Point apiece on derby day
Sam Smith's smart finish from a delightful Lewis Wing ball saw Reading earn a 1-1 draw at home to rivals Oxford United.
The U's had taken the lead just three minutes earlier through Ciaron Brown's header, but neither team were able to find the winner in a tense Thames Valley derby.
Femi Azeez poked a golden chance wide on the stroke of half-time, with a point seeing the side remain 23rd in League One.
Ahead of the first Thames Valley derby in 20 years, Rubén Sellés opted for three changes, all of whom were Academy graduates.
Tom Holmes made his first league start since August, whilst Jeriel Dorsett returned from injury. Caylan Vickers rounded out the changes.
Fans from both sides turned out in their numbers, creating an atmosphere fit for a derby day.
In a tense start, chances were hard to come by, with a floated Femi Azeez cross was just out of reach of Smith’s head at the far post.
The game opened up as time went on, with some good build-up seeing the ball fall out the sky to Lewis Wing, but his sweet first-time strike strike was bravely deflected wide by an Oxford head.
The visitors began to grow into the game, and it would be Oxford who would take the lead close to half-time.
The ball was worked out towards right, with a pinpoint cross finding the head of Brown, who towered home his header to give the U’s the lead.
However, a moment of magic from Wing would see the scores drawn level before the interval.
On the halfway line, the midfielder whipped a perfectly executed first-time through ball fell into Smith’s path between the two defenders on the edge of the box.
Two deft touches later, Smith cooly stroked the ball past James Beadle to square things up, celebrating in front of the travelling support for good measure.
Reading were finished there though. Into three minutes of added time, a Knibbs ball from the right of the box picked out Azeez, who could only poke his effort frustrating wide.
Beadle was then forced into a reaction stop from a dangerous Wing free-kick, before a relentless half was called to a halt.
Half-time: Reading 1-1 Oxford United
The atmosphere picked up where it left off after the interval, as did the tense nature of the game.
Joe Bennett stepped up to take a free-kick right on the edge of the box, but the Reading wall was able to block his effort.
The game struggled to rival the momentum of the end of the first half in the second, with Azeez wriggling free in the box only for his pull-back to be dealt with.
Josh Murphy created some luck down the left for the visitors, twisiting and turning inside the box before taking a shot with his back to goal, which was deflected for a corner which came to nothing.
Ben Elliott was introduced in the hope of breaking down the resilient Oxford defence, and sprayed the ball wonderfully out to Azeez, who middled it to Charlie Savage, but Beadle was equal to his long-range shot.
Billy Bodin had a late chance to grab the three points when Murphy found him in the area, but his effort was deflected wide, and the spoils shared in this reignited rivalry.
Full-time: Reading 1-1 Oxford United
Reading: Button, Holmes, Knibbs, Smith, Azeez, Yiadom (C), Dorsett (Mbengue 58), Wing, Abbey (Bindon 58), Craig (Savage 67), Vickers (Elliott 79).
Subs: Pereira, Mukairu, Ehibhatiomhan.
Goal: Smith 43.
Yellow cards: Craig 19, Holmes 51.
Oxford United: Beadle, Brown, Thorniley (Bennett HT), Moore (C), McEachran (Henry 86), Mills (Goodrham 65), Brannigan, Harris (Bodin 65), Stevens, McGuane, Murphy.
Subs: Eastwood, Smyth, O'Donkur.
Goal: Brown 40.
Yellow cards: Thorniley 37.
Attendance: 14,397 (Away 2,768)