Derby County 1 (Simmons 84)
Reading 1 (Church 15)

Ibrahima Sonko played the full game as Reading's reserves were held 1-1 at Pride Park on Monday evening.

The big defender didn't put a foot wrong throughout the game in front of watching boss Steve Coppell, and looked to have plenty of energy as he came up against Wales striker Robert Earnshaw.

The game was a keenly contested affair. Reading started brightly, and after pressuring the hosts for the opening 15 minutes, they took the lead when James Henry's corner was met at the far post by Halls' header, Hinchcliffe only parrying into the path of Simon Church for a close range tap-in.

Jon Macken had a header saved well by Federici in the first half, but the Royals were on top and went in ahead.

Henry went close to doubling the lead when his right footed effort crashed against the crossbar on 72 minutes.

But just as the game looked to be heading to a Royals win, Derby snatched a leveller when Lee Holmes centred from the left for Paris Simmons to bundle home from five yards out.

Reading nearly won it when John Halls struck the post in injury-time, but Derby held on for a point.

Derby County: Hinchcliffe, Edworthy, Moore (capt) (Simmons 58), Beardsley, Holmes, Feilhaber, Richards (Robertson 67), Malcolm, Macken, Earnshaw.
Subs: Atkins, Dudley, Loesch.

Reading: Federici, De La Cruz, Golbourne, Sonko, Pearce (capt), Henry, Bozanic (Robson-Kanu 73), Karacan, Halls, Long, Church.
Subs: Bygrave, Sigurdsson, Kelly, Cox.

First half
Reading start the game brightly. On five minutes Ulises De La Cruz wins a challenge and charges through the middle, the ball being moved onto Church, whose shot from the edge is well over the bar.

On seven minutes, good link-up play between John Halls and De La down the right, sees De La Cruz played in behind the defence. His cross to the far post sees Oliver Bozanic rises for a header which drops wrong side of post.

Adam Federici makes an easy save from Benny Feilhaber's long range effort on eight minutes.

Jem Karacan has a shot from 20 yards on eight minutes, it deflects off Simon Church to wrongfoot keeper, but the deflection takes the pace off the effort and it's an easy save for Ben Hinchcliffe.

Reading open the scoring on 15 minutes. James Henry swings a corner to the back post, Halls' header is saved by Hinchcliffe, but drops for Church to find the net with an easy tap-in.

Seconds later Derby have a good chance tolevel when Lee Holmes left wing cross is met by Jon Macken's near post header, bringing out a great save from Federici. The resulting corner from Jason Beardsley sees Darren Moore head high and wide.

Derby start to impose themselves on the game. On 18 minutes Mo Camara produces a cross from left, and Beardsley sends a glancing header well wide.

On 22 minutes Bozanic tries his luck with 25-yard left-footed free-kick. The effort has the Rams keeper beaten but is less than a yard wide of the left-hand post.

One minute later Rob Earnshaw plays ball into path of Jon Macken edge of box, who drills a low right footer wide of Federici's post.

On 24 minutes Reading win the ball in a dangerous area when Moore gives it away on the edge of the box, but Church's pass sends Bozanic wide and his cross comes to nothing.

Halls' 25th minute clipped cross from the right clipped finds Henry, whose header is high over the bar.
Shane Long's trickery gets him past his marker on 31 minutes, but just as he is about to shoot the ball takes a bobble as he is closed down in time.

On 36 minutes Henry wins a challenge on Camara and goes into box before firing in a shot from a good position which is always rising over the target.

Second half
Derby come out brightly, Holmes powers in a shot at goal on 48 minutes, Federici spills but claims at the second attempt with Earnshaw rushing in.

Halls gets into a great position on 65 minutes after Long had played him in from byline, but his effort is an easy save.

Henry sends in a corner from the left on 68 minutes, Sonko rises at back post and heads at goal but again Hinchcliffe makes the save.

Long is released by Henry down the left touchline on 70 minutes. He races into the box and looks to have been felled by Marc Edworthy, but the referee waves play on.

On 72 minutes, Henry cuts in from left and curls in a brilliant right footer which has the keeper beaten but rattles crossbar. The ball comes out to De La Cruz who fires in a right footer which the keeper holds onto.

Two minutes later Holmes runs at goal and fires in a right footer which Sonko gets a foot to deflect wide.

Derby substitute Anthony Robertson clipped the crossbar with a left wing cross on 77 minutes.

On 78 minutes Jem Karacan fired in a right footed volley from edge of box which flew high and wide of the target.

Rob Earnshaw went close on 83 minutes with a shot which was deflected high and wide.

Derby levelled on 84 minutes when Holmes got down the left and sent in a low cross for Paris Simmons to knock past Federici from close range.

Reading push to win the game late on. Hal Robson-Kanu's corner from right, finds Pearce unmarked, but his 88th minute header is over the bar.

And in injury time Halls beats his man inside the area and sends a low right footed shot which beats the keeper but strikes foot of the post.