Hammers held by gritty Royals

Gunnarsson: Off for bad challenge

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West Ham United endured further frustration at Upton Park after heing held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Reading.

Alan Curbishley's side have not won at home in over two months and the Hammers struggled to break down a stubborn visiting rearguard.

Reading were reduced to 10 men just before the half-hour mark when Brynjar Gunnarsson was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Hayden Mullins.

Nolberto Solano cleverly put West Ham ahead before half-time before Dave Kitson's fine volley levelled the scores on the hour mark.

In injury-time, Dean Ashton headed against the post, but defeat would have been unjust on a Reading side still to win away in the league this season.

In stark contrast to recent games at Upton Park, where West Ham have struggled to break their opponents down, it was a bright encounter full of chances for both sides.

Dangerous

Ashton slipped the ball to Mullins who charged towards the edge of the Reading box, where he tested Marcus Hahnemann with a low drive.

Solano then curled a dangerous free-kick just wide of Hahnemann's near post after Ashton had been fouled by Reading centre-back Ivar Ingimarsson.

Kevin Doyle had kept Robert Green alert with an early snap-shot from 20 yards and should have done better with a header after he was picked out in the box by Kitson.

Spector was beaten again on the edge of the West Ham box as Doyle rose to get his head to a long-ball from Hahnemann.

The flick-on fell to Kitson who linked again with Doyle to set up Bobby Convey, whose strike from six yards out was well blocked by Green at point-blank range.

Reading were then reduced to 10 men after Gunnarsson was given his marching orders for a nasty challenge on Mullins as both midfielders hunted a loose ball in midfield.

Hammers defender Matthew Upson almost got his head to the lofted free-kick and had he done so, Hahnemann would have been horribly out of position.

Scott Parker kept the pressure on as he broke into the box and picked out Ashton, who could only hook a difficult pass onto the roof of the Reading net.

West Ham took the lead three minutes before the interval after Solano pounced to beat Convey's challenge with a delicate touch before lifting the ball over Hahnemman.

Shortly after the interval Ingimarsson made a hash of a long clearance from Green and the ball fell to Ashton but Sonko did well to recover and he blocked the shot.

Parker did escape into the Reading box but was guilty of ignoring Cole and Ashton, who were both unmarked and in prime position, when he drilled a near-post shot straight at Hahnemann.

Enterprise

Reading continued to stretch West Ham and their enterprise paid off just before the hour when Kitson turned onto a through-ball from Shorey and fired past Green to draw the Royals level.

West Ham were spurred into action and Ljungberg latched onto a through-ball from Parker but his low drive was deflected one-handed over the bar by Hahnemann.

But West Ham lacked invention, particularly after Solano was replaced.

As the clock ticked down Parker wasted a golden chance after working space inside the box when his weak shot was easily held by Hahnemann.

Ashton rose well to meet a near-post corner but saw his header rebound off the post as Reading held on for the draw.