Royals pick up positive point away at Birmingham City
Ehibhatiomhan put the Royals ahead with a tidy finish before the break, but May's late penalty meant the points were shared at full-time.
Reading faced early pressure as Elliott's pass to Mbengue fell short, allowing Willumsson to drive into the box. His shot was blocked, falling kindly to May, who couldn't connect with his header, allowing Pereira to claim the ball gratefully.
Reading appeared to take the lead four minutes in when Mbengue's long throw caused chaos in the box. Bindon challenged the keeper, and Knibbs headed into an empty net at the back post, but the referee ruled Bindon's challenge on Peacock-Farrell too forceful.
Dorsett demonstrated superb defending just after the 10th minute. He tracked his runner all the way from the halfway line into the box as Willumsson whipped the ball across to May at the back post. However, the Royals' fullback was perfectly positioned to shield the ball and clear.
Both teams had chances as Reading quickly responded with a corner. Elliott played the ball to the edge of the box and swung it towards Bindon at the back post. Bindon knocked it back across goal, and while the first effort was dealt with, Mbengue's follow-up was crucially blocked by Bielik.
Mbengue also made a crucial block in the Reading box, intercepting a pullback intended for May on the penalty spot.
Reading's high press led to a quick exchange of passes between Smith, Ehibhatiomhan, and Knibbs. Knibbs prodded an effort towards goal, but it wasn't on target.
Wing cleverly took a quick freekick from just inside Birmingham City's half, aiming for Knibbs' run, but the ball was just beyond Knibbs' reach as the keeper claimed it.
Birmingham responded quickly, with Willumsson working a shot in the box, but it looped harmlessly into the path of Pereira.
Elliott showcased superb footwork, dancing around three Birmingham players before slipping Smith inside the box. Smith attempted to set up Wing, who passed to Knibbs, but the hosts snuffed out the chance.
Moments later, Knibbs found space on the left and squared the ball to Ehibhatiomhan inside the box. Ehibhatiomhan's shot lacked power, and Elliott's header from the rebound found Peacock-Farrell's gloves.
Reading turned up the pressure ten minutes before the break. Elliott orchestrated another swift move, trying to find Craig's overlapping run. Craig's overhit pass led to a low cross into the box, resulting in a collision between Smith and Peacock-Farrell. A Birmingham defender cleared the loose ball.
The pressure finally paid off for the Royals a few minutes before the break. Wing's perfectly timed through ball found Ehibhatiomhan breaking the Birmingham defence, and he coolly slotted it beyond the onrushing keeper.
Half-time: Birmingham City 0-1 Reading FC
Much like the end of the first half, Reading continued with the same pace in the early exchanges of the second half. Ehibhatiomhan again cut inside and into the box, but he was met with a crowd of defenders who managed to win back possession and stop the chance from advancing any further.
Reading and Ehibhatiomhan had the ball in the back of the net again, but Kelvin had drifted into an offside position, halting the celebrations. Sellés would have been pleased with the start his team made to the second half.
Birmingham came inches from levelling the game as Miyoshi’s awkward ball in looked destined to be poked home by Harris, but he couldn’t reach it as the ball rolled out for a goal kick.
Around the hour mark, Birmingham City started to see much more of the possession, with Pereira having to be alert to claim Hanson’s half-volley inside the box after he latched onto Laird’s cross from the right.
With 20 minutes to play, Anderson looked a real threat since coming on for The Blues, driving forward at every opportunity and appearing the player most likely to break down Reading's resilient defence.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, Sellés turned to the bench to bring on some much-needed fresh legs after the Royals had worked hard all match. Savage and 16-year-old Garcia came on, with Garcia making his senior debut – another fine example of Reading's youth pathway.
Moments after coming on, Garcia showed an abundance of confidence. He cut in off the right-hand side, executed a neat turn, drove past a couple more opponents, and struck from distance. However, the effort only went as far as hitting Sanderson on the edge of the box.
Reading displayed immense grit and determination to hold on to their lead. Bindon and Mbengue were everywhere, and once again, Mbengue managed to get across and put in a perfectly timed lunge to block the cross from travelling across the box.
Five minutes before the end, Birmingham City were awarded a penalty as the ball was deemed to have hit Wing’s arm. May stepped up and dispatched it, sending Pereira the wrong way. It set up a tense finale to the match.
In the final stages, Reading managed to stand tall against everything Birmingham City threw at them, holding on for a crucial point on the road on the opening day of the season.
Full-time: Birmingham City 1-1 Reading FC
Birmingham City: Peacock-Farrell, Laird (Khela 82’), Sanderson, Bielek ©, May, Myoshi (Anderson 60’), Leonard (Jutkiewicz 82’), Seuag-Ho, Dembele (Hansson 45’), Willumsson (Harris 50’), Cochrane
Unused subs: Allsop, Klarer
Goals: May (86’)
Reading: Pereira, Dorsett (Abrefa 59’), Elliott (Savage 73’), Craig, Knibbs, Ehibhatiomhan (Wareham 83’), Smith, Bindon, Mbengue, Camara (Garcia 73’), Wing ©
Unused subs: Boyce-Clarke, Kanu, Osho
Goals: Ehibhatiomhan (42’)
Yellows: Wing (22’)