A FINE Garath McCleary strike was cancelled out by Lex Immers as Reading and Cardiff City had to settle for a share of the spoils at Madejski Stadium this afternoon.
The stalemate means Royals’ winless run in the Championship now stretches to four games, and they drop down to 17th in the table because of results elsewhere – but they do remain eight points above the drop zone with nine games remaining.
Yet the majority of the 17,40 crowd would have left feeling disappointed not to see the hosts take all three points as a late rally against a side pushing for the play-offs went without reward – although substitute Simon Cox was unlucky not to bag a last-gasp winner.
This was one of several big chances missed by the home side on the day, and they would be made to pay as the visitors pulled level on 65 minutes though Immers.
City, though, fell behind to a stunning strike from Garath McCleary shortly before the break.
He had only been on the the pitch some 10 minutes having replaced Hal Robson-Kanu, who hobbled off with a thigh injury and could now be doubtful for the upcoming Wales friendlies
The performance of referee Darren Drysdale, meanwhile, is also likely to be brought into question as three shouts for a Royals penalty were waved away in the second half.
There was a suspicion of controversy during the build up to the equaliser, too, with it felt Sammi
Ameobi had handled the ball before getting a shot away.
Brian McDermott made three changes to the side narrowly beaten 1-0 at Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday night.
Having served his suspension, Jake Cooper was again available for selection and was handed his usual spot in the back four, with Anton Ferdinand making way.
Andrew Taylor came in for Jordan Obita at left back, while Stephen Quinn took the place of Matej Vydra, with the three all omitted from the line-up taking a place on the bench.
Deniss Rakels, though, had failed to recover in time from a hamstring knock picked up in the week and would sit out the fixture.
Writing in his programme notes, boss McDermott spoke about the need for his side to start providing the supporters with value for money.
Yet apart from an early Ola John drive which stung the hands of City ‘keeper Simon Moore inside the first two minutes, those present were probably feeling a little short shrift as the opening exchanges passed by with little incident.
The hosts would break such a lull when a perfectly-weighted through ball from John had Yann Kermogant and Cardiff’s Bruno Manga involved in a foot race, which the former would win as he powered past his opponent.
The striker did have enough time to steady himself, but Moore would foil the Frenchman when rushing off his line to close the gaps.
It was the away side, however, who would go even closer to breaking the deadlock, but Royals had the crossbar to thank for keeping the score on level terms.
A wicked cross whipped in by Joe Ralls from the left would find Craig Noone in acres of space, although the centre would arrive at an awkward height for the midfielder.
And in trying to nod the ball down, Noone would see his effort bounce up and hit the crossbar, with the hosts eventually clearing their lines.
Hal Robson-Kanu, meanwhile, was once again looking a nuisance, but when stopped by a tackled as he looked to engineer a way into the box would see the attacker pick up a knock.
The forward walked around gingerly as he bravely tried to run it off, but it was a battle he was sadly not to win on this occasion and he was replaced by Garath McCleary just before the midway point in the half.
The winger has found game time hard to come by in recent times – most probably due to the form of Robson-Kanu.
However, he would provide a timely remainder of his talents when breaking the deadlock with a goal worthy of the admission fee alone on 37 minutes.
Stephen Quinn got the move going, spraying the ball out to John, whose cross was flicked on towards McCleary by Yann Kermorgant.
From here the winger brilliantly rolled off his marker before allowing the ball to bounce and burying it in the top corner from some 10 yards.
Reading would finish the half looking the more purposeful – and should have gone in at the break two goals to the good.
Quinn was again heavily involved, sending a super ball over the top which sent John on his way.
Manga would eventually offer some opposition as the midfielder stormed into the box – only to be shown a clean pair of heels.
John was now left with just Moore to beat, but would drag the chance horribly wide.
He would go close again just seconds after the restart, too, but was not able to put enough curl on the strike, which drifted wide. McCleary would create the opening.
Clear cut chances still remained at a premium, although a wicked deflection almost took a Ralls free-kick swung in from the left into the back of the net.
Thankfully for Reading, though, the ball was to drop just millimetres past the post and out for a corner.
Despite this, City were looking a rather toothless unit going forward, but all that was to change when manager Russell Slade made a double substitution, throwing on Aron Gunnarsson and Ameobi for O’Keefe and Noone respectively.
The pair had been on the pitch just seconds when Ameobi received the ball, which he would strike at goal – only to be denied by the frame of the goal.
But Royals were unable to recover, and could only watch on as Immers raced in to nod into an unguarded net.
A response from the home side was immediate. Using the resulting kick-off to great effect would see the ball worked forward and an opening for Matej Vydra created.
The forward, also introduced from the bench, attempted the lob and was unlucky not to put his side back in front, as a fine fingertip save from Moore at full stretch diverted the ball out for a flag kick.
While the second half had its moments, it was more of a scrappier affair with play interrupted by numerous stoppages.
Those backing the hosts were often left aggrieved by some of the decisions made by referee Drysdale, none more so than when not one, but two penalty appeals, both for handball, were waved away by the man in the middle.
A third shout would arrive in stoppage time too. Paul McShane charged forward to try and meet a free-kick pumped up top from deep, but looked to be upended by an opponent when marching into the box.
Drysdale was again having none of it and play continued.
Despite this, McDermott’s men looked the most likely to go on and snatch the winner – and would go mighty close doing so when John hung the ball up to back post.
Replacement Cox was the man waiting for the ball to drop, but was unable to keep the chance down from a tight angle.
The result means Reading go into the international break without a win in the league since the 4-3 triumph at Charlton Athletic on February 27.
They return to action at Bolton Wanderers on April 2.
READING: Al Habsi, Gunter, McShane (c), Cooper, A.Taylor, Hector, Williams, Quinn (Cox 79), Robson-Kanu (McCleary 22), Kermorgant (Vydra 62), John
Subs not used: Bond, Norwood, Obita, Ferdinand
Booked: John
Goal: McCleary 37
CARDIFF CITY: Moore, Peltier, Manga, Malone, Connolly, Ralls, Noone (Ameobi 65), O’Keefe (Gunnarsson 65), Pilkington, Immers, Lawrence
Subs not used: Fabio, Morrison, Dikgacoi, Wilson, Saadi
Goal: Immers 65
Booked: Connolly, Pilkington
Attendance: 17,407 (1,810 away).
