Nottingham Forest and Reading were unable to find a breakthrough in a tense season opener at the City Ground.

Forest acquitted themselves well, but had keeper Paul Smith to thank as he produced a brilliant late save to parry Kevin Doyle's header on to the bar.

Rob Earnshaw was up front for injury-hit Forest, but could not find the net.

Reading will have been worried by a serious-looking ankle injury for midfielder Marek Matejovsky.

Booked: McGugan.

Reading: Hahnemann, Rosenior, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Stephen Hunt, Kebe, Harper, Matejovsky (Cisse 42), Convey, Lita, Doyle.
Subs Not Used: Andersen, Long, Pearce, Kelly.

Booked: Kebe.

Att: 21,571

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).