The game itself was scrappy but the occasion was electric. City's best first half chance came from a free kick that was laid on for Paul Parry to fire just wide. Michael Chopra was booked for fouling the Reading keeper when Chopra was through on goal. His first touch was heavy and he clattered the keeper who saved bravely.
Reading liked to keep the ball wide with Doyle and Stephen Hunt getting little joy from Kennedy and especially McNaughton. Roger Johnson made a cracking tackle but was shown yellow. Tension was high.
The second half started with Joe Ledley breaking into the box to fire a shot into the ground but it spun wide and another Ledley effort on the volley from 25 yards dipped just over the bar. Reading had more possession and pressured but City held firm despite some scary penalty box moments.
As the game wore on there were direct chants to Reading defender Michael Duberry. The player called a "grass" becuase of his role in the Woodgate / Bowyer court case when all the players were at Leeds earlier in the decade. The constant pressue from the fans was gertting at Duberry who was starting to gesture back to the City support. The referee had to tell him to calm down.
Then City looked to have snatched victory. Reading couldn't clear and Michael Chopra pounced at close range to make it 1 - 0. There was a suspicion of a push by Chopra but he claimed the goal and on 89 mins City were in front.
The board went up for 4 mins injury time which started with Reading throwing everything into attack. City managed to break and Bothroyd should have wrapped up the game but he shot straight at Federici when through on goal. Again Reading pressed and as the 94 mins were up City conceded a corner. Federici, the Reading keeper, went forward, the cross came in, Duberry headed goalwards but his effort was blocked by Gyepes on the line but the ball fell to the keeper who smashed home the equaliser. Reading went wild, City went mad, Duberry was waggling his backside at the City fans and gesturing away. The final whistle was blown as City restared, Stephen Hunt and Duberry acted like they'd just won the World Cup, Duberry standing arms aloft on the pitch. The barrier was breached as several City fans spilled onto the pitch and a rumpus in the corner resulted in the Thames Valley Horse of the Year show as mounted officers trotted across the pitch.
A point was a good return from that match but of course you feel miffed to miss out on all three points. That will be forgotten if we beat Plymouth tomorrow. December has already produced 11 points from 15 with victories over Preston, Ipswich and Sheff Weds and commendable draws at Burnley and Reading.
I wonder if Steve Coppell will risk Dubbery and the two Hunts at Ninian Park next week when Reading come to face us in the FA Cup?