Blackburn in Royals stalemate

Battle: Dunn and Doyle

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Reading maintained their recent run by picking up a point in a goalless draw against Blackburn at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

The Royals finished the game with ten men after Marek Matejovsky picked up his second yellow of the game with 20 minutes to go.

Neither side dominated in a game that was packed with seven other bookings including a yellow card for Jason Roberts who sarcastically clapped a decision from the linesman.

Reading almost grabbed a late winner in the 85th minute when Nicky Shorey's free-kick found Andre Bikey only for his shot to be cleared off the line.

Blackburn had the pick of the chances after 75 minutes when three players beat the offside trap to find themselves in space. Zurab Khizanishvili powered a shot at goal but it did little to trouble Marcus Hahnemann.

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Reading did unsettle the Blackburn defence early, with Khizanishvili forced to deflect a Kevin Doyle cross away from Dave Kitson at the far post.

John Oster kept the ball in play, nutmegged Steve Warnock and drove in a low cross and Stephen Hunt could only poke the ball wide under pressure at the near post from Andre Ooijer.

Morten Gamst Pedersen was Blackburn's chief threat in the early exchanges and he headed a David Bentley cross back across goal towards Roberts.

But the Grenada international had more time than he realised and Reading goalkeeper Hahnemann picked off his soft header.

Rovers shot-stopper Brad Friedel was then forced to punch the ball clear, virtually off Hunt's forehead, and the American was out again to claim a catch ahead of Kitson's physical leap.

Hunt almost latched onto a knock-down in the Blackburn area before Rovers broke clear with a 60-year run from Roberts before he was fouled by Matejovsky.

Pedersen's drilled shot was tipped over the bar by Hahnemann, who claimed the subsequent corner and then clashed with Ryan Nelsen.

Roberts created two openings either side of the break but first Liam Rosenior and then Bikey cleared Reading's lines.

Reading were playing with tempo and Doyle jinked inside two defenders before feeding Hunt, whose cross was laid back by Oster but Matejovsky scuffed his shot.

Rosenior then whipped in a dangerous cross to Hunt seven yards out but the Ireland international volleyed his shot high over the bar.

Controversial

Matejovsky received his first booking for jumping into a tackle on David Dunn and when James Harper's clearing header fell to David Bentley, the England international unleashed a dipping volley which Hahnemann tipped over the bar.

Santa Cruz stole the wrong side of Bikey to latch onto a long ball from Dunn but poked his shot wide of the near post.

Matejovsky was then sent off for a block on Roberts and if that decision was controversial, Coppell was then infuriated by two poor off-side decisions.

The first of them allowed Santa Cruz a free header at goal which Hahnemann did brilliantly to parry clear from point-blank range.

Despite being a man down, Reading still worked the best chances to win the game.

Substitute Shane Long broke clear and picked out Hunt unmarked in the box but the energetic Reading striker could not connect with the volley.

Reading then forced a corner which Bikey met with a powerful header but Friedel parried it clear.