Reading held on to second place in the Championship table with an entertaining 1-1 draw at Coventry's new Ricoh Arena this afternoon. In an end to end fixture, both sides produced chances in front of goal with both keepers having impressive games. The draw was probably the fair result despite Reading having a first half penalty saved and Coventry securing their point with a late equaliser. Reading were forced to make a number of changes due to injury with Makin, Gunnarsson, and Doyle all making starts. All three of those players had excellent games, although it was the home side that made the more comfortable start.

Reading soon settled down and were playing the better football and carved out a few decent chances. Reading's confidence on the ball frustrated Coventry, who were forced to fouling and picking up a series of yellow cards. From a good move down the right Little crossed and the resulting header in the middle sailed over the crossbar when it might have found the target. Doyle was very active upfront and worked himself into a couple of good positions, one needed the keeper to react quickly to force him wide, and another where he might have done better with the final effort. Down the other end Hahnemann made a couple of good saves, one saving point blank from a close range header.

The breakthrough looked to have come when Coventry conceeded a penalty just before half time. Lita's spot-kick was reasonable but a good height for the keeper to dive to his right to make the save. The second half continued in the same pattern with Reading playing some excellent football on the break as both sides shared possession. The Ricoh Arena has a very similar feel to the Madejski but was lacking in leg room in comparison, and forgetting where you were caused leg injuries for the away fans when Doyle put Reading in the lead mid-way through the second half. The Coventry keeper saved the first effort well as Doyle burst into the area on the right, but he couldn't hold the ball as Doyle blasted home the rebound to make it 1-0 to the Royals.

Reading may have been guilty of attempting to hold onto the lead, as Coventry were the better side over the closing stages. Hahnemann kept Reading's lead intact with a couple of great saves to push the ball over, and the home side had a penalty appeal turned down. With just a few minutes on the clock the, probably deserved, goal came to make it 1-1. The ball was swung in from a corner and Hanemann couldn't prevent the header hitting the net to share the points.