A stalemate with the Blues
A battling performance saw the Royals come away with a point from Saturday's match with league leaders Birmingham City.
The Royals got us underway, kicking towards the South Stand for the first half. Both sides started evenly in possession before a short break in play as Scott Wright suffered an early injury for the visitors.
The Blues shared the early possession but the first sight of goal fell to Mamadi Camara, as he was first to a Lewis Wing cross. Camara’s header was steered narrowly wide, just before the offside flag was raised – however he was in the action again moments later as he seized upon a bouncing ball to fire a half volley at goal which was easily saved by the goalkeeper.
The game continued evenly, with The Royals looking dangerous on the break. On 33 minutes, Knibbs pinched the ball high up the pitch and drove forwards towards goal, but his attempted square pass was diverted wide for a corner. Charlie Savage swung the corner in towards Chem Campell, who glanced his header narrowly over the bar.
After 5 minutes of additional time, the referee blew for half time with the score at 0-0.
Half time: Reading 0-0 Birmingham City
The game restarted with the visitors kicking off, with The Royals now attacking towards the Eamonn Dolan stand. It was Birmingham who maintained the early possession despite not creating any clear chances.
Instead, it was The Royals who carved the first sighter on goal. Some neat interchange in midfield allowed Lewis Wing to power a strike from distance, which the Birmingham goalkeeper managed to divert at full stretch.
The visitors then hit back; some smart passing allowed a shot from distance. Pereira could only parry and with danger uncleared, Birmingham squared the ball to Dykes just yards from goal however his finish was incredibly denied by a flying Amadou Mbengue.
After an even 15 minutes or so, Reading had another sighter as Michael Craig intricately fed the ball to Jayden Wareham who had recently entered the game. The forward took the ball early with a snapshot which narrowly went wide of the post.
On 79 minutes, another sighter for The Royals as Chem Campbell jinked inside from the left. The winger poked the ball to Harvey Knibbs who could only shoot wide from the edge of the box. Birmingham responded well and almost forced an opening as a long ball saw Alfie May charge down on goal, only for Tyler Bindon to force the ball away for a corner. The visitors acted quickly, with their short corner eventually finding Klarer at the back post. His looping header looked destined for the back of the net only for Bindon again to react and head the ball over the bar.
The Royals then raced down the other end and eventually Lewis Wing slung a trademark cross in to the box. Chem Campbell was first to it and met the ball with his head, however the Birmingham goalkeeper was equal to it and managed to push away. Wareham then pounced on a loose ball and had time in the box, however couldn’t find unfortunately couldn’t find another blue and white shirt to steer the ball home.
Seven minutes of additional time were announced as both teams had half-chances in the final moments, however the game finished goalless.
Full time: Reading 0 – 0 Birmingham City
Reading: Pereira, Craig, Knibbs, Savage, Ehibhatiomhan (Wareham 72'), Campbell, Bindon, Mbengue, Camara (Bodin 90'), Wing ©, Garcia
Subs: Button, Abrefa, Rushesha, Holzman, Akande
Yellows: Savage (45+3')
Birmingham City: Allsop, Laird, Klarer ©, Wright (Willumsson 9'), Seung-Ho, Anderson (Hanley 90'), Dykes (May 61'), Cochrane, Iwata, Davies, Dowell (Gardner-Hickman 90')
Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Bielik, Hansson
Yellow: Seung-Ho (23')