Sheffield Wednesday lost their grip on a top-6 position this weekend as they were beaten 2-1 at 3rd placed Reading.
Wednesday produced a well-drilled away display and were the better side for the best part of an hour but failed to take a couple of gilt-edged chances and were made to pay.
Reading have lost just once at home this season but Wednesday nullified their threat in a low key first half and had the better of the chances with Ross Wallace forcing Al-Habsi into a fine full-stretch save.
The 2nd half started in much the same way as the first but the game turned on two moments just before the hour mark. Hutchinson sent Joao into the clear down the middle and the Portuguese striker looked to have done the hard work in cutting inside a defender and composing himself on the edge of the penalty area but with only the keeper to but he placed his shot agonisingly wide.
Moments later Beerens hit a hopeful shot at the other end that Westwood looked to have covered but a cruel deflection helped it into the goal to give the home side a scarcely deserved lead.
Wednesday introduced Fletcher to try and get back into the game and the Scottish striker did well to hold up the ball and create a chance for his strike partner only for Joao to spurn the chance.
Once again Wednesday were punished as the Royals caught the Owls short at the back and Beerens doubled his own and his teams tally with a well-placed low strike.
The Owls goat a belated lifeline just as the game ticked into injury time when Fletcher headed home at the back post from Reach's cross and with 6 minutes of added on time to be played there was still hope.
Fletcher almost rescued a point in the last minute when he struck a low drive from the edge of the area that Al-Habsi tipped around the post and Reading were able to see out the resulting corner and hang on to all 3 points.
Derby's win against Nottingham Forest on Sunday pushed the Owls down to 7th place and they must look for a positive response with home games against near neighbours Barnsley and Rotherham to come this week.