Reading FC and Norwich City share points in thrilling encounter

Dean Smith's Canaries are now unbeaten in nine but it ended their four game winning run, while Paul Ince's side are unbeaten in three since a 3-0 defeat to Sunderland.

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As to be expected, it was the newly relegated Premier League side who seemed to settle best, keeping the ball, and moving quickly. Despite seeing plenty of the ball, in an early period without much in the way of goalmouth action, it was the hosts who saw the first effort when fan favourite Andy Carroll rose highest to flick Junior Hoilett’s whipped cross goal bound, only for fellow former Newcastle United star Tim Krul to leap across the goal line and keep the ball out. With the crowd behind them, the rest of the half belonged firmly to the Royals.

Hendrick saw an effort fly just wide of the goal from the edge of the box after a free kick was only half cleared. Norwich’s only clear effort of note came shortly after as Grant Hanley evaded the offside trap to be left with a header deep in the Reading half, only for the captain to blaze it over Joe Lumley’s crossbar. Canada international Hoilett was a constant thorn in Sam Bryam’s side, curling an almost inch-perfect cross for Tom Ince to connect, only for ball to fly narrowly in front of his stretched boot.

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Some sloppy midfield play almost let the Canaries in, with Kenny McLean’s cross-cum-shot deflected off of the crossbar but as throughout the half, the backline remained resolute and saw out the danger from the resulting corner to take the sides into the break level.

Norwich started the second period very much the better side, going close with Marcelino Nunez just three minutes in before taking the lead two minutes later. A corner goes all the way across the face of goal before captain Hanley has an easy job of tapping in at the far post. Conceding appeared to work in Reading’s favour however, as they very much stood up to the test of finding a leveller.

Hendrick’s cross was diverted away for a corner by Andrew Omabamidele which came to nothing, but Krul was helpless to prevent the Republic of Ireland international from finding the equaliser five minutes later as his effort from outside the box flied past the Dutch stopper. After a whirlwind opening 15 minutes to the half, the final 30 minutes was full of huff and puff from both persuasions, but the elusive goal was finding hard to come by, Hendrick again going nearest for the hosts but this effort was both high and wide.

Canaries pushed hard for the Royals held firm, taking a point into Friday night's clash with QPR at Loftus Road.