Leeds hold on for point

Leeds United held off a late Reading onslaught to claim a point at the Madejski Stadium on a freezing cold afternoon.

Grayson made no changes from the side that drew at Norwich last weekend and Amdy Faye returned to the bench.

The first half saw very little goalmouth action with both sides giving the ball away far too easily.

Leeds only real chance came on the half hour when Snodgrass hit his free kick straight at Federici in the Reading goal.

Reading came closest to scoring when after a scramble following a corner Shane Long saw his short somehow back heeled off the line by Gradel.

The only real excitement of the first half came after an exchange between Max Gradel and Andy Griffin that saw both players booked.

The second half started slightly better with both sides finding a bit more time and space on the ball.

Kasper Schmeichel made a great early save following a trademark Ian Harte free kick.

Snodgrass then found himself with time and space in behind the Reading defence but failed to pick out anybody in a Leeds shirt.

Max Gradel then tested Federici when he cut inside on the left before shooting from the edge of the area.

Reading made a double substitution and Jimmy Kebe was giving George McCartney a torrid time down the left hand side.

Simon Grayson also made a double substitution with fifteen minutes remaining, replacing Max Gradel and Luciano Becchio with Ross McCormack and Billy Paynter.

Reading looked the most likely to pinch all three points in the final ten minutes as the Leeds goal came under siege.

Antonio hit the post from a tight angle, George McCartney made a desperate last-ditch clearance and Kasper Schmeichel saved from point blank range from Noel Hunt.

Leeds almost stole the points in added time when McCormack picked out Howson in space who drove on to the edge of the area, his left foot shot was pushed wide by Federici.

A well earned point and a rare clean sheet for a much more solid looking centre of defence.

The draw takes Leeds unbeaten run to six games and they drop just outside the play offs in seventh place.

Teams

Reading
Federici, Griffin, Khizanishvili, Pearce, Harte, McAnuff, Leigertwood (Antonio 76), Karacan (Tabb 60), Hunt, Long, Church (Kebe 60)

Subs not used
Armstrong, Robson-Kanu, Cummings, McCarthy

Leeds
Schmeichel, Connolly, Bruce, O`Brien, McCartney, Howson, Johnson, Snodgrass (Sam 88), Becchio (McCormack 75) Gradel (Paynter 75), Kilkenny

Subs not used
Higgs, Collins, Faye, Hughes

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