READING FC maintained their third place spot in the Championship as they recovered to take a point against Norwich City.
After a positive first half from the Royals, they fell behind just five minutes after the restart.
There was a suspicion of hand ball in the build up as Norwich skipper Grant Hanley knocked in the opener.
Jeff Hendrick replied just 10 minutes later with a well struck half volley to earn Reading a point.
Paul Ince made two changes from Reading’s 3-1 weekend win over Huddersfield Town which saw both Tyrese Fornah and Mamadou Loum return to the starting eleven.
Royals captain Andy Yiadom missed out through injury and is expected to face a spell on the sidelines after being taken off against Huddersfield, while Lucas Joao dropped to the bench which left Andy Carroll to start up top.
After a tame start to proceedings, Sam Hutchinson picked up the first caution when he tripped Kenny McLean on halfway to break up the start of an attack.
The best chance of the half came Reading’s way in the 19th minute when Junior Hoilett, who caused problems for Norwich all throughout the half, stood the ball up to the back post where Carroll towered above his marker but was denied a strong hand from Tim Krul who flew to his left to keep his powerful header out.
Another chance dropped the way of the hosts when Nesta Guiness-Walker’s cleared free-kick fell kindly for Jeff Hendrick who struck a clean half volley that flashed inches wide of the post.
Reading continued to threaten and had by far the better chances, but couldn’t find an opening. Hoilett bided his time in the box before pulling the trigger, but Norwich got a body in the way to deflect behind for a corner.
Tom Ince then came agonisingly close to getting on the end of Hoilett’s whipped cross into the six yard box as the away team survived another scare.
The Canaries had very little in the way of chances despite enjoying more possession, but did come close when a drilled cross was hacked away from Tom McIntyre and his clearance looped up and bounced off the top of the crossbar.
The teams went in level at the break with the deadlock yet to be broken in the game between the teams in second and third in the Championship before kick-off.
Guinness-Walker’s launched long throw caused havoc in the Norwich box as they managed to scramble clear after Carroll’s flick on.
Norwich then broke down the other end and were presented a superb chance to take the lead when Josh Sargent rolled the ball to Marcelino Nunez who didn’t connect cleanly and scuffed his effort wide.
Dean Smith’s team grabbed the lead in the 50th minute when a flick on from a corner was met by an unmarked Grant Hanley at the back post who fired into the far corner.
Despite a suspicion of handball in the build up and protests from Joe Lumley, the goal stood.
Norwich could have doubled their lead a few minutes later when they countered quickly from a Reading corner and Sargent delivered the ball into the middle, but McLean couldn’t connect properly to tap in from close range.
Reading were level 10 minutes after the opener as Hendrick opened his account for the Royals.
He showed his determination to beat Nunez to the ball before taking a touch to set himself and hit the bouncing ball beyond Krul at the near post.
With confidence in his stride, Hendrick tried his luck again on the half volley with a fierce effort that flew over the top.
With just under 20 minutes left to play, Ince made a triple change which saw Carroll, Guinness-Walker and Fornah replaced by Joao, Amadou Mbengue and Ovie Ejaria.
Norwich missed a decent chance to snatch the lead with three minutes remaining when Andrew Omobamidele’s glancing header from a corner drifted just wide.
The final whistle blew with the team’s taking a point each to both maintain their positions in the table.
The Royals are back in action on Friday night away at Queens Park Rangers.
Reading: Lumley, Hoilett, McIntyre, Holmes (c). Hutchinson, Guinness-Walker, Loum, Fornah, Hendrick, Ince, Carroll
Subs: Bouzanis, Abbey, Mbengue, Craig, Ejaria, Meite, Joao
Norwich: Krul, Aaron,s Byram, Omobamidele, Hanley (c), Ramsey, McClean, Nunez, Gibbs, Sargent, Pukki
Subs: Gunn, Gibson, Hugill, Dowel, Sara, Sinani, Hernandez
Goals: Hanley 50’, Hendrick 60’
