Frustrated Reading's winless streak stretched to six games after being held by Coventry to a goalless stalemate at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
The home side took control after a quiet start as Shane Long's shot hit the post, while Coventry striker Marlon King also struck the upright.
Reading pressed hard after the break but Sky Blues keeper Kieren Westwood did well to deny Noel Hunt.
Jem Karacan then had a header cleared off the line as the visitors held firm.
Ultimately it was a tough afternoon for Reading, who notched a fifth consecutive draws as Coventry extended their unbeaten run to four matches without conceding.
Visitors midfielder Lee Carsley volleyed over from long range before the Royals came agonisingly close to taking the lead with 18 minutes gone when Jimmy Kebe crossed for Long, but his effort cannon back off the post.
Coventry had barely threatened but a good header from Clive Platt set up King, who smashed an effort from 18 yards against the post.
The hosts pressed in the second half and when Noel Hunt's rebound fell to Karacan his header was cleared off the line by Richard Wood.
With time running out, Reading substitute Hal Robson-Kanu put a fine cross into the box but Long glanced a header just wide of the post.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 11 December 2010
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Reading
0-0
Coventry
FT
(HT 0-0)
Reading
01 Federici
02 Griffin
05 Mills
23 Harte
26 Pearce
04 Karacan (Church 70)
08 Leigertwood
11 McAnuff
14 Kebe (Tabb 83)
09 Long
10 Hunt (Robson-Kanu 70)
Substitutes
41 McCarthy,
15 Khizanishvili,
24 Cummings,
07 Tabb,
19 Robson-Kanu,
20 Howard,
18 Church
Coventry
01 Westwood
02 Keogh
06 McPake yellow card
24 Wood yellow card
30 Cameron
05 Carsley yellow card
08 Doyle
17 Gunnarsson (Clarke 88)
09 King
19 McSheffrey yellow card
22 Platt
Substitutes
23 Ireland,
15 Cranie,
26 Clarke,
07 Bell,
40 Thomas,
10 Eastwood,
11 Jutkiewicz
Ref: TeirneyAtt: 14,029
READING
COVENTRY
Possession
Reading53%
Coventry47%
Attempts on target
Reading3
Coventry4
Attempts off target
Reading5
Coventry3
Corners
Reading5
Coventry6
Fouls
Reading10
Coventry12
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:50 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00+2:13 Free kick awarded for a foul by Alex Pearce on Marlon King. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Marlon King, brilliant save by Adam Federici.
90:00+0:34 Hal Robson-Kanu challenges Richard Keogh unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Keiren Westwood.
87:55 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Gary McSheffrey, Mikele Leigertwood makes a clearance.
87:19 Andy Griffin concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary McSheffrey. Richard Wood restarts play with the free kick.
87:19 Substitution Aron Gunnarsson goes off and Jordan Clarke comes on.
86:18 Clive Platt takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.
84:43 Shane Long has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
83:00 Substitution Jay Tabb on for Jimmy Kebe.
77:33 Foul by Matt Mills on Gary McSheffrey, free kick awarded. Strike on goal comes in from Gary McSheffrey from the free kick.
75:21 Inswinging corner taken by Aron Gunnarsson, save by Adam Federici.
73:27 The offside flag is raised against Jimmy Kebe. Free kick taken by Keiren Westwood.
72:29 Richard Wood is penalised for a handball. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Ian Harte, save made by Keiren Westwood.
72:29 Booking Richard Wood receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.
69:10 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ian Harte.
69:10 Substitution (Reading) makes a substitution, with Hal Robson-Kanu coming on for Noel Hunt.
69:10 Substitution Simon Church replaces Jem Karacan.
66:58 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jobi McAnuff from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Michael Doyle.
65:14 Michael Doyle concedes a free kick for a foul on Shane Long. Ian Harte takes the free kick.
65:01 Handball decision goes against Clive Platt. Ian Harte takes the free kick.
63:56 Unfair challenge on Ian Harte by Marlon King results in a free kick. Adam Federici takes the direct free kick.
63:14 Andy Griffin fouled by Gary McSheffrey, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Griffin restarts play with the free kick.
63:14 Booking The referee shows Gary McSheffrey a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
62:02 The assistant referee flags for offside against Clive Platt. Indirect free kick taken by Matt Mills.
61:15 Unfair challenge on Jem Karacan by Gary McSheffrey results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andy Griffin.
56:52 Corner taken by Ian Harte from the right by-line to the near post, Lee Carsley makes a clearance.
56:34 Noel Hunt takes a shot. Richard Wood gets a block in.
54:34 Richard Wood gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jimmy Kebe. Adam Federici takes the free kick.
52:08 Short corner taken by Gary McSheffrey from the right by-line.
51:37 Nathan Cameron fouled by Jimmy Kebe, the ref awards a free kick. Richard Wood crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, Matt Mills makes a clearance.
50:51 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aron Gunnarsson by Mikele Leigertwood. Free kick crossed right-footed by Aron Gunnarsson from right channel, clearance made by Matt Mills.
47:57 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Gary McSheffrey played to the near post, Noel Hunt manages to make a clearance.
47:20 Richard Wood challenges Shane Long unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Ian Harte from right wing, Lee Carsley manages to make a clearance.
46:28 Short corner worked by Ian Harte.
45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+3:23 The match has reached half-time.
45:00+2:49 Corner taken right-footed by Jobi McAnuff, clearance by Richard Keogh.
42:20 Michael Doyle has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide left of the goal.
41:29 The official flags Marlon King offside. Free kick taken by Adam Federici.
40:55 Shane Long gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James McPake. Direct free kick taken by Keiren Westwood.
39:56 Nathan Cameron challenges Noel Hunt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andy Griffin.
37:10 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Aron Gunnarsson, Adam Federici makes a save.
33:06 The referee blows for offside. Ian Harte takes the free kick.
32:14 Nathan Cameron concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Griffin. Free kick crossed by Ian Harte, save made by Keiren Westwood.
29:51 Noel Hunt produces a header from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.
29:30 Gary McSheffrey gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jimmy Kebe. Direct free kick taken by Andy Griffin.
26:27 The referee blows for offside against Clive Platt. Andy Griffin takes the indirect free kick.
25:24 The assistant referee flags for offside against Jimmy Kebe. Keiren Westwood restarts play with the free kick.
22:39 Unfair challenge on Shane Long by Lee Carsley results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ian Harte.
22:39 Booking Lee Carsley booked.
22:12 Marlon King produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and hits the post.
20:31 Header from close range by Shane Long clears the bar.
19:17 Aron Gunnarsson takes a shot. Save made by Adam Federici.
18:35 Effort from close range by Shane Long strikes the post.
16:27 Unfair challenge on Aron Gunnarsson by Jobi McAnuff results in a free kick. Gary McSheffrey crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Shane Long makes a clearance.
15:15 Corner from right by-line taken by Gary McSheffrey.
14:31 Shane Long has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses right.
13:56 Marlon King is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Federici.
11:33 Shane Long concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathan Cameron. Keiren Westwood takes the free kick.
10:56 The assistant referee flags for offside against Shane Long. Keiren Westwood takes the indirect free kick.
9:32 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jimmy Kebe by Richard Wood. Andy Griffin takes the direct free kick.
9:12 Jobi McAnuff takes a shot. Save made by Keiren Westwood.
8:01 Effort on goal by Lee Carsley from long range goes over the crossbar.
Correction - 3:56 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Federici.
3:56 Marlon King is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Federici,
2:51 Shane Long fouled by James McPake, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Ian Harte from left channel.
2:51 Booking The referee books James McPake for unsporting behaviour.
0:51 Unfair challenge on Richard Wood by Jem Karacan results in a free kick. Keiren Westwood takes the free kick.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
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