READING FC were involved in their first goalless draw of the season as they took a point away at Luton Town.
Picking themselves up after a heartbreaking last gasp defeat to league leaders Burnley on Saturday, the Royals dug deep to collect a point at Kenilworth Road.
There was little to separate the sides and the contest ended without the deadlock being broken.
Paul Ince made two changes from Reading’s last gasp defeat at Burnley which saw Andy Carroll and Junior Hoilett come into the starting eleven.
Tom McIntyre missed out on the matchday squad after he was withdrawn at Burnley with a head injury which meant that academy defender Jack Senga-Ngoyi was given a place on the bench.
Luton’s top scorer Carlton Morris, who already has eight Championship goals to his name this season, was named on the bench.
The Hatters created the first big chance of the half with five minutes on the clock when James Bree got down the byline and cut the ball back for Harry Cornick who dragged his shot wide.
The Royals’ first venture forward was built by Tom Ince who tried to shift the ball through to Andy Carroll, but overhit his pass.
Reading used the aerial prowess of Carroll throughout the half and his superb knockdown fell into the path of Ince who swiped at an effort that was charged down.
Cornick caused problems for Reading on several occasions and skipped past two challenges on the right before he swung a cross into the middle that was headed out by Tom Holmes.
Joe Lumley was called into action twice in quick succession when he first got down to save Elijah Adebayo’s drive from an acute angle before he stopped Alfie Doughty’s low shot from distance.
Reading had a chance to cause chaos in the box after Ince was fouled just outside the box, but they failed to capitalise as the ball couldn’t quite fall for Yakou Meite.
There was a pause in play after Luton captain Sonny Bradley took a horrible landing afer an aerial duel and had to be stretchered off.
Reading’s best chance of the half fell for Meite after the Royals pinched possession deep in Luton’s half but goalkeeper Ethan Horvath got his glove to the low drive.
The Royals had to survive some late scares at the end of the half after Lumley spilled a corner and his defence had to come to his rescue to scramble the ball away.
The final chance of the half saw Junior Hoilett hang a cross up to the back post which Carroll nodded down but off target as the team’s went in deadlocked at the break.
Reading created the first opening of the second-half when a cross was floated into the box, Carroll launched himself at the aerial ball but headed wide.
Ince made his first switch just before the hour mark which saw Ovie Ejaria replaced by Tyrese Fornah.
Reading pressed to find an opener when they worked the ball neatly and Jeff Hendrick skidded a fierce shot inches wide of the far post.
Meite was shown a yellow card when he committed a late foul having initially led an aggressive press to try and win the ball on the break.
Shane Long entered the contest for the final 20 minutes to join Carroll up top, taking the place of Meite
With the game still level, Ince tried his luck from 25 yards after he chested the ball and smacked a ferocious effort that was palmed away by the keeper.
The Hatters’ top scorer Morris was thrown on by Nathan Jones with just over 10 minutes to play.
Luton missed a golden chance to snatch the points in the 87th minute when the ball sat up for Dan Potts on the volley but his side footed effort missed the top corner.
Reading then had their own opportunity to steal the points when a cross was put to the back post but Long’s header went across goal and missed the target.
Substitute Fornah then went close when he hammered a shot at goal that missed the target by a whisker.
After five minutes of added time, the game ended without the scoreline being breached as the teams shared the points.
Reading face their third game in six days on Friday night when they host Preston North End.
Luton: Horvath, Bree, Potts, Lockyer, Bradley (c), Cornick, Adebayo, Mpanzu, Campbell, Bell, Doughty
Subs: Berry, Morris, Watson, Isted, Freeman, Jerome, Pettit
Reading: Lumley, Yiadom (c), Holmes, Mbengue, Rahman, Hoilett, Hendrick, Ejaria, Ince, Carroll, Meite
Subs: Long, Joao, Guiness-Walker, Fornah, Bouzanis, Abbey, Senga-Ngoyi
