Reading ended a run of four defeats with a scrappy draw against mid table Hull. City dominated possession throughout with their neat passing and sliced the Reading defence open after twenty-six minutes to take the lead through Slater. Andy Carrol levelled the scores just before half time which proved to be enough to secure a valuable point. The second half followed similar pattern with neither side able to find the finish which would have yielded three points.

There were apparently, promising signs of improvement in the narrow away defeat top six Blackburn during the week, but today Reading’s dependency on the long ball to Carroll was far too predictable. Liam Moore’s long awaited comeback last only fifteen minutes before he limped off and it seems unlikely we will see him again this season, or indeed at all, in a Reading shirt. To make matters worse McIntyre also had to be substituted before half time with a hamstring injury which further depletes a squad already reduced by long term injuries.

Lumley was called into action in the first minute when Yiadom’s header dropped at the feet of Sayyadmanesh. The opening minutes set the pattern for the game with Hull taking control in midfield and dominating possession. It was Reading however who manged to muster more attempts on target with headers from Joao although they were and did not really test Hull’s on loan Newcastle ‘keeper Darlow. Scott Dann replaced the injured Moore which did not necessarily weaken Reading’s defence. The problem for Reading was getting to grips with Hull’s passing and movement.

Hull scored a very good goal when Slater ran straight through the centre of a static looking Reading back line onto a perfectly weighted from Traore pass to beat the exposed Lumley from the edge of the box. Reading upped their game in terms of effort but apart from some hopeful crosses, and nice touches from the much-improved Joao, rarely threatened to score. The equaliser came just on half time. A rare City sloppy pass on the half ay line put Reading in possession and Yiadom launched a ball into the box. Casede’si header came off Slater’s back to provide an unwitting assist for Carroll who tucked the ball away just inside the post. There was an element of good fortune about the goal but in fairness to Reading they arguably deserved a break with the way things have been going recently.

Guinness-Walker looked the most likely Reading player to create an opening for Reading. His touch was superb, he went past defenders, and hit good early crosses. There were flashes of Joao’s class with his equally good touch, passing ability and awareness. Unfortunately, much to the frustration of the fans, he could not quite create the space to get his shot away when the ball can to him the after box with ten minute left. Their reaction was understandable but that is how he always has played and we know if he can make that little bit of space, he is capable of a good finish. With such a dearth of creativity and imagination in the team he has got to be worth persevering with given Reading’s lack of fire power.

The draw looked increasingly likely as full time approached. Reading’s best chance fell to Holmes on the edge of the box but his effort was poor. Holmes had an off day, not helped by being constantly harangued by a frustrated Tom Ince who was not at his best either. The pressure of management on his father has been evident at time this season in his post-match interviews and yesterday was another embarrassing example. When Radio Berkshire’s Tim Dellor posed some awkward but reasonable questions, Ince’s reply was punctuated by a couple of inappropriate and unnecessary expletives. The pressure is surely going to mount in the coming weeks and it will be test for players and manger a like. A calm head and clear focus is going to be required on and off the field. With the EFL dithering over a decision about a six points deduction Reading are waiting to find out if they face a relegation battle towards the end of the season.

John Wells