Reading boss Alan Pardew was livid with referee Brian Curson after the award of an injury time penalty helped the Blues gain a point. Town skipper Jim Magilton was adjudged to be caught by Steve Brown as he went by him inside the area with seconds remaining.

Pardew was incensed after the game: "In all my time as a player, coach and manager I never been more annoyed than I am now. Jim Magilton was not touched but he went over.

"My players were magnificent but the referee had a poor game. The assessor will make a report and I'd very much like to see it."

Pardew did admit that Royals' scorer Steven Sidwell had been close to a red card and was subbed as a precaution: "The referee looked in the mood to send someone off. I disrupted the team by withdrawing Sidwell and I didn't want to do it."

A number of Pardew's players remained on the pitch at the end to berate referee Curson, the referee who sent Pablo Couñago off in the game between the two sides at the Madejski Stadium last season.

Pardew ran on the pitch at the end of the game, he says to stop his players getting in any more trouble: "The final 20 minutes were a bit traumatic to say the least.

"I ran over to the referee at the end to keep my players away from him. I forgot to shake hands with Joe Royle first but I'm sure he'll forgive me in the circumstances."

Royle didn't feel his side played well but in the end was happy with a draw: "It was a fantastic point for us but I don't kid myself that it was a good performance.

"Reading are a good side who defended the edge of the penalty area leaving no space behind.

"We need to pass the ball better. As for the penalty Jim Magilton told me there had been contact but it was minimal. I thought at the time it was a penalty, I honestly did."

"It was a very tight game. We have improvements to make and a bit of balance to find. If I was Alan Pardew I'd be very disappointed."

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