Our account of the action from a meeting with the Blues in RG2
Reading and Birmingham City took a share of the points on Good Friday, owing to first-half goals by Andy Carroll and Lukas Jutkiewicz.
Carroll's sixth-minute strike was cancelled out before the interval by a headed effort by the Blues forward; ultimately the game ended all square.
There was just a single change to the XI that got a draw at Bristol City last Saturday – Lucas Joao came into the starting line-up in place of Nesta Guinness-Walker, forming a front three alongside Carroll and Yakou Meite. Meanwhile former Birmingham centre-half Scott Dann made a return from injury to take a seat on the subs bench.
The game could hardly have got off to a better start. Six minutes in, and the net bulged... a delightful team goal. Cesare Casadei's slide-rule ball found Joao on the run - and with a smart back-heel, he teed up Carroll perfectly to thrash a shot past the dive of Blues stopper John Ruddy. 1-0!
The Royals ahead on the scoresheet, but the game itself continued to be a battle - both teams competing for every ball, battling hard and firm in the tackle. Skipper Andy Yiadom briefly needed medical attention after catching a boot in the face from Lukas Jutkiewicz... not much sustained pressure from either side but plenty of energy.
As the first half ticked past the midway point, Joe Lumley had his first save to make as Birmingham came forward in numbers and the ball diverted into the path of Krystian Bielik; the midfielder caught it sweet and true, but the Royals stopper fielded it well.
But just before the half-hour, Blues levelled. A simple goal - Khadra was allowed time and space to line up a cross on the left-hand touchline, and picked out the head of Jutkiewicz - who guided powerfully beyond Lumley and into the top corner. All square again.
Another flowing Reading move could have brought about a second goal - or, at least, a penalty. Neat feet from Joao in the midfield allowed him to find Fornah on the left, and he used the overlapping run of Yiadom in turn. His cross was flicked away, but Jeff Hendrick hit a first-time which looked like it might have been blocked by the arm of Auston Trusty. Royals players and fans were convinced, but the ref disagreed.
Then captain Yiadom had a chance of his own - he showed a little burst of pace to cut inside as he supported the attack from full-back, but his venomous effort was past the near post.
Half-time | Reading 1-1 Birmingham City
The Royals had a sniff of a chance within a minute of the restart. Amadou Mbengue's long throw wasn't successfully dealt with, allowing Naby Sarr to hit a first-time effort... over. Perhaps fortunately, the assistant had flagged for a foul throw.
Then close shaves at either end as first the ball was just nicked away from Hendrick - but bizarrely given as a goal-kick - and then a Khadra back-heel on the flank which allowed Trusty to cross, but a deflection allowed goalkeeper Lumley to scoop up.
Again, plenty of endeavour - but also plenty of frustration as a spate of decisions going the other way. Carroll shunted to ground but punished for pushing; a swipe on Joao's legs going unnoticed; Marc Roberts climbing on Casadei but going unpunished; Yiadom trampled to ground by Tahith Chong but penalised for obstruction. And a yellow for Fornah was simply unbelievable - it was brilliant tracking to keep up with Chong and win the ball cleanly. Sheer consternation when the whistle sounded, which redoubled when the yellow card appeared.
A swift breakaway by Birmingham almost completed a turnaround - but an outstretched leg by Lumley kept the scores level. Khadra turned on the afterburners... after being forced a bit wide, he still managed to pick out Chong, who turned goalwards. The Royals goalie had his angles covered.
With 20 minutes to go, both managers looked to their bench - Femi Azeez was introduced for the Royals.
And soon after, there was a change in the refereeing team too - little sympathy for the man in the middle, who was subbed off with an injury, allowing fourth official Jeremy Simpson to take to the whistle. A stop-start segment of the game as the officials fiddled with shoelaces and earpieces.
Carroll snatched at an opportunity for his second of the game - Azeez's corner was kept alive on the far side by Holmes, falling for Sarr whose shot was blocked. It broke kindly for Carroll but he fired off target from the edge of the area.
Mbengue sent in another long-throw, which preceded a bout of head-tennis in the Blues box, which eventually dropped for Azeez to strike on the volley. A firm contact with his right boot but it flashed wide.
Nervy moments in the six added minutes, as Jobe Bellingham skipped past a challenge and sent in a low cross which evaded everyone in a red shirt, and then George Hall skipped past a challenge before shooting hard and low, needing Lumley to make a save.
But then Hendrick almost won it - he nearly added to his streak of stunning goals this season as a bouncing ball sat up to be hit from 25 yards. Saved low by Ruddy.
In the end, the spoils shared.
Full-time | Reading 1-1 Birmingham City
Reading: Lumley, Yiadom ©, Mbengue (Abrefa 90+3), Sarr, Holmes, Hendrick, Casadei, Fornah (Azeez 70), Meite (Guinness-Walker 82), Carroll, Joao.
Unused subs: Bouzanis, Dann, Craig, Ehibhatiomhan.
Goal: Carroll (6).
Yellow: Fornah.
Birmingham City: Ruddy ©, Colin, Roberts, Trusty, Long, Chang, Bielik, Khadra (Bellingham 70), Chong, Jutkiewicz (Hogan 70), Hall (Mejbri 70).
Unused subs: Etheridge, Bacuna, Dean, James.
Goal: Jutkiewicz (29).
Yellow: Roberts.
Attendance: 16,084 (1,946 away)