Royals drew 0-0 with a rejuvenated Trotters at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday despite creating a host of chances.

But Michael Hector, Jake Cooper, Glenn Murray, Oliver Norwood and Danny Williams all failed to find a way past Bolton keeper Andy Lonergan.

While a first clean sheet in five Championship matches was a welcome boost for Adkins’ men, Royals boss will see last weekend’s bore draw as two points dropped.

He explained: “We’re looking to build some momentum and it’s another clean sheet.

“Admittedly there was a tinge of frustration because we had more than enough opportunities to win the game.

“We looked a massive threat, especially from set-pieces, and were very creative against their zonal defence.

“The first half hour was nowhere near good enough.

“We kept the same starting 11 from the win at Norwich last week, but we sat back too much.

“I wanted us to be better, but at the same time Bolton weren’t threatening. We had a good spell before half time then, after the break, Glenn Murray’s goal was rightly disallowed, so we had enough opportunities to win.

“We continually looked threatening from set plays, we’d worked hard on variation against a zonal defence and getting the first contact.

“But the ball hasn’t gone in the net. Whether that’s down to their keeper making a save, us blocking our own efforts or not hitting the target.

“If the ball goes in the net, the complexion of the game is completely different.”

Royals romped to a 7-1 victory in the same fixture last season. On this occasion, they were far too wasteful in the opposition’s box.

Adkins resisted temptation to recall Alex Pearce after his one-match ban and stuck with two-goal Carrow Road hero Jake Cooper in an unchanged starting line-up.

But this time the dangerous corner-kick routine that led to both of Cooper’s goals in the win at Norwich City did not work so well against Trotters’ resolute defence.

The omens were evident in the opening exchanges after Murray header over from Hector’s flick-on from a corner.

Garath McCleary and Norwood were next to threaten but could not find a way past Trotters keeper Andy Lonergan.

The Trotters looked dangerous on the break but Craig Davies’ tame header was held by Adam Federici.

Reading, though, should have taken the lead four minutes before the break, but Murray’s snap-shot struck McCleary bang in front of the Trotters goal, with Lonergan beaten.

Royals finished the first half on top but it required a brilliant one-handed save from Federici to deny Tim Ream soon after the restart.

The frustration also continued at the other end where Hector flashed a header narrowly wide then screwed his shot past the far post from another flag-kick.

Murray also tapped the ball into the net from close range only to see the offside flag raised.

Cooper and Hector wasted further chances, while Darren Pratley almost broke Royals hearts late on when clean through on goal, only to drag his shot wide.

It led to Trotters’ best spell in the match and it required a fantastic block from Stephen Kelly to deny substitute Conor Wilkinson a clear shot at goal.

Reading rode out the storm and almost broke the deadlock on the 80 minute mark when Lonergan made a brilliant one-handed save to keep out a Williams piledriver from 25 yards out.

And Murray summed up the home side’s day when he failed to keep a header on target from a Norwood corner with a minute to go.

Adkins added: “We are looking for building blocks. We have conceded far too many goals this season but Saturday was a clean sheet.

“We limited Bolton, Feds had to make one good save. Obviously I’d have prefer us to have won, and we had enough chances to do that.”

Hal Robson-Kanu picked up a hamstring strain and will be assessed before Reading’s trip to Birmingham City this Saturday (3pm ko).