Nottingham Forest had Luke Chambers sent off late on but held on to take a point from the Madejski Stadium.
Jimmy Kebe spurned the best chance to give new Reading boss Brendan Rodgers a debut win, latching on to Scott Davies' low shot but stabbing wide of the post.
Forest had several chances of their own but neither David McGoldrick nor Radoslaw Majewski could find the net.
Chambers was shown a second yellow card with two minutes remaining for an incident off the ball.
Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies told BBC Radio Nottingham: "Coming to Reading and picking up a point against one of the teams who are favourites to go up is tremendous.
"At times our passing wasn't up to the standard we expected.
"But our work ethic, discipline and organisation was first class and it's a very, very good point
"From back to front we worked very, very hard."
Reading manager Brendan Rogers: "The only thing that was missing was a goal. That's a wee part of the game but a very important part.
"I chose Simon Church up front instead of Shane Long because of their performances in five pre-season games, but both are full internationals and there wasn't much in it.
"It's a squad, not a team, and everyone will play their part during the season."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Reading
0-0
Nottm Forest
FT
(HT 0-0)
Reading
01 Federici
02 Rosenior
24 Bertrand
26 Pearce
04 Cisse
07 Tabb
14 Kebe
19 Robson-Kanu (Long 64)
20 Karacan yellow card
27 Davies
18 Church
Substitutes
21 Hamer,
03 Armstrong,
06 Gunnarsson,
15 Harper,
17 Henry,
25 Sigurdsson,
09 Long
Nottm Forest
01 Camp
04 Chambers yellow card, red card
05 Morgan
16 Gunter
33 Lynch
15 Cohen (Tyson 73)
18 McKenna
28 Majewski yellow card
09 Adebola
14 Garner (McCleary 78)
17 McGoldrick (Earnshaw 61)
Substitutes
21 Smith,
07 Anderson,
08 McGugan,
10 Earnshaw,
11 Tyson,
12 McCleary,
23 Blackstock
Ref: CrossleyAtt: 19,640
READING
NOTTM FOREST
Possession
Reading51%
Nottm Forest49%
Attempts on target
Reading0
Nottm Forest1
Attempts off target
Reading7
Nottm Forest6
Corners
Reading1
Nottm Forest3
Fouls
Reading4
Nottm Forest5
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+5:08 The match has reached full-time.
87:41 Sent off Luke Chambers receives a red card.
86:43 Header from deep inside the area by Ryan Bertrand goes over the bar.
84:23 Shot from deep inside the area by Shane Long clears the bar.
83:18 Effort from deep inside the area by Scott Davies clears the bar.
80:35 Scott Davies has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.
77:13 Substitution Garath McCleary on for Joe Garner.
75:42 Radoslaw Majewski challenges Scott Davies unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Davies shoots direct from the free kick.
73:56 Corner taken by Radoslaw Majewski.
73:22 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Radoslaw Majewski.
72:41 Substitution Chris Cohen goes off and Nathan Tyson comes on.
Correction - 71:23 Alex Pearce concedes a free kick for a foul on Robert Earnshaw. Robert Earnshaw produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
71:23 Foul by Alex Pearce on Robert Earnshaw, free kick awarded. Robert Earnshaw takes the direct free kick.
69:13 Dele Adebola produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.
66:36 Booking Jem Karacan is booked.
66:23 Jem Karacan concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Cohen. Joel Lynch restarts play with the free kick.
63:27 Substitution Hal Robson-Kanu leaves the field to be replaced by Shane Long.
63:27 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Camp by Scott Davies. Lee Camp takes the free kick.
62:55 Corner taken by Scott Davies from the left by-line to the near post.
60:30 Substitution Robert Earnshaw replaces David McGoldrick.
57:39 Corner taken right-footed by Radoslaw Majewski from the left by-line, Adam Federici makes a save.
54:12 Joe Garner has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the goal.
53:32 Simon Church is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Lee Camp.
52:34 Adam Federici takes the direct free kick.
52:34 Booking Radoslaw Majewski goes into the book.
52:19 Scott Davies fouled by Radoslaw Majewski, the ref awards a free kick.
49:53 The assistant referee flags for offside against Simon Church. Lee Camp takes the indirect free kick.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+3:15 The referee calls an end to the first half.
39:40 Chris Gunter fouled by Ryan Bertrand, the ref awards a free kick. Lee Camp takes the free kick.
30:11 Jem Karacan produces a right-footed shot from close range that goes over the bar.
28:14 Effort from a long way out by Radoslaw Majewski goes wide right of the target.
27:27 Shot from long range by Scott Davies misses to the right of the target.
23:28 Effort from inside the area by David McGoldrick misses to the right of the goal.
20:01 Scott Davies takes the direct free kick.
20:01 Booking The referee cautions Luke Chambers for unsporting behaviour.
19:58 Unfair challenge on Jem Karacan by Luke Chambers results in a free kick.
17:08 Shot by Radoslaw Majewski from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the left of the target.
14:26 David McGoldrick takes a shot. Adam Federici makes a save.
8:43 Jem Karacan fouled by Joel Lynch, the ref awards a free kick. Jem Karacan restarts play with the free kick.
6:06 Unfair challenge on Jem Karacan by Radoslaw Majewski results in a free kick. Ryan Bertrand takes the direct free kick.
0:00 The game kicks-off.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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