All square at The Madejski
by Alex Livie, 29 March 2008
Reading and Blackburn did little for their respective causes as they played out a 0-0 draw at The Madejski Stadium.
With Reading fighting for survival and Rovers chasing European football, there was plenty at stake in Berkshire. You would not have thought it, though, as chances were few and far between in this instantly forgettable affair.
Rovers had the best chances to win the game in the final 20 minutes, after Marek Matejovsky had been sent off for Reading, but they failed to capitalise and had to settle for a point.
Both sides made positive starts to the contest, with Rovers winger Morten Gamst Pedersen dashing down the left flank and delivering a dangerous cross which was gathered by Marcus Hahnemann.
It was a winger who made the brightest start for Reading, as John Oster left Stephen Warnock in a heap before slipping a ball across the six-yard box which Andre Ooijer did well to scoop clear with Stephen Hunt poised to tap home.
The bright start was replaced by half an hour of mediocrity as the two defences dominated against some hardly inspired attacking play.
The temperature jumped shortly before the interval as Hahnemann was forced to tip over a stinging free kick from Pedersen.
From the resulting corner, Hahnemann got in a tangle with Ryan Nelsen after the Rovers defender attempted to nick the ball as he was about the clear. A melee ensued and referee Mark Clattenburg defused the situation by issuing cards to Nelsen and Hahnemann.
It proved to be just a brief flurry of activity as the mediocrity returned after the interval. Hahnemann kept his focus in the first half when pulling off a save from Pedersen and he proved his quality again as David Bentley attempted to brighten up the occasion with a superb 20-yard volley which the American palmed around the post.
Reading were reduced to ten men with 20 minutes remaining as Matejovsky was given his marching orders for a second yellow card for a foul on Jason Roberts.
Rovers turned up the heat and Hahnemann twice came to his side’s rescue. Reading got their offside trap all wrong at a free kick and the big American was forced to pull off a stunning save to deny Zurab Khizanishvili and minutes later claimed a low drive from Pedersen at the second attempt.
Reading were rarely seen as an attacking force but they should have stolen the points in the final ten minutes. Stephen Hunt inexplicably sliced wide from seven yards with just Brad Friedel to beat and from a free kick the impressive Andre Bikey saw his header cleared off the line.
The last word, somewhat fittingly, went to Hahnemann who did well to deny the otherwise anonymous Roque Santa Cruz.