Reading FC earned their first point in 44 days but did little to boost their survival chances as they drew 0-0 at Peterborough United on Wednesday night.

A game of limited chances saw Lucas Joao go close late on but in truth, Peterborough will feel they had the better opportunities to win it.

Under-fire Royals manager Veljko Paunovic made two changes from the team that lost 3-2 to Coventry City - Yakou Meite and Danny Drinkwater coming in for Junior Hoilett and Josh Laurent.

After a cage opening ten minutes, Peterborough were handed the game’s first chance on a silver platter when Michael Morrison’s pass was cut out. Jonson Clarke-Harris was quickly fed but the striker couldn’t beat the diving Hein with his shot.

The Royals goalkeeper was once again called into action in the 20th minute when Nathan Thompson tried his luck from distance. But while the shot had power, it was far too central and Hein beat it away.

Moments later, Reading embarked on a rare attack of their own, Baba Rahman okaying down the line to Tom Ince who drove with the ball before cutting it across goal in the direction of Lucas Joao, only for it to be slightly behind the striker.

Ince, who joined on loan from Stoke City in January, then had Reading’s best he chance of the opening half in the 33rd minute but his well-struck free-kick from the edge of the box was tipped over the bar.

The home side went inches from taking the lead in the 40th minute but Morrison came to his side’s rescue as he headed off the line after Jeando Fuchs’ header had beaten Hein.

Oliver Norburn then fired an effort wide as the two sides went into the break level at 0-0 after a first half devoid of clear-cut opportunities.

With the wind now at their backs, Reading came out of the break with renewed optimism and nearly took the lead moments after the restart when Ince’s cross was headed just wide by Tom Holmes.

Peterborough seemed to heed the warning and almost immediately started to take control of the game. Reading just about managed to clear from a goalmouth scramble before the Posh went centimetres from the opening goal when Joe Ward’s free-kick curled just wide.

After a lull in action, Meite saw a shot from outside the box saved before Swift headed straight at tje keeper when free eight yards from goal. Peterborough then went close through substitute Jack Marriot but Hein did well to come out and save from a tight angle.

Peterborough had the lion’s share of the second half chances and really should have taken the lead when Ward stole in on the right side of the box but Morrison managed to clear off the line with Hein well-beaten.

Shortly after, Peterborough went close yet again, this time Josh Knight heading over from point-blank range.

With five minutes of normal time remaining, Joao almost created the winner out of nothing, beating a pair of Posh defenders before firing his eventual shot straight at Steven Benda.

Reading had one final chance to throw the ball into the box but Swift’s delivery was caught moments before the referee blew the full-time whistle with neither side able to make any headway in the relegation battle as the points were shared.

READING FC XI: Hein, Yiadom, Morrison, Holmes, Baba Rahman, Drinkwater, Rinomhota, Swift, Meite, Ince, Joao