READING clinched their Championship survival with a goalless draw at Cardiff.
The point was also enough to seal Cardiff’s return to the Premier League by finishing second in the table while the Royals end in 20th.
As it turned out, the result was academic for the visitors with scores from elsewhere meaning they could not have been relegated anyway.
But they produced a solid defensive display to frustrate their hosts and head back to Berkshire with a clean sheet and knowing they had done their job to preserve their second tier status.
In the build-up to the match, Paul Clement initially considered playing the Under-23s
following the capitulation against Ipswich, losing 4-0 last weekend. But he opted for just four changes with a battling midfield trio of Leandro Bacuna, Joey van den Berg and Dave Edwards recalled in place of John Swift, Liam Kelly and Yann Kermorgant. The other switch saw Tommy Elphick replace injured Omar Richards with Tiago Ilori shifting over to full-back.
Reading’s initial plan seemed clear against a side knowing victory would secure automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Clement’s charges did all they could to take any sting out of the lively atmosphere in south Wales and the game quickly developed into a battle of attrition.
The hosts got the ball into the box at any opportunity and had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Bacuna tussled with former Royal Sean Morrison.
The first chance of any note arrived just before the 15 minute mark when Joe Ralls unleashed a fierce volley from just outside the box, but Elphick got his head in the way to block.
And Cardiff went close again after good work down the left led to the ball being worked in for Kenneth Zohore inside the box, but his shot was deflected away from danger.
Clement was forced into a defensive reshuffle just past the half hour mark when Ilori, who had impressed in an unfamiliar right-back position, was forced off and replaced by Kelly, with Bacuna moving into defence.
But it had little impact on the remainder of the first half as it ended goalless.
For all their good defensive work, Reading failed to register a single shot in the first half but did get in soon after the restart as Kelly picked out Bacuna, but his low cross flashed behind.
Cardiff were also off target at the end end as Zohore created space of a shot, but fired over. Neil Warnock’s men continued to turn the screw with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Craig Bryson both cutting inside and firing low, but Vito Mannone was equal to the tasks.
The hosts continued to try and push for the winning goal and came close on 83 minutes when a low cross from Joe Bennett reached Zohore, but again could not find the net with his shot cleared off the line.
Clement introduced Paul McShane for the closing stages to bolster the defence and he helped get the job done and close out the game 0-0.
The point means Reading end the season in 20th place, three points clear of the relegation zone with Burton Albion and Barnsley joining Sunderland in falling into League One.
READING: Mannone; Ilori (Kelly 34), Elphick, Moore, Gunter (c); Bacuna, van den Berg; Aluko (McShane 84), Edwards, Barrow; Bodvarsson (Kermorgant 70).
Subs not used: Jaakkola, Evans, Swift, Martin.
Yellow cards: Elphick (27), Kermorgant (74)
CARDIFF: Etheridge; Peltier, Morrison (c), Bamba, Bennett; Paterson, Ralls, Bryson; Mendez-Laing, Hoilett (Ward 78), Zohore (Madine 86).
Subs not used: Murphy, Ecuele Manga, Richards, Pilkington, Grujic.
Referee: Robert Madley
Attendance: 32,478
