Both Town and Reading scored in injury time of an entertaining game to draw 1-1. The Blues thought the had snatched the three points via Darren Bent's goal but Ivar Ingimarsson's later effort gave the Royals a share of the spoils.

Skipper Jim Magilton dropped to the bench with Ian Westlake returning to the side after his one-match suspension. Jason De Vos took the armband.

Town went close to going ahead as early as the third minute, striker Shefki Kuqi looping an audacious effort on to the cross-bar from forty yards with keeper Marcus Hahnemann beaten.

Two minutes later Darren Bent laid the ball off to Tommy Miller but the midfielder's low drive was little trouble for the keeper. Soon after, Darren Currie's 20-yarder similarly failed to give Hahnemann trouble.

The Blues had had the better of the opening spell with Reading's only chances a couple of crosses which Richard Naylor and Jason De Vos had dealt with well, a Ricky Newman header which went high and wide and a Glen Little shot which failed to test Kelvin Davis.

On the half hour, Shefki Kuqi required treatment and a bandage after a clash of heads. Soon after, Newman volleyed over the bar after a long throw-in had been half-cleared to the edge of the box.

On 38, Kuqi played a good ball to Westlake, but the youngster shot weakly and wide of the post. Within a minute, the Finnish international had an even better chance. A Darren Currie flick put him through on goal but the striker blasted over Hahnemann's bar.

Reading had a good chance a minute later but Andy Hughes dallied before taking his shot when well-placed on the edge of the area and his strike was blocked.

There was a scare for Town in the 40th minute when Nicky Shorey's freekick evaded a packed penalty area and struck the top of the bar and out for a corner.

Kuqi tried an over his shoulder effort just before the break but failed to worry Hahnemann, however, it was Reading who ended the half stronger and Forster and Harper both had shots blocked after Little had crossed from the left.

Town had probably had the better of the half, although Reading had looked dangerous when sending in crosses from either flank, and particularly in the final minutes of the half.

The home side started the half strongly and Little forced Kelvin Davis into a save with a cross from the left which deflected off a defender towards the goal.

Shefki Kuqi shot wide not long after but might have been better off playing the ball into the path of Ian Westlake making a typical run from midfield.

Striker Lloyd Owusu got his name in the referee's book in the 51st minute for a late tackle on Fabian Wilnis, the Dutchman requiring lengthy treatment.

Danny Karbassiyoon, again having a difficult afternoon at left-back, was caught in possession by Andy Hughes in the 55th minute, but the midfielder went well wide with his shot from just outside the area.

Just after the hour mark, Darren Currie played a sublime ball into the path of Darren Bent. The England U21 held off two defenders and hit a powerful shot which Hahnemann did well to deflect over with an outstretched arm.

Currie was increasingly an influence on the game and a couple of minutes later he sent in a corner from the right which Richard Naylor headed goalwards only for a defender to clear it off the line.

Another Currie cross, this time from the left in open play, saw Shefki Kuqi come close to breaking the deadlock. His header looked bound for goal until Hahnemann got across to his right to push it round the post. The ball came back out to Currie, who brought the ball into the area from a tight angle and chipped the ball over the keeper but off the post.

A Town goal was all that was missing from a fine second half performance. Richard Naylor had another go with 12 minutes left, the former striker turning the ball over his shoulder but his effort went centimetres wide.

At the other end, Ibrahima Sonko had a header from a corner blocked, before Nicky Shorey forced a brilliant diving save from Kelvin Davis with a header, the keeper quickly getting down to his right.

Kuqi had a shot deflected wide off Sonko as the game entered three minutes of frantic injury time.

Town finally went ahead when Graeme Murty played the ball straight to Darren Currie on the Town left. The midfielder brought the ball in to the area, his shot deflecting to Darren Bent who netted from eight yards.

With the Town crowd still celebrating, Reading hit back. Glen Little was given all the time in the world to cross from the right and Ivar Ingimarsson finished at the far post. Neither side had time to add a winner.

The Blues will be disappointed not to have claimed the three points having come so close. An excellent second half performance ought to have seen them into the lead earlier on, with the woodwork and Marcus Hahnemann both preventing the Blues from going in front.

Darren Currie was particularly influential in the second half, while Richard Naylor was once again exceptional at the centre of the defence.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Karbassiyoon, De Vos, Naylor, Horlock, Miller, Westlake, Currie, Bent, Kuqi. Unused: Price, Magilton, Bowditch, Couñago, Richards.

Photo: Action Images

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