Mark Hudson's late header denied Reading the chance to close the gap on the top two in the Coca-Cola Championship as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Charlton.

The Charlton skipper rose highest at the far post to head home Nicky Bailey's free-kick as his rock-bottom side proved they are not going to drop out of the division with a whimper.

Shane Long's double appeared to have edged Reading to within two points of second-placed Birmingham after they and leaders Wolves were both held to draws.

Home boss Steve Coppell was able to give former favourite Glen Little a start following his return on loan from Portsmouth, and with games in hand on the top two and Dave Kitson also waiting in the wings after rejoining from Stoke, the Royals looked like turning up the heat at the top.

But Hudson's late show means it is as you were with none of the title challengers able to pull away.

Bailey had fired rock-bottom Charlton into a surprise lead with the Royals, who had not found the target in their previous three home games, misfiring again in the first half.

They should have gone ahead in the seventh minute but Long attempted to walk the ball in rather than shoot following a jinking run.

Four minutes later Long got on the end of a far-post cross from Stephen Hunt but his header came back off the post.

Charlton went ahead against the run of play in the 16th minute, Tresor Kandol linking with Tom Soares down the right and pinging the ball across goal from where Bailey tapped home his 10th goal of the season.

Reading almost hit back within 60 seconds when Hunt collected Liam Rosenior's long cross and thumped an angled shot against the post, Kalifa Cisse putting the rebound wide.

And with half an hour gone, skipper Kevin Doyle curled a 20-yard free-kick against Rob Elliot's crossbar as the hosts' frustrations grew.

Charlton made it to the break unscathed - but fell behind two minutes after the restart in controversial fashion.

Darren Ward's challenge on Long looked a fair one but referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot to the disbelief of the Charlton players.

Long smashed away the penalty to leave Addicks boss Phil Parkinson dejected on the bench.

And Parkinson, who made 424 appearances for Reading as a player, was furious a minute later when Bailey had his legs taken from underneath him in the area and the referee waved play on.

Long put the hosts ahead in the 67th minute when he met a corner from substitute Jay Tabb with a powerful header which gave Elliot no chance.

But Hudson had the final say when he headed Bailey's deep free-kick back across goal and into the net five minutes from time.

Teams

Reading Federici, Rosenior, Duberry, Pearce, Armstrong,Little (Harper 83), Cisse (Noel Hunt 87), Matejovsky,Stephen Hunt (Tabb 60), Long, Doyle.

Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Bikey.

Booked: Long, Armstrong.

Goals: Long 47 pen, 67.

Charlton Elliot, Butterfield, Ward, Hudson, Youga,Soares (Ambrose 77), Spring (Dickson 71), Racon, Bailey,Zhi (Holland 87), Kandol.

Subs Not Used: Randolph, Burton.

Booked: Kandol.

Goals: Bailey 16, Hudson 85.

Att: 17,875

Ref: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).