Reading 1 - 1 Cardiff City. Match Report

The Cardiff striker's long-range strike appeared to come back off the underside of the bar but referee Andy D'Urso judged the ball had crossed the line.

Noel Hunt timed his far-post run to perfection to give Reading a fifth-minute lead over second-placed Cardiff.

Before Bothroyd's 77th-minute goal, Michael Chopra spurned a fine chance to get Cardiff back on level terms.

Hunt and Simon Church combined to put the hosts in front as Reading started with real purpose.

Church rode the challenges of several Cardiff defenders before whipping a cross to the far post which Hunt was able to poke home.

The Bluebirds' Seyi Olofinjana thought he had equalised when he drilled the ball past Adam Federici but the Nigerian international had already been flagged offside.

Church had an opportunity to double Reading's lead as Shane Long pulled the ball back to his fellow striker but the Welshman's drilled effort from 12 yards was magnificently saved by Tom Heaton.

Reading might have been made to rue that miss but Chopra wasted a glorious chance to draw Cardiff level.

The former Newcastle man found himself one-on-one with Federici only to fire wide.

On the stroke of half-time, Cardiff launched a rapid counter-attack and when Chopra squared the ball across the six yard box Olofinjana looked certain to score with the goal at his mercy, but he was superbly tackled by Royals defender Andy Griffin.

After the interval, the lively Long had a chance to put Reading further in front but his 20-yard lob went narrowly over the bar.

At the other end, Chris Burke cut inside on the right and dribbled the ball into the area but he struck wide.

Galvanised by this chance, Cardiff created a good spell of pressure and they were rewarded for their efforts in contentious circumstances 13 minutes from time.

Chopra picked out strike partner Bothroyd and his 35-yard strike went in off the underside of the bar, though Reading were adamant that the ball had not crossed the line.

Burke's 20-yard strike nearly won it for Cardiff at the death but Federici produced a fine save to ensure the spoils were shared.

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