LUCAS Joao netted a 75th minute equaliser to cancel out Cauley Woodrow’s opener as the Royals earned a point in a lacklustre display against bottom of the table Barnsley.

The point means that Reading remain in 18th position in the Championship having tallied 22 points from 20 games.

Mark Bowen made five changes from Reading’s defeat on Saturday to Birmingham City with Ovie Ejaria returning to the side as well as a first Championship start of the season for Charlie Adam.

Despite sitting at the bottom of the table and eight points away from safety at the start of play, Barnsley started the brighter of the sides and enjoyed most of the possession throughout the first-half.

But Reading had the first big chance of the match as George Puscas rounded Barnsley goalkeeper Sahin-Radlinger but his heavy touch ran out to the touchline and despite the Romaninan’s good work to keep the ball in play, he was unable to find a teammate in the middle.

The Tykes then broke quickly from a Reading attack to counter as Mike-Steven Bahre found Cauley Woodrow in the box but Reading goalkeeper Rafael made a comfortable save from his volley.

The hosts continued to create chances as Mads Juel Andersen floated a header just over the bar before Alex Mowatt’s long distance strike fell the wrong side of the post and into the side netting.

Experienced midfielder Adam then struck from distance as Reading had a rare venture forwards with his powerful effort turned behind for a corner, with the resulting set piece being headed over the top by Puscas.

With a minute to go in the half, Barnsley created the best chance of the game so far as Conor Chaplin found space in the box but Rafael got down low to make a crucial stop at his near post as the Royals went in at the break lucky to be level.

Michael Morrison picked up the first caution of the match after he cynically fouled Jacob Brown, but the hosts were unable to take advantage from the free kick as the half came to a close.

The first clear cut chance of the second half fell to Jordan Obita after Lucas Joao slipped the ball through to him wide on the left in the box but he lifted the ball over the bar as he squandered a good chance.

Reading’s positive start to the half didn’t last for long as they lost the ball cheaply at the back through Morrison as his pass was charged down by Brown with Woodrow applying the finishing touch to give the hosts a breakthrough.

Adam came close to pulling the Royals level in the 64th minute as his 25 yard free kick was parried away by Sahin-Radlinger.

Bowen’s hand was forced to make a change as Puscas went off injured and was replaced by Sam Baldock and then made an attacking change with 15 minutes left as Yakou Meite came on in place of Morrison.

Lucas Joao netted an equaliser to score for a second consecutive game as Adam’s corner wasn’t cleared properly by Barnsley and fell to the feet of the forward who tucked the ball into the bottom corner in the 75th minute.

Meite then had a brilliant chance to put the Royals in front as he latched onto a cross but his diving header flew inches over the target.

Obita made way for Tyler Blackett as Reading made their final change of the evening with just under 10 minutes remaining.

Rafael made a smart save in the 89th minute fro Scmidt as Reading had to settle for a draw in what was an underwhelming performance against the Championship’s bottom club. The Royals travel away to 22nd place Stoke City on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Reading: Rafael, Obita, Moore, Morrison, Miazga, Gunter, Rinomhota, Adam, Ejaria, Puscas, Joao.
Subs: Walker, Baldock, McCleary, Meite, Howe, Blackett, Pele

Barnsley: Sahin-Radlinger, Williams, Diaby, Andersen, Williams, Dougall, Bahre, Mowatt, Woodrow, Chaplin, Brown.
Subs: Thomas, Scmidt, Sibbick, Oduor, Thiam, Mottley-Henry, Collins.

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