Reading continued their winless form with a 1-1 draw at home to mid-table Hull City.

Regan Slater and Andy Carroll both scored in the first half, and both sides seemed content with a point apiece in a second half lacking urgency or quality.

The hosts started the match well on the back foot, with the visitors forcing a string of early corners and half-chances. It took 10 minutes for the Royals to push up the pitch, pinning the Tigers in and forcing a throw deep in their half- enough to get the supporters vocally right behind the side. Thomas Ince and Lucas Joao linked up well on the halfway line to set-up a positive counterattack on 13 minutes, ending when a series of shots from Carroll and Cesare Casadei were blocked out cleared for throw-ins. During the break in play former captain Liam Moore pulled up, having to come off and end his involvement. It was his first start for over a calendar year after a series of career-threatening injuries. It seemed to effect the Royals for a while and despite throwing balls into the box, Joao could not fully connect and test Karl Darlow.

Just before half hour the visitors took the lead as Slater linked up well in midfield and strolled through the middle of the pitch before beating Joe Lumley at his near post. Despite seemingly taking the air out of the balloon of the stadium, the players picked it up and continued to put the Hull defenders under pressure in the box. On the stroke of half-time, it finally worked. Andy Yiadom’s cross was nodded down by Casadei and Carroll- thanks to shoddy Hull defending- was able to connect on the volley and beat Darlow at his far post. The relief in the ground was palpable and Reading went into the break level.

For all the positive attempts created in the first half, these amounted to nothing in a turgid second half. In what felt like a 45 minute game of attack versus defence, the Tigers created overloads on the wings at will and fired dangerous balls across the face of goal. It took until the final 10 minutes for a Reading striker to see a real sight of goal, but Joao decided to take too many turns and was tackled, much to the anger of the 11,000 in attendance. Substitute Nesta Guinness-Walker looked to drive forward wherever possible, and one of his crosses fell out to Holmes on the edge of the box. Not surprisingly, the centre-back fired his shot a long way over the crossbar. Rosenior’s side continued to create dangerous situations almost at will, creating a nervy atmosphere at the SCL Stadium.

With neither side seemingly desperate for the win, the final few minutes dragged out as the sides settled for a point, helping neither in the standings.

The Royals are now without a win in five games heading into the international break, and with a possible points deduction hanging over the club which could plummet the team into a relegation dogfight.