Reading 1 (Kitson, 54)
Middlesbrough 1 (Tuncay 83)
Middlesbrough and Reading fought out a tight draw at Madejski Stadium as Dave Kitson's goal early in the second half was cancelled out by Tuncay Sanli's late header.
Neither side could claim to have dominated the first half, with plenty of honest endeavour but goalscoring chances at a premium.
Middlesbrough went closest to opening the scoring before the break as Adam Johnson hit the foot of the post with a close range effort.
Reading looked more dangerous after the break, and took the lead on 54 minutes when a long ball upfield was knocked on by Kevin Doyle for strike partner Dave Kitson to loft the ball over Boro keeper Ross Turnbull's head.
Boro piled on the pressure as the game wore on, and levelled the scores on 83 minutes when Luke Young's cross was headed home by Tuncay.
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty (c), Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko; Gunnarsson (Long 84), Harper, Hunt, Convey (Bikey 77); Kitson, Doyle.
Subs: Cisse , Rosenior, Federici.
Booked: Murty (foul 44), Gunnarsson (foul 55)
Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Young, Pogatetz, Wheater, Woodgate (Huth 70), Boateng, Rochemback, Downing, Johnson (Cattermole 90), Dong (Sanli 70), Aliadiere.
Subs: Steele, Hutchinson.
Booked: Johnson (unsporting behaviour 48)
Ref: T Fisher
Attendance: 22,262
First half
Reading start the half brightly, but there is little in the way of goalmouth action until seven minutes, when Bobby Convey whisp in a cross, for Stephen Hunt to rise high at the back post with a header, an easy claim for Ross Turnbull in the Boro goal.
Hunt does well on eight minutes, twisting and turning his way past Emanuel Pogatetz down the right flank and centring for Doyle, but David Wheater is in there to close down.
At the other end, Jeremie Aliadiere does well to turn Ivar Ingimarsson on the edge of the box and fire in a low right footer which Marcus Hahnemann gathers at the first attempt on 10 minutes.
A good move from reading on 14 minutes see Hunt and Kitson combine before releasing Convey on the left, who cuts in and fires in a right footed shot which Turnbull nearly parries into Kitson's path before claiming.
A rare lapse from Ibrahima Sonko on 16 minutes sees Aliadiere rob him of possession just outside the box, before an exchange of passes with Lee Gook Dong ends with the former Arsenal man firing a tame shot straight at Hahnemann.
Kitson fashions a great chance for himself on 29 minutes, latching onto Kevin Doyle's knockdown header before turning his man on the edge and firing in a right footer which Turnbull has to go down to keep out.
Boro break at speed from a Reading free-kick and James Harper has to be back quickly to turn behind Aliadiere's centre.
A minute later and Boro have the ball in the back of the net, George Boateng knocking home from close range before seeing the effort ruled out for offside.
KItson has a speculative effort with an angled right footer from 25 yards out, Turnbull has to dive to his left to save on 34 minutes.
Hahenamann does well to come and claim Rochemback's centred ball with Aliadiere and Dong both waiting to pounce on any loose ball on 39 minutes.
The best chance of the half fell to Boro on 41 minutes. Aliadiere's low angled drive Hahnemann palmed clear, but fell to Dong, his neat inside ball found Adam Johnson who had a great chance to score. His shot did beat Hahnemann but came back off the foot of the post for the keeper to reclaim.
Graeme Murty picked up a yellow card on 44 minutes for a mistimed challenge on Stewart Downing.
Second half
Johnson picks up a yellow card on 50 minutes for kicking the ball away at a Reading free-kick.
Little in the way of goalmouth action in the first eight minutes of the new half, both sides showing plenty of enthusiasm without managing to get close to threatening in the final third.
Aliadiere caught offside from Downing's left footed centre on 53 minutes as the Royals defence hold the line well.
Reading take the lead on 54 minutes. Hahnemann hits a long free-kick upfield, Doyle flicks on for Kitson on the edge of the penalty area, and with Turnbull caught in no-mans land the Royals striker lifts a neat finish over his head and into the empty goal.
Straight from the re-start Brynjar Gunnarsson picks up a yellow card for a foul on Boateng.
Doyle goes close to a second when he latches onto Convey's pass and goes into the box before seeing his let footed drive turned behind by Turnbull on 59 minutes.
Sonko leaves a routine ball into the box for Hahnemann on 66 minutes, but neither claim the ball. Aliadiere nearly steals in, but is only able to head wide of the target, a big let off for the Royals. Something of a set-to between Sonko and Hahnemann follows, neither player ready to accept the blame for the error.
Shorey's left footed free-kick into the box is met by a Kitson header which flies narrowly over the bar on 69 minutes.
Double substitution for Boro on 70 minutes. Robert Huth replaces Jonathan Woodgate and Tuncay Sanli comes on for Dong Gook Lee.
Convey curls in a cross from the right flank which Turnbull palms clear, fortunately to a Boro defender to clear.
At the other end Aliadiere gets possession in the area and turns Sonko but only gets away a weak shot which is an easy claim for Hahnemann.
Reading substitution. Convey is replaced by Andre Bikey on 77 minutes.
Middlesbrough level the scores on 83 minutes. After a spell of sustained pressure, Luke Young gets down the right and swings in a cross which finds the head of substitute Tuncay Sanli who beats Hahnemann from two yards out.
Reading substitution on 84 minutes. Shane Long replaces Gunnarsson as the Royals try to win it late on.
Late Boro substitution on 90 minutes. Lee Cattermole comes on for Johnson.
Reading go so close to an injury-time winner as Shorey sends over a great cross from the left and Kitson steals in but heads just high and wide of the mark.
And at the other end Hahnemann makes a smart stop at the feet of Tuncay from close range.
