Vincent Kompany’s Clarets trailed to Tom Ince’s 56th minute finish when Yakou Meite flicked on goalkeeper Joe Lumley’s clearance.
The Premier League Hall of Famer made a double change just after the hour when Connor Roberts and Johann Berg Gudmundsson were replaced by Vitinho and Manuel Benson respectively.
The latter needed just five minutes to make his mark when drawing the home side level with his third goal of the season.
The former Royal Antwerp winger volleyed home from the edge of the penalty area after Royals’ captain Andy Yiadom had only partially cleared Josh Brownhill’s cross.
The visitors were denied a penalty deep into stoppage time when referee Jeremy Simpson failed to penalise Ian Maatsen’s trip on goal-scorer Ince.
And the away side’s misery was compounded moments later when Benson turned provider with a wonderful assist for Anass Zaroury’s last-gasp winner.
Here are the ratings from Turf Moor.
The latter needed just five minutes to make his mark when drawing the home side level with his third goal of the season.