Two goals from Danny Graham helped Watford hand Queens Park Rangers their first defeat of the season with a 3-1 win at Loftus Road.
QPR remain four points clear at the top of the table after weekend where all of the top five teams in the division failed to register a win.
Swansea City pulled level on points with second placed Cardiff City after a 1-1 draw with Millwall. Cardiff were beaten at Middlesbrough, who lifted themselves out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win at the Riverside Stadium.
Leeds United lifted themselves up to fourth place as they came back from two goals down to beat Burnley 3-2.
At the bottom end of the table, Crystal Palace fell into the bottom three after a 0-0 draw with fellow strugglers Hull City, while rock bottom Preston North End won 1-0 and handed Ipswich Town their sixth consecutive loss.
Two goals from Danny Graham led Watford to a 3-1 victory over league leaders Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. The result marks QPR’s first defeat of the season in Championship play.
QPR started brightly and Heidar Helguson was denied a goal against his former club by a good Scott Loach save.
Watford threatened on the counterattack throughout the game and themselves had a chance to open the scoring when Will Buckley’s shot was blocked by Paddy Kenny. The Hornets did take a lead after 26 minutes when Graham turned home an Andrew Taylor cross.
Shortly after the goal Buckley had a chance to double the lead but was once again denied by Kenny. Watford doubled their lead after 30 minutes in slightly bizarre fashion. Jordon Mutch sent in a high cross that evaded everybody and found its way into the net past a flat footed Kenny.
QPR threatened to cut into the lead, and Adel Taarabt was the biggest threat but the Hornets managed to go into half-time with a 2-0 lead.
Watford took a 3-0 lead only three minutes after the restart when Graham netted his second goal. Graham was played in with a neat through ball from Stephen McGinn, and took a touch before firing past Kenny. McGinn was disappointingly hit by an object thrown by an idiotic home fan in the celebrations but brushed it off and continued to play well.
Watford relentlessly pushed on and it needed goal line clearance from Shaun Derry to prevent Mutch from inflicting further punishment. Graham then forced another good save from Kenny.
QPR battled gamely and Loach was forced into good saves from Jamie Mackie and Clint Hill. Rangers also had a penalty denied when Mackie went to ground in the area after tangling with Martin Taylor.
QPR did net a late consolation when Tommy Smith fired home in the 89th minute after being set up by Mackie.
The win pulls Watford up to within three points of the playoff spots, and means the Hornets are also now the top goal scorers in the division.
Swansea City pulled level on points with second placed Cardiff City after a 1-1 draw with visiting Millwall. Spanish defender Angel Rangel headed Swansea in front, before Tamika Mkandawire equalized for the Lions.
The Swans got off to good start in the 18th minute when Andrea Orlandi swung in a corner from the left and Rangel rose to plant a good header past David Forde.
Millwall responded well and were level only eight minutes later. Jason Puncheon dribbled into the penalty area and the ball was half cleared by Swansea, Mkandawire pounced on the loose ball to hammer a shot past Dorus de Vries from the edge of the area.
Swansea had a great chance to retake the lead just before half-time but Nathan Dyer fired over the bar after Orlandi had set him up.
Millwall dominated the proceedings in the second half and only a Man of the Match performance from de Vries kept the scores level and earned Swansea a point.
Millwall almost took the lead when a James Henry free kick was met with a flicked header by Josh McQuoid and the former Netherlands Under-21 goalkeeper produced an outstanding save. Henry then almost scored himself with a curling effort that was palmed away by De Vries.
Steve Morison then had two late one on one chances to win the game for Millwall. First the Wales international striker fired wide after being played in behind the Swansea defense, and then he was denied by De Vries after again finding himself clean through.
A Julio Arca penalty lifted Middlesbrough out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over second placed Cardiff City. The result means Cardiff have now won only one of their last seven games.
Cardiff started well and Chris Burke went close to give the home fans a nervy moment.
Marvin Emnes scored the winning goal against Cardiff during his loan spell at Swansea City, and he was a thorn in the side of the Bluebirds once again throughout this game.
First Emnes forced a good save from David Marshall, and the former Netherlands Under-21 striker then won the decisive penalty after he was hauled down in the area by Gabor Gyepes. Arca stepped up to send Marshall the wrong way and give Boro a 1-0 lead going into half-time.
Nicky Bailey had a powerful drive saved by Marshall before Cardiff manager Dave Jones brought on Michael Chopra in search of an equalizer.
Craig Bellamy went close twice within a minute when he fired into the side netting, and then drove a powerful strike into the crossbar.
Chopra then had a chip saved by Jason Steele as Boro held on for an important win.
Last placed Preston North End piled the pressure on under fire Ipswich Town manager Roy Keane with a 1-0 win over the struggling Tractor Boys. Ipswich made the Carling Cup Semi-Finals but are on a run of six consecutive defeats in Championship play.
Barnsley loanee Iain Hume scored a quality winning goal in the final game of his loan spell for PNE.
Preston were on the front foot from the off and Stoke City loanee Michael Tonge fired in a long range shot that was well saved by Brian Murphy.
As the game progressed Ipswich had the better of the first half play, and Carlos Edwards had his shot blocked by Wayne Brown. Jason Scotland and Grant Leadbitter then fired wide before Rory Fallon forced a good save from Andy Lonergan.
Preston took the lead five minutes into the second half when Hume was set up by Jon Parkin and fired past Murphy for the 1-0 lead.
Soon after Parkin forced a good save from Murphy and Tonge had his goal bound effort blocked by Mark Kennedy.
Ipswich substitute Jamie Peters met Jack Colback’s cross with a firm header that Lonergan saved well to preserve the win for PNE.
Leicester City produced a magnificent second half performance to beat Doncaster Rovers 5-1 and extend their unbeaten home run to seven games. Billy Sharp opened the scoring early on for the visitors before a Paul Gallagher penalty sent the teams in level at half-time.
Richie Wellens put the Foxes ahead in the second half before Kyle Naughton added a third goal. Former England striker Darius Vassell made it 4-1 with his first Leicester goal before Martyn Waghorn completed the rout.
Doncaster started brightly and took the lead when James Coppinger’s cross was acrobatically volleyed home by Sharp. David Healy then had a golden opportunity to double the lead but skewed his shot off target after rounding Chris Weale.
Doncaster paid for Healy’s miss when Gallagher tied the scores during first half injury time. Lloyd Dyer was brought down by Neil Sullivan inside the area, and Gallagher hammered home the resulting spot kick.
Leicester were buoyed by the equalizer and dominate proceedings in the second half. After Curtis Davies headed narrowly wide, Wellens drove home an excellent strike against his former club to put the Foxes in front.
Wellens then turned provider as he played in Naughton to make it three, before Vassell made it 4-1 by collecting Dyer’s pass and firing past Sullivan.
With Doncaster reeling, Waghorn deflected in Andy King’s shot for the final 5-1 score line.
Second half goals from Dave Kitson and Greg Halford lifted Portsmouth to a 2-0 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road. The game ends a a six game unbeaten run for sixth place Norwich City.
Portsmouth threatened early as Liam Lawrence curled a third minute free kick just wide of John Ruddy’s goal.
Norwich settled into the game well after that and almost opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Simeon Jackson raced onto a Chris Martin flick but could only fire his shot straight at Ashdown. Moments later Arsenal loanee Henri Lansbury sent over a corner that Jackson headed over the crossbar.
The Canaries continue to dominate and Portsmouth goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown had to save twice to keep the scores level at half-time. First Ashdown saved well form Martin, before holding a powerful drive from Lansbury.
Six minutes into the second half Portsmouth again went close courtesy of a long range drive from Lawrence. At the other, end Ashdown was forced into yet another fine save to block a Wes Hoolahan drive from the edge of the area.
Pompey broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute when excellent play from David Nugent saw him tee up Kitson to finish from six yards out.
The superb Ashdown made two more saves from David Fox and Leon Barnett, and Lansbury also fired over the bar as the Canaries pushed for an elusive goal.
The game was sealed in the sixth minute of injury time when Barnett brought down Nugent in the area and was dismissed for his second bookable offence. Halford calmly dispatched the penalty to wrap up a 2-0 win for the visitors.
Leeds United came back from two goals down to beat Burnley 3-2 at Turf Moor. Brian Easton and Jay Rodriguez gave Burnley a 2-0 half-time lead, before Leeds hit back in the second half through Max Gradel, Luciano Becchio and a late Johnny Howson winner.
Leeds started brightly but Gradel fired off target when produced with two early chances. Burnley threatened at the other end and it needed a good Kasper Schmeichel save to keep out Andre Bikey’s header.
Burnley took the lead when a Bikey free kick found Easton in the area, and the Scottish defender fired a left footed shot past Schmeichel. The Clarets doubled their lead when Clarke Carlisle’s long ball forward was only half cleared by Alex Bruce and Rodriguez tucked home the loose ball for a 2-0 half-time lead.
Leeds hit back seven minutes after the restart when Becchio headed down for Gradel to finish past Lee Grant and halve the deficit. Leeds were level in the 66th minute when Becchio turned home a Paul Connolly cross.
Leeds poured on the pressure and Robert Snodgrass fired against the crossbar, before his deflected cross was kept out only by a goal line clearance from Carlisle.
With five minutes remaining Leeds won the game when Howson curled home an excellent long range strike to spark delirious celebrations among the visiting fans.
A Hugo Colace strike gave Barnsley a 1-0 win over struggling Sheffield United. The result means Barnsley are unbeaten in five games, while United are left only one point above the relegation zone.
Both teams started the game with attacking intent and Barnsley went closest to opening the scoring when Adam Hammill whipped a 25 yard free kick over the bar. Barnsley began to gain the upper hand as the game progressed and Nathan Doyle had an effort blocked by Blades defender Kyle Bartley.
Barnsley scored the decisive goal in the 37th minute when Jim O’Brien sent over a right wing cross that Colace hammered home from close range.
Things got worse for United soon after the restart when former England goalkeeper Richard Wright had his debut cut short by injury. Steve Simonsen was the replacement and he was soon called into action to deny Hammill.
United laid siege to the Barnsley goal in search of a late equalizer but could not find and end product as Barnsley held on for the win.
Bristol City continued their climb away from the relgation zone with a 2-0 victory over playoff contenders Derby County. Two goals from Brett Pitman were enough to give Bristol the win and extend their impressive run of form, the Robins have now lost only one of their last nine games. Derby are three points out of the playoff spots and have now lost four of their last five matches.
City flew out of the gate and threatened to open the scoring early as Marvin Elliott headed over from Pittman’s cross. Jamie Mcallister the hit a free kick against the post, and Pitman had a volley saved by Stephen Bywater as the home side poured on the pressure.
Derby had a big opportunity to score against the run of play just before the half when Kris Commons went through on goal but was brought down by England World Cup goalkeeper David James. James was shown a yellow card and was arguably lucky to not have been sent off.
Derby manager Nigel Clough was infuriated by the decision to not dismiss James and his mood worsened when Bristol took the lead three minutes into the second half. Albert Adomah created space and sent in a cross from the right that Pitman stabbed home at the back post.
Derby responded well to the goal and exerted pressure on the Robins in search of an equalizer. Commons had a shot saved by James, Paul Green had an effort blocked by defender Damion Stewart and Shaun Barker headed wide as the Rams searched for an equalizer.
Despite Derby’s good play the Robins sealed the game against the run of play in the 68th minute. Adomah was again the creator as he slid in Pitman to fire past Bywater and double the lead.
Derby continued to fight and Commons was a particular threat, but they could not break down the City defense as the Robins held on for the 2-0 win.
Reading registered their fifth consecutive draw, as they battled to a 0-0 stalemate with fifth place Coventry City. Coventry are riding a four game unbeaten run in which they have not conceded a goal.
Both sides rattled the woodwork in a goalless first half. First returning winger Jimmy Kebe crossed for Shane Long who fired against the goal post. At the other end, Marlon King fired in an effort from the edge of the area that bounced back off the post.
Reading pressed for a second half winner when Noel Hunt shot and the rebound fell to Jem Karacan, who had his header cleared off the goal line by Richard Wood.
The Royals had one last chance to win it but Hal Robson-Kanu’s cross was headed just wide by Long.
Crystal Palace fell into the relegation zone after a 0-0 draw with fellow strugglers Hull City, who are themselves only two points above the drop zone.
The pressure of a relegation battle appeared to affect both teams in a scrappy opening half. Palace created the better of the first half chances when James Vaughan shot wide from a Pablo Counago penalty, and then Counago had his shot blocked by Kamil Zayatte.
Hull suffered a double injury blow in the first half when Anthony Gerrard and Richard Garcia were forced off with injuries.
Jay Simpson had a good chance for Hull when he went clear early in the second half, but his shot was right at Julian Speroni.
Palace then had a good spell of pressure but were unable to convert their chances. Alassane N’Diaye twice fired off target after creating good chances for himself, and then had a shot saved by Vito Mannone.
Both teams had a late opportunity to steal the three points. First Kevin Kilbane missed a header from Rober tKoren corner for Hull, then Neil Danns had a shot blocked for Palace and Counago blazed over from the rebound as the game ended scoreless.
Swansea City pulled level on points with second placed Cardiff City after a 1-1 draw with Millwall. Cardiff were beaten at Middlesbrough, who lifted themselves out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win at the Riverside Stadium.
Leeds United lifted themselves up to fourth place as they came back from two goals down to beat Burnley 3-2.
At the bottom end of the table, Crystal Palace fell into the bottom three after a 0-0 draw with fellow strugglers Hull City, while rock bottom Preston North End won 1-0 and handed Ipswich Town their sixth consecutive loss.
Two goals from Danny Graham led Watford to a 3-1 victory over league leaders Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. The result marks QPR’s first defeat of the season in Championship play.
QPR started brightly and Heidar Helguson was denied a goal against his former club by a good Scott Loach save.
Watford threatened on the counterattack throughout the game and themselves had a chance to open the scoring when Will Buckley’s shot was blocked by Paddy Kenny. The Hornets did take a lead after 26 minutes when Graham turned home an Andrew Taylor cross.
Shortly after the goal Buckley had a chance to double the lead but was once again denied by Kenny. Watford doubled their lead after 30 minutes in slightly bizarre fashion. Jordon Mutch sent in a high cross that evaded everybody and found its way into the net past a flat footed Kenny.
QPR threatened to cut into the lead, and Adel Taarabt was the biggest threat but the Hornets managed to go into half-time with a 2-0 lead.
Watford took a 3-0 lead only three minutes after the restart when Graham netted his second goal. Graham was played in with a neat through ball from Stephen McGinn, and took a touch before firing past Kenny. McGinn was disappointingly hit by an object thrown by an idiotic home fan in the celebrations but brushed it off and continued to play well.
Watford relentlessly pushed on and it needed goal line clearance from Shaun Derry to prevent Mutch from inflicting further punishment. Graham then forced another good save from Kenny.
QPR battled gamely and Loach was forced into good saves from Jamie Mackie and Clint Hill. Rangers also had a penalty denied when Mackie went to ground in the area after tangling with Martin Taylor.
QPR did net a late consolation when Tommy Smith fired home in the 89th minute after being set up by Mackie.
The win pulls Watford up to within three points of the playoff spots, and means the Hornets are also now the top goal scorers in the division.
Swansea City pulled level on points with second placed Cardiff City after a 1-1 draw with visiting Millwall. Spanish defender Angel Rangel headed Swansea in front, before Tamika Mkandawire equalized for the Lions.
The Swans got off to good start in the 18th minute when Andrea Orlandi swung in a corner from the left and Rangel rose to plant a good header past David Forde.
Millwall responded well and were level only eight minutes later. Jason Puncheon dribbled into the penalty area and the ball was half cleared by Swansea, Mkandawire pounced on the loose ball to hammer a shot past Dorus de Vries from the edge of the area.
Swansea had a great chance to retake the lead just before half-time but Nathan Dyer fired over the bar after Orlandi had set him up.
Millwall dominated the proceedings in the second half and only a Man of the Match performance from de Vries kept the scores level and earned Swansea a point.
Millwall almost took the lead when a James Henry free kick was met with a flicked header by Josh McQuoid and the former Netherlands Under-21 goalkeeper produced an outstanding save. Henry then almost scored himself with a curling effort that was palmed away by De Vries.
Steve Morison then had two late one on one chances to win the game for Millwall. First the Wales international striker fired wide after being played in behind the Swansea defense, and then he was denied by De Vries after again finding himself clean through.
A Julio Arca penalty lifted Middlesbrough out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over second placed Cardiff City. The result means Cardiff have now won only one of their last seven games.
Cardiff started well and Chris Burke went close to give the home fans a nervy moment.
Marvin Emnes scored the winning goal against Cardiff during his loan spell at Swansea City, and he was a thorn in the side of the Bluebirds once again throughout this game.
First Emnes forced a good save from David Marshall, and the former Netherlands Under-21 striker then won the decisive penalty after he was hauled down in the area by Gabor Gyepes. Arca stepped up to send Marshall the wrong way and give Boro a 1-0 lead going into half-time.
Nicky Bailey had a powerful drive saved by Marshall before Cardiff manager Dave Jones brought on Michael Chopra in search of an equalizer.
Craig Bellamy went close twice within a minute when he fired into the side netting, and then drove a powerful strike into the crossbar.
Chopra then had a chip saved by Jason Steele as Boro held on for an important win.
Last placed Preston North End piled the pressure on under fire Ipswich Town manager Roy Keane with a 1-0 win over the struggling Tractor Boys. Ipswich made the Carling Cup Semi-Finals but are on a run of six consecutive defeats in Championship play.
Barnsley loanee Iain Hume scored a quality winning goal in the final game of his loan spell for PNE.
Preston were on the front foot from the off and Stoke City loanee Michael Tonge fired in a long range shot that was well saved by Brian Murphy.
As the game progressed Ipswich had the better of the first half play, and Carlos Edwards had his shot blocked by Wayne Brown. Jason Scotland and Grant Leadbitter then fired wide before Rory Fallon forced a good save from Andy Lonergan.
Preston took the lead five minutes into the second half when Hume was set up by Jon Parkin and fired past Murphy for the 1-0 lead.
Soon after Parkin forced a good save from Murphy and Tonge had his goal bound effort blocked by Mark Kennedy.
Ipswich substitute Jamie Peters met Jack Colback’s cross with a firm header that Lonergan saved well to preserve the win for PNE.
Leicester City produced a magnificent second half performance to beat Doncaster Rovers 5-1 and extend their unbeaten home run to seven games. Billy Sharp opened the scoring early on for the visitors before a Paul Gallagher penalty sent the teams in level at half-time.
Richie Wellens put the Foxes ahead in the second half before Kyle Naughton added a third goal. Former England striker Darius Vassell made it 4-1 with his first Leicester goal before Martyn Waghorn completed the rout.
Doncaster started brightly and took the lead when James Coppinger’s cross was acrobatically volleyed home by Sharp. David Healy then had a golden opportunity to double the lead but skewed his shot off target after rounding Chris Weale.
Doncaster paid for Healy’s miss when Gallagher tied the scores during first half injury time. Lloyd Dyer was brought down by Neil Sullivan inside the area, and Gallagher hammered home the resulting spot kick.
Leicester were buoyed by the equalizer and dominate proceedings in the second half. After Curtis Davies headed narrowly wide, Wellens drove home an excellent strike against his former club to put the Foxes in front.
Wellens then turned provider as he played in Naughton to make it three, before Vassell made it 4-1 by collecting Dyer’s pass and firing past Sullivan.
With Doncaster reeling, Waghorn deflected in Andy King’s shot for the final 5-1 score line.
Second half goals from Dave Kitson and Greg Halford lifted Portsmouth to a 2-0 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road. The game ends a a six game unbeaten run for sixth place Norwich City.
Portsmouth threatened early as Liam Lawrence curled a third minute free kick just wide of John Ruddy’s goal.
Norwich settled into the game well after that and almost opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Simeon Jackson raced onto a Chris Martin flick but could only fire his shot straight at Ashdown. Moments later Arsenal loanee Henri Lansbury sent over a corner that Jackson headed over the crossbar.
The Canaries continue to dominate and Portsmouth goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown had to save twice to keep the scores level at half-time. First Ashdown saved well form Martin, before holding a powerful drive from Lansbury.
Six minutes into the second half Portsmouth again went close courtesy of a long range drive from Lawrence. At the other, end Ashdown was forced into yet another fine save to block a Wes Hoolahan drive from the edge of the area.
Pompey broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute when excellent play from David Nugent saw him tee up Kitson to finish from six yards out.
The superb Ashdown made two more saves from David Fox and Leon Barnett, and Lansbury also fired over the bar as the Canaries pushed for an elusive goal.
The game was sealed in the sixth minute of injury time when Barnett brought down Nugent in the area and was dismissed for his second bookable offence. Halford calmly dispatched the penalty to wrap up a 2-0 win for the visitors.
Leeds United came back from two goals down to beat Burnley 3-2 at Turf Moor. Brian Easton and Jay Rodriguez gave Burnley a 2-0 half-time lead, before Leeds hit back in the second half through Max Gradel, Luciano Becchio and a late Johnny Howson winner.
Leeds started brightly but Gradel fired off target when produced with two early chances. Burnley threatened at the other end and it needed a good Kasper Schmeichel save to keep out Andre Bikey’s header.
Burnley took the lead when a Bikey free kick found Easton in the area, and the Scottish defender fired a left footed shot past Schmeichel. The Clarets doubled their lead when Clarke Carlisle’s long ball forward was only half cleared by Alex Bruce and Rodriguez tucked home the loose ball for a 2-0 half-time lead.
Leeds hit back seven minutes after the restart when Becchio headed down for Gradel to finish past Lee Grant and halve the deficit. Leeds were level in the 66th minute when Becchio turned home a Paul Connolly cross.
Leeds poured on the pressure and Robert Snodgrass fired against the crossbar, before his deflected cross was kept out only by a goal line clearance from Carlisle.
With five minutes remaining Leeds won the game when Howson curled home an excellent long range strike to spark delirious celebrations among the visiting fans.
A Hugo Colace strike gave Barnsley a 1-0 win over struggling Sheffield United. The result means Barnsley are unbeaten in five games, while United are left only one point above the relegation zone.
Both teams started the game with attacking intent and Barnsley went closest to opening the scoring when Adam Hammill whipped a 25 yard free kick over the bar. Barnsley began to gain the upper hand as the game progressed and Nathan Doyle had an effort blocked by Blades defender Kyle Bartley.
Barnsley scored the decisive goal in the 37th minute when Jim O’Brien sent over a right wing cross that Colace hammered home from close range.
Things got worse for United soon after the restart when former England goalkeeper Richard Wright had his debut cut short by injury. Steve Simonsen was the replacement and he was soon called into action to deny Hammill.
United laid siege to the Barnsley goal in search of a late equalizer but could not find and end product as Barnsley held on for the win.
Bristol City continued their climb away from the relgation zone with a 2-0 victory over playoff contenders Derby County. Two goals from Brett Pitman were enough to give Bristol the win and extend their impressive run of form, the Robins have now lost only one of their last nine games. Derby are three points out of the playoff spots and have now lost four of their last five matches.
City flew out of the gate and threatened to open the scoring early as Marvin Elliott headed over from Pittman’s cross. Jamie Mcallister the hit a free kick against the post, and Pitman had a volley saved by Stephen Bywater as the home side poured on the pressure.
Derby had a big opportunity to score against the run of play just before the half when Kris Commons went through on goal but was brought down by England World Cup goalkeeper David James. James was shown a yellow card and was arguably lucky to not have been sent off.
Derby manager Nigel Clough was infuriated by the decision to not dismiss James and his mood worsened when Bristol took the lead three minutes into the second half. Albert Adomah created space and sent in a cross from the right that Pitman stabbed home at the back post.
Derby responded well to the goal and exerted pressure on the Robins in search of an equalizer. Commons had a shot saved by James, Paul Green had an effort blocked by defender Damion Stewart and Shaun Barker headed wide as the Rams searched for an equalizer.
Despite Derby’s good play the Robins sealed the game against the run of play in the 68th minute. Adomah was again the creator as he slid in Pitman to fire past Bywater and double the lead.
Derby continued to fight and Commons was a particular threat, but they could not break down the City defense as the Robins held on for the 2-0 win.
Reading registered their fifth consecutive draw, as they battled to a 0-0 stalemate with fifth place Coventry City. Coventry are riding a four game unbeaten run in which they have not conceded a goal.
Both sides rattled the woodwork in a goalless first half. First returning winger Jimmy Kebe crossed for Shane Long who fired against the goal post. At the other end, Marlon King fired in an effort from the edge of the area that bounced back off the post.
Reading pressed for a second half winner when Noel Hunt shot and the rebound fell to Jem Karacan, who had his header cleared off the goal line by Richard Wood.
The Royals had one last chance to win it but Hal Robson-Kanu’s cross was headed just wide by Long.
Crystal Palace fell into the relegation zone after a 0-0 draw with fellow strugglers Hull City, who are themselves only two points above the drop zone.
The pressure of a relegation battle appeared to affect both teams in a scrappy opening half. Palace created the better of the first half chances when James Vaughan shot wide from a Pablo Counago penalty, and then Counago had his shot blocked by Kamil Zayatte.
Hull suffered a double injury blow in the first half when Anthony Gerrard and Richard Garcia were forced off with injuries.
Jay Simpson had a good chance for Hull when he went clear early in the second half, but his shot was right at Julian Speroni.
Palace then had a good spell of pressure but were unable to convert their chances. Alassane N’Diaye twice fired off target after creating good chances for himself, and then had a shot saved by Vito Mannone.
Both teams had a late opportunity to steal the three points. First Kevin Kilbane missed a header from Rober tKoren corner for Hull, then Neil Danns had a shot blocked for Palace and Counago blazed over from the rebound as the game ended scoreless.
