A point on the road in Yorkshire
A second half brace from Sam Smith saw Reading come from behind to secure a battling draw at Barnsley on Tuesday evening.
The Tykes got the game underway, with the Royals shooting towards the hardy supporters who made the long trip North on a Tuesday evening. Within 12 seconds the hosts had the first corner of the game, but a strong punch from Pereira cleared the danger.
Reading's first chance came on six minutes with Sam Smith letting fly from 20 yards, but less than a minute later Rubén Sellés' side found themselves a goal behind. David Keillor-Dunn pounced on a clearance from Michael Craig, and the forward was able to pass into the far bottom corner - 1-0 to the Tykes.
The early breakthrough seemed to spur on Barnsley rather than galvanise the Royals, with the hosts enjoying spells of possession around the visitors' box. As the quarter hour mark passed, the early exchanges belonged to the Tykes.
Stephen Humphrys pounced on some loose passing by the Reading backline to find space and shoot goalwards, fortunately for Pereira in goal, the powerful effort went over the bar.
Pereira was subsequently called into action on 19 minutes with an instinctive low save after Adam Phillips' powered drive was deflected off Tyler Bindon inside the six yard box.
Reading's first corner of the game came on 24 minutes, and led to a half chance from left back Jeriel Dorsett. The hosts were unable to clear their lines from Charlie Savage's initial delivery, allowing the full back headed goalwards, but it was cleared.
Moments later, Smith linked up beautifully with Chem Campbell in the Barnsley box, with the latter having an opportunity to volley goalwards, but his effort was skewed wide.
The two chances saw the momentum shift in the favour of Rubén Sellés' team, with Ben Elliott the next to test the resolve of th Tykes defence with a half volleyed effort from the edge of the box that was deflected wide. A trio of corners followed, however the Royals were unable to trouble Ben Killip in the Barnsley goal.
Barnsley's Marc Roberts was the next to test Pereira in the Reading goal, peeling off his marker from a Tykes corner to head at goal on the back post. The Protuguese showed as he so often does that he was up to the challenge, deflecting the tall defenders header around the post.
With two minutes left on the clock in the first half, Savage had a chance to give his team parity going into the break. A strong run from midfield by Ben Elliott saw the ball bounce invitingly to the Welshman - but his half volley went just wide.
The referee's whistle sounded to end the opening period with the Royals a goal behind at the break.
Half-Time: Barnsley 1-0 Reading
The interval saw the Royals shuffle the pack by bringing on Andre Garcia in place of Jeriel Dorsett at full back.
Four minutes into the second half the Royals found their equaliser, and the recently introduced Garcia had a key hand in it. Bringing the ball forward from left back, he found his right back counterpart Craig who subsequently moved the ball forward to Campbell. The forward cut inside to send a left footed shot goalwards, and Smith was on hand to cleverly divert the ball into the back of the net - game on!
The goal opened up the game, with both teams looking to attack the opposition with pace and in numbers. At the hour mark the match was on a knife edge, with the Tykes enjoying more possession, but the Royals consistently looking dangerous on the break.
Barnsley's Humphrys was the next to call Pereira into action on 65 minutes. with the Poruguese once more showing he was equal to the best the Barnsley attack had to offer. Latching onto a square ball, the striker fired towards goal from the centre of the box, but El Gato was able to spread himself big on the floor.
The Tykes would rue that miss, with the Royals taking the lead on 67 minutes courtesy of that man once more - Sam Smith! The striker doubled his tally for the night, latching onto a Campbell header that was deflected off the bar. As we entered the final quarter of the game, Rubén Sellés' side had the advantage for the first time.
The lead would be short lived however, with Joshua Earl findind the net from close range. In the five minutes since going ahead, the Royals had endured a barrage of pressure, and a failure from the defence to clear their lines ended up being telling. The two teams level with less than 20 minutes left on the clock.
On 79 minutes there was a double change for the Royals, with Savage and Craig making way for Mamadi Camara and Ashqar Ahmed respectively.
In a rare Reading attack, Elliott found Knibbs inside the Reading box, but the forward was unable to control his shot and it was skewed wide. Down the other end, Pereira save well from a backpost header following a Barnsley corner.
The referee called an end to the proceedings, a second 2-2 draw at Oakwell in two seasons, and the Royals continue our fantastic run of not losing away at Barnsley since 1998. A battling performance from Rubén Sellés' side after going behind early, and attentions now turn to FA Cup action against Harborough Town this coming Sunday.
Full-Time: Barnsley 2-2 Reading
Barnsley: Killip, Russell, Roberts, Gevigney, O'Keeffe (Lofthouse 86'), Phillips, Gent, Earl, Keillor-Dunn (Cosgrove 77'), Humphrys, Connell ©
Subs: Pines, Jalo, Smith, LCraig, Nwakali
Goals: Keillor-Dunn (7'), Earl (72')
Yellow: Phillips (49')
Reading: Pereira, Dorsett (Garcia 46'), Elliott, Craig (Ahmed 79'), Knibbs, Savage (Camara 79'), Smith, Campbell, Bindon, Wing ©, Holzman
Subs: Button, Wareham, Kanu, Akande
Goals: Smith (50', 66')