TWO SECOND half goals ensured Reading’s play-off semi-final against Fulham remains evenly poised ahead of Tuesday night’s second leg at Madejski Stadium.
After a first half where clear cut chances were short in supply, Royals took the lead eight minutes after the restart when Jordan Obita fired in from the edge of the box.
But the joy was short-lived with Fulham levelling just past the hour mark when Tom Cairney followed in Scott Malone’s parried shot to head home.
And it was backs to the walls for the final 10 minutes for the Royals after captain Paul McShane was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Kevin McDonald.
But the visitors held on for an impressive 1-1 draw ahead of the second leg.
Jaap Stam made four changes from the side which beat Burton Albion last week with Tyler Blackett, John Swift, Danny Williams and Lewis Grabban all handed starts. Tiago Ilori, Roy Beerens and Joseph Mendes dropped to the bench while Liam Kelly missed out altogether.
It was a hostile atmosphere for Reading to walk out into in the SW6 sunshine with Fulham fans relishing the occasion, but the visitors stood up to the task well during the early stages.
The all-action display of Williams encapsulated the performance of the visitors, battling hard for every ball and not giving Fulham a moment’s peace.
But chances were few and far between at both ends with Royals doing well to quell the fearsome Fulham attack.
The hosts were looking the most likely scorers with Cairney curling an effort agonisingly wide while Sone Aluko dragged a shot past the past after good work by Floyd Ayite.
But Stam will have no doubt been happy to have seen off the first 45 minutes of the tie unscathed.
When the two sides last met at the Cottage back in December, it was an early second half Fulham goal which helped them on their way to a 5-0 thumping win.
But the tables turned in dramatic fashion as Reading’s first shot in anger on Marcus Bettinelli’s goal found its way into the net.
With Fulham players and fans protesting for a handball by Williams, Royals played on with Paul McShane striding forwards from halfway and knocking the ball out to Obita on the left.
The wing-back, who netted against Burton last week, steadied himself again before unleashing a shot across across goal, which crashed in off the post to send the 2,000 plus Reading fans into raptures.
Fulham sought an immediate response with Stefan Johansen’s effort held by Ali Al-Habsi while at the other end Yann Kermorgant’s speculative effort cleared the crossbar.
But the hosts did soon get back on level terms when Malone’s shot from the left was parried away by Al-Habsi, only as far as Cairney to head in his 13th goal of the season.
Stam responded by making a change up front, bringing on Mendes in place of Grabban while van den Berg replaced Swift shortly afterwards.
With the clock ticking towards the final 10 minutes there was a nervy moment for the away following when Ryan Fredericks went down under Obita’s challenge in the box, but Stuart Attwell waved away the loud penalty claim.
However, Fulham were given the extra momentum boost they were looking for with 10 minutes to play.
Captain McShane, who only returned from injury last weekend, saw his afternoon end prematurely as he lunged on in Kevin McDonald, catching him on the knee and was duly given his marching orders.
It was now a survival mission for the Royals. Stam immediately withdrew Mendes, despite only bringing him on 14 minutes earlier, to add an extra defender in Ilori.
And Reading did exactly that, seeing out late Fulham pressure to bring the Cottagers back to Berkshire all square.
READING (ratings out of 10): Al-Habsi 7; Gunter 7, Moore 8, McShane (c) 7, Blackett 7, Obita 8; Evans 6, Williams 8*, Swift 6 (van den Berg 74); Grabban 6 (Mendes 68 n/a (Ilori 82 n/a)), Kermorgant 7.
Subs not used: Jaakkola, Popa, Beerens, McCleary.
Goal: Obita (53)
Yellow cards: Swift (40), Kermorgant (42)
Red card: McShane (80)
FULHAM: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Malone; McDonald, Johansen, Cairney; Aluko (Cyriac 87), Ayite, Martin (Kebano 61).
Subs not used: Button, Odoi, Sessegnon, Parker, Piazon.
Goal: Cairney (65)
Yellow cards: McDonald (56)
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Attendance:
