Everton 1 (Johnson 81)
Reading 1 (Lescott og 28)
The Royals stood firm for a point at Goodison in a dogged encounter this afternoon.
Reading went in front on 28 minutes when Joleon Lescott prodded into his own net from close range, and there was an element of fortune because Stephen Hunt looked offside before his header that led to the goal.
Ten minutes later the Royals suffered a big blow when Kevin Doyle hobbled off injured, and he faces a scan on a hamstring problem in the next few days.
Everton enjoyed most of the possession from then on, but found it hard to create too many clear chances. Reading had the odd foray forward, but not much of note.
With a little less than ten minutes left, Marcus Hahnemann came for a cross, but Andrew Johnson got there first to flick home a header.
Lee Carsley's injury time free kick went just over, but the teams were left to settle for a point each, with both teams feeling they could have got more.
Everton (4-4-2): Howard; Neville (c), Naysmith, Lescott, Yobo; Carsley, Cahill, Van Der Meyde (Beattie 71), Osman; Johnson, McFadden (Anichebe HT)
Subs: Wright, Stubbs, Davies
Booked: Cahill, Anichebe
Reading (4-4-2): Hahnemann; De La Cruz, Shorey, Sonko, Ingimarsson (c); Harper, Sidwell, Little, Hunt; Doyle (Long 38), Lita
Subs: Federici, Sodje, Bikey, Oster
Booked: Sonko, Hunt
Ref: M Riley
Attendance: 34,722
Full report
Sylvester Stallone came out to an absolutely brilliant reception before kick off, and shouts of 'Rocky, Rocky' were ringing in the ears long after the game had begun.
Reading were on the ropes a little bit in the early stages, but in truth it was a poor game at that point, with neither side putting together much in the way of attacking play.
Andy Johnson went on a good run into the box, but he was forced wide, and couldn't get a shot off. It came infield to Tim Cahill, and he shot for goal but Marcus Hahnemann gathered at the second attempt.
Everton enjoyed the better possession, but couldn't create anything of note.
On 28 minutes the impressive Kevin Doyle did well to win a free kick just outside the box. The Toffees defended the set piece very deep, and Nicky Shorey's set piece was headed goalwards by Stephen Hunt, who looked offside.
Hunt's header bounced off Tim Howard's leg away from goal, but it hit Joleon Lescott and trickled into the corner.
Ten minutes later Reading suffered a cruel blow when Doyle came off injured battling with Lescott for a long ball down the channel. He hobbled off with the aid of physio Jon Fearn, and Shane Long was on his place.
Ibrahima Sonko was booked for a foul on Johnson not long before the break, and he was perhaps lucky not to be shown another yellow card when fouling Johnson again right on the very edge of the box.
The free kick came to nothing, and Reading went in at half time a goal to the good.
Second half
Everton came out for the second half with a head of steam, and substitute Victor Anichebe almost made it 1-1 just minutes after coming on.
The Nigerian got there first as Hahnemann charged off his line but didn't get anything on the cross, and the header was hooked off the line by a combination of Sonko and Ivar Ingimarsson.
Again Everton enjoyed plenty of possession but found it hard to create. Only Cahill's long range drive gave Reading anything to think about.
With 20 minutes to go a good ball down the channel from Cahill gave Johnson a half chance from a relatively tight angle. Hahnemann chose to delay coming off his line, and the striker side-footed his opportunity wide.
Reading had a couple of reasonable chances of their own, but Sidwell scooped over from the edge and Hunt was crowded out as he broke into the box.
Leon Osman curled not too far wide with 12 minutes remaining, and sub James Beattie saw his drive well held by Hahnemann.
Little had a decent chance on the corner of the box after a nicely-worked move involving Hunt and James Harper, but the winger fired over.
With nine minutes to go Everton got themselves on level terms. A deep cross from Joseph Yobo was flicked on at the edge of the box by Anichebe, and Hahnemann decided to come for it but did not get a touch, and Johnson flicked home from six yards into an unguarded net.
Lee Carsley's injury time free kick went only a foot over to give Reading a late scare, but it was honours even, and a good point for the Royals, although they will be disappointed not to have won after leading for so long.
Watch the highlights
Full video highlights will be available from midnight on Monday on Reading World.
