READING FC ended their pre-season losing streak with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Premier League Fulham.

Royals had suffered successive defeats to AFC Wimbledon and non-league Eastleigh in their first two friendly fixtures.

But Paul Clement’s men put on an improved display on Saturday in goalless draw at Aldershot Town FC.

Once again, it was very much a training exercise for Reading with 10 substitutions coming in the second-half including a first outing for new signing, Marc McNulty.

There were early openings for Fulham’s Maxime Le Marchand and Reading’s Yakou Meite, while the hosts also lost defender Tim Ream to a head injury while clearing a dangerous Liam Kelly corner.

But it was Reading who created the first clear-cut opening when Kelly set up Yiadom, whose shot was expertly saved by Marek Rodak before Meite’s effort on the follow-up was headed off the Fulham line.

Rodak also had to be alert when Kelly tried his luck from the half-way line, with the Fulham stopper back-peddling before watching the ball fly narrowly over his crossbar.

The Cottagers responded with Cyrus Christie dragging an effort narrowly wide and Ryan Sessegnon testing Reading keeper Vito Mannone with a well-struck free kick.

There were more chances at either end as Mo Barrow went close for the visitors before Tom Cairney’s lob flew over Mannone’s crossbar.

Rodak then pulled off two more vital stops deny Meite, first from a header from Yiadom’s cross then from a decent shot which he saved with his legs.

Clement sent out the same 11 players for the start of the second half, but it was Fulham who started the brighter with Sessegnon firing into the side netting and Neeskens Kebano testing Mannone.

Royals’ boss made six changes around the hour mark including a first appearance for McNulty, and Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic followed suit soon after.

The wholesale substitutions disrupted the flow of what had been a lively encounter, though Mannone had to be at his best to deny Ibrahima Cisse.

Pelle Clement dragged a late effort wide for the visitors who were then relieved to see Rui Fonte’s stinging shot shave the outside of Mannone’s post in the dying moments.

Royals' first team-squad flew to Austria on Sunday for a week-long pre-season tour that includes a clash against Turkish club Besiktas on Tuesday.

Fulham: Rodák (Ashby-Hammond 72) , Christie (Fossey 62), Odoi (Djalo 62), Ream (S.Sessegnon 11), Le Marchand (Jenz HT), Johansen (Cissé HT), Cairney (O'Reilly 62), de la Torre (Kait 62), Kebano (Thorsteinsson 62), Kamara (Francois 62), R.Sessegnon (Fonte 62).

Reading: Mannone, Yiadom (Gunter 62), Blackett (Richards 62), Moore (McShane 62), Ilori (O'Shea 62), Meyler (Bacuna 62), Kelly (Clement 75), Aluko (Evans 75), Barrow (Rinomhota 75), Swift (McNulty 62), Meite (Smith 75). Subs not used: Jaakkola, Ward.