Managerless R's hold Royals

Ainsworth: Solid start

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QPR became the first side to take points from Reading at the Medejski following a goalless draw on Saturday.

The R's entered the game on the back of Iain Dowie's sacking, meaning Gareth Ainsworth had to take temporary control of first-team affairs.

Although his side rarely looked like scoring, they defended stoutly and somehow managed to keep Reading's free-scoring attack off the scoreboard.

Both sides had started brightly but Martin Rowlands had to make the first important challenge of the day after 10 minutes when he slid in inside the penalty area to prevent Kevin Doyle from making a cross.

Rangers grew with confidence as time went on and caretaker manager Gareth Ainsworth's side enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first 20 minutes culminating in Samuel Di Carmine forcing Reading stopper Hahnemann into a diving save when he ran onto Matthew Connolly's ball down the left side and powered a shot at the near post.

Lashed wide

Reading midfielder Jimmy Kebe then lashed his shot wide of the goal from inside the penalty area after Jem Karacan had headed on Stephen Hunt's high ball into the midfielder's path.

Reading started to test the visitors more on the half hour mark with Stephen Hunt and Liam Rosenior both appearing dangerous with crosses from the wing.

The Royals had an appeal for a penalty turned down with eight minutes left of the half when Kebe appeared to be pulled down by Rangers midfielder Connolly, but referee Chris Foy waved away the home side's protests.

Just before half-time Reading almost took the lead when Stephen Hunt's free-kick was swung in from the right and his brother Noel forced Radek Cerny into a smart save from a downward header.

Reading had another appeal for a penalty turned down at the start of the second half when Kevin Mahon appeared to clearly handle Kevin Doyle's attempted cross, but the officials again ignored the home side's appeals.

The Royals continued to push and Karacan pulled his shot wide after Czech keeper Cerny had punched out Stephen Hunt's corner.

After some early Reading pressure QPR won a free kick 30-yards from goal, but Spanish forward Parejo's shot was comfortably saved by the Reading keeper.

Two saves

QPR midfielder Buszaky twice fired shots at Hahnemann midway through the second half, but the American was able to save on both occasions.

A mistake in the Reading defence from Andre Bikey then let in substitute Dexter Blackstock who could only cross for Parejo who forced a smart save from Hahnemann. At the other end Noel Hunt saw his downward header saved by Cerny after a deep cross from the right.

Doyle won a free-kick just outside the box with 20 minutes to go and Stephen Hunt drilled his shot just past the post.

Bikey almost opened the scoring shortly after, but his powerful header from Stephen Hunt's corner went just wide of the goal.

With 83 minutes gone substitute Cisse also went close when his header from Stephen Hunt's corner forced a good save from the Rangers keeper.

QPR had a penalty shout turned down with five minutes to go when Bikey challenged Parejo in the box, but Foy decided against awarding a spot kick.