Royals clinch play-off spot
Sportsdesk • Published 30 Apr 2011 17:15
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Coventry City 0 - 0 Reading
READING guaranteed their place in the Championship play-offs following a goalless draw at Coventry City.
With Millwall losing 2-0 at home to Brendan Rodgers' Swansea City, it means Royals cannot finish lower than sixth in the table.
Their opponents in the semi-final will not be decided until next weekend, though a showdown against former boss Rodgers' Swans looms on the horizon.
However, Reading manager Brian McDermott will be hoping his side rediscover their form before then. Since their sensational eight-match winning streak came to an end they have not won in three matches.
To add to the concerns, they have failed to score in two of those games following the 0-0 draw at play-off rivals Leeds United and the 3-2 home defeat to relegated Sheffield United when they had been 2-0 up.
Nevertheless, it has taken a superb effort to reach the play-offs from a side who were languishing in 12th place in mid-February.
And McDermott knows his side are better than their last three results suggest, with dazzling winger Jimmy Kebe likely to be back from injury soon.
Royals' boss made two changes to his starting line-up at Ricoh Arena following Easter Monday's shock defeat by the Blades.
Adam Federici reclaimed the goalkeeper's spot from Alex McCarthy, while Michail Antonio was handed his full league debut in place of Hal Robson-Kanu in right midfield.
However, Reading started the game in the same manner they ended the last as Coventry put them under immediate pressure.
But they weathered that spell and should have taken the lead in the 15th minute when Shane Long fired over from eight yards after the striker seemed to have done the hard work.
Sky Blues keeper Michael Quirke then made a super save to keep out Noel Hunt's header from Antonio's cross three minutes later.
And Quirke saved his side again in the 25th minute when he palmed Ian Harte's free-kick around the post.
Yet Coventry remained dangerous in attack with livewire Lukas Jutkiewicz firing wide then forcing a crucial save from Federici.
Nevertheless, Reading blew a great chance to go in front on the stroke of half-time when Long's flick-on put Antonio clean through. But Quirke saved the winger's shot with his legs when the unmarked Jobi McAnuff was screaming for a pass.
The frenetic pace continued after the break with Federici pleased to see Marlon King's 20-yard effort fizz an inch wide of the post.
McDermott waited an hour before attempting to fine-tune things with Brian Howard replacing Antonio and Hunt pushing out wide.
But it was Coventry who threatened next with Federici saving Sammy Clingan's free-kick.
Royals, backed by nearly 3,000 travelling fans, were hanging on and the home side went close to breaking the deadlock when David Bell headed over from a corner after King's shot had deflected just wide.
Yet they survived to claim the point they needed to guarantee a top-six finish.
Reading's final league game is home to Derby County next Saturday (12.45pm ko).
Coventry: Quirke - Keogh, Clingan (c), Bell, Hussey, Cranie (Wood 85), Gunnarsson, Baker, Clarke, Jutkiewicz (Platt 90), King. Subs: Burge, O'Halloran, Deegan, McIndoe, Eastwood. Yellow cards: Gunnarsson 79 (dissent), Clingan 89 (foul).
Reading: (4-4-2) - Federici - Griffin, Mills ©, Khizanishvili, Harte - Antonio (Howard 61), Leigertwood, Karacan, McAnuff - Long, Hunt (Robson-Kanu 77). Subs: McCarthy, Pearce, Tabb, Church, Manset. Yellow cards: Mills 71 (foul).
Referee: James Linington (Isle of Wight).
Attendance: 22,436 (Reading 2,879).
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 02 May 11
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