Middlesbrough recorded their third successive goalless draw, but Tony Mowbray's side remain just two points behind leaders Southampton.

Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici had a good game and produced a superb double save to deny Middlesbrough pair Scott McDonald and Marvin Emnes.

Reading's best efforts came from Adam Le Fondre and Simon Church.

Late on Boro piled on the pressure and both Emnes and Barry Robson hit the post but Reading held on for the draw.

For the first quarter of an hour Reading camped themselves in Boro territory with Hal Robson-Kanu shooting straight at Carl Ikeme, while Simon Church headed just wide from Jobi McAnuff's cross.

Just before the half-hour Federici produced a double save to deny first McDonald and then Emnes when both seemed certain to score.

After the break McDonald should have given Boro the lead, but the Australian contrived to fire wide of Federici's goal.

With 15 minutes left, referee Anthony Taylor waved away Le Fondre's claims for a penalty, turning down suggestions Julio Arca had handled in the box, before Emnes clipped the post with a header.

And soon afterwards Robson also hit the woodwork as Boro came desperately close to securing all three points.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Reading

  • 01 Federici
  • 05 Pearce
  • 16 Mills
  • 17 Gorkss
  • 24 Cummings
  • 07 Tabb
  • 08 Leigertwood
  • 11 McAnuff
  • 19 Robson-Kanu (Manset - 74' )
  • 09 Le Fondre
  • 18 Church (Hunt - 82' )

Substitutes

  • 12 McCarthy
  • 23 Harte
  • 04 Karacan
  • 10 Hunt
  • 22 Manset

Middlesbrough

  • 13 Ikeme
  • 02 Hoyte (Arca - 65' )
  • 04 Bates
  • 06 McManus
  • 14 Williams
  • 29 McMahon Booked
  • 10 Bailey
  • 17 Robson
  • 38 Haroun (Thomson - 58' )
  • 07 McDonald (Nimely - 80' )
  • 09 Emnes

Substitutes

  • 05 Zemmama
  • 08 Thomson
  • 18 Arca
  • 22 Martin
  • 26 Nimely
Ref: Taylor
Att: 17,418

Match Stats

Shots

5 11

On target

1 6

Corners

8 9

Fouls

12 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:06 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

89:57

Unfair challenge on Rhys Williams by Noel Hunt results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Tony McMahon from left channel, save by Adam Federici. Barry Robson takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Adam Federici.

89:01

Julio Arca takes a shot. Adam Federici makes a save.

86:57

Corner taken right-footed by Jobi McAnuff from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Barry Robson.

85:24

Corner from right by-line taken by Barry Robson.

82:47

Barry Robson produces a left-footed shot from outside the box and strikes the post. Alex Nimely is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Adam Federici.

81:04

Save made by Adam Federici.

81:04 Substitution

Substitution Noel Hunt comes on in place of Simon Church.

81:04

Marvin Emnes takes a shot.

79:11 Substitution

Substitution Scott McDonald leaves the field to be replaced by Alex Nimely.

79:11 Substitution

Substitution Alex Nimely on for Scott McDonald.

76:39

Shot by Kevin Thomson from just outside the area goes over the net.

75:00

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Adam Federici.

72:57 Substitution

Substitution (Reading) makes a substitution, with Mathieu Manset coming on for Hal Robson-Kanu.

72:57

Jobi McAnuff takes a corner.

72:02

Corner taken left-footed by Joseph Mills to the near post, clearance made by Barry Robson.

70:01

Hal Robson-Kanu gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tony McMahon. Free kick taken by Tony McMahon.

69:12

Effort from deep inside the area by Scott McDonald misses to the right of the goal.

68:27

The assistant referee signals for offside against Simon Church. Stephen McManus takes the direct free kick.

66:46

Foul by Stephen McManus on Simon Church, free kick awarded. Joseph Mills restarts play with the free kick.

65:33

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Barry Robson by Joseph Mills. Tony McMahon takes the free kick.

64:04 Substitution

Substitution Justin Hoyte leaves the field to be replaced by Julio Arca.

64:04

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Jobi McAnuff.

63:02

Joseph Mills handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Nicky Bailey.

60:02

The offside flag is raised against Justin Hoyte. Adam Federici takes the indirect free kick.

57:25 Substitution

Substitution Kevin Thomson is brought on as a substitute for Faris Haroun.

57:25 Booking

Booking Tony McMahon receives a caution.

57:17

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tony McMahon on Adam Le Fondre. Direct free kick taken by Joseph Mills.

56:27

Jay Tabb concedes a free kick for a foul on Marvin Emnes. Indirect free kick taken by Barry Robson.

54:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joseph Mills by Barry Robson. Adam Federici takes the free kick.

50:25

Corner taken by Joseph Mills from the right by-line, Faris Haroun manages to make a clearance.

49:25

Tony McMahon fouled by Hal Robson-Kanu, the ref awards a free kick. Matthew Bates takes the direct free kick.

48:31

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Tony McMahon from the left by-line, Effort from the edge of the area by Rhys Williams goes wide of the right-hand upright.

46:23

The offside flag is raised against Rhys Williams. Free kick taken by Adam Federici.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:00 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

43:53

Unfair challenge on Scott McDonald by Mikele Leigertwood results in a free kick. Shot on goal comes in from Tony McMahon from the free kick, inswinging corner taken by Tony McMahon from the left by-line played to the near post, Adam Federici manages to make a clearance. Clearance by Mikele Leigertwood.

40:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Barry Robson on Joseph Mills. Adam Federici restarts play with the free kick.

40:03

Marvin Emnes takes a shot. Adam Federici makes a comfortable save.

38:33

Justin Hoyte crosses the ball.

36:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jay Tabb on Carl Ikeme. Carl Ikeme takes the free kick.

36:34

Unfair challenge on Carl Ikeme by Jay Tabb results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Carl Ikeme.

32:43

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jobi McAnuff, Adam Le Fondre produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar.

31:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Justin Hoyte by Mikele Leigertwood. Free kick crossed by Tony McMahon, clearance by Kaspars Gorkss. Corner taken by Tony McMahon played to the near post, save by Adam Federici.

30:46

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mikele Leigertwood on Rhys Williams. Free kick taken by Rhys Williams.

29:00

Corner taken by Stephen McManus, save by Adam Federici.

25:34

Scott McDonald takes a shot. Adam Federici makes a save. Marvin Emnes takes a shot. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Barry Robson, Alex Pearce manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Tony McMahon. Save by Adam Federici. Unfair challenge on Joseph Mills by Marvin Emnes results in a free kick. Adam Federici takes the indirect free kick.

24:08

Header from close in by Jay Tabb misses to the left of the target.

21:25

Free kick awarded for a foul by Barry Robson on Jay Tabb. Jay Tabb takes the indirect free kick.

19:36

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rhys Williams by Mikele Leigertwood. Rhys Williams takes the free kick.

18:40

Marvin Emnes fouled by Shaun Cummings, the ref awards a free kick. Nicky Bailey takes the indirect free kick.

17:12

Simon Church produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

16:31

A cross is delivered by Mikele Leigertwood.

15:16

Justin Hoyte is caught offside. Adam Federici takes the free kick.

13:55

Inswinging corner taken by Barry Robson from the left by-line.

10:37

Joseph Mills gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Barry Robson. Barry Robson crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Adam Le Fondre.

7:36

Headed effort from deep inside the area by Simon Church misses to the left of the goal.

5:52

Hal Robson-Kanu takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme.

4:26

Effort from outside the penalty box by Scott McDonald goes wide right of the goal.

3:21

Corner taken by Jobi McAnuff.

2:47

Marvin Emnes is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Joseph Mills takes the direct free kick.

1:54

Corner from the left by-line taken by Jobi McAnuff, Rhys Williams makes a clearance.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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