaniklic] and Ryan [Tunnicliffe] were players out on loan and the original idea was for season-long loans, but they both had a break in January and as soon as I took over one of the first things I said was 'I want these boys back'.

"They're both really good players. I know them well and they both have Championship experience, so for me it was a no-brainer."

Reading manager Steve Clarke: "Goalscorers thrive on goals and it was a fantastic header [by Pogrebnyak]. Pav has been working hard. He's been out for a long spell - for five and half weeks before I came into the club.

"We've nursed him back. We got a good hour last week and he got longer this week. I thought him and Simon Cox ran themselves into the ground."