Reading and Birmingham City have played out a goalless first half in their midweek Championship clash at the Madejski Stadium this evening.
The first shot of note took 10 minutes to arrive and it came from the visitors, as Wes Thomas volleyed his effort straight down the throat of FA Cup semi-final villain Adam Federici.
That seemed to spark the hosts into life and they responded with their first opening shortly afterwards, Garath McCleary cutting inside and firing wide from 20 yards after good work from Jake Cooper.
Nathaniel Chalobah and Jem Karacan then combined 20 minutes in to set up Jamie Mackie, but the striker couldn't find the target with his subsequent effort.
Mackie was involved again five minutes later as both he and Nick Blackman stabbed the ball goalwards from close range, only for Birmingham to somehow survive, clearing the ball off the line twice in quick succession.
McCleary then drew a stop from Darren Randolph with a powerful drive before the Birmingham keeper twice denied Chalobah in quick succession shortly after the half-hour mark.
The visitors threatened again at the other end with a little under 10 minutes remaining in the half when Jonathan Grounds rose highest to meet a header from a corner, only for Federici to make the save.
It stayed goalless until the interval, with neither side able to conjure up another chance in the closing stages of the half.
Barney Corkhill
