Top-form Hislop holds Reading at bay

Reading 0 Portsmouth

When an unbeatable force meets an immovable object this is the most likely outcome. The stubborn collision between the First Division's most prolific goal-scoring side and the most resolute defence, perhaps inevitably resulted in this tense goalless draw, but still both sides could take something from the result. Reading had the better opportunities, which showed at the end of the first half, but they lost their way.

It is Reading who have the best defence at this level, but they also came into this game as the most in-form side in the division, with six consecutive victories and no goals conceded in that time. The draw ensured one run ended although the other continued for the Royals, but by contrast Portsmouth never looked likely to continue their own run of four consecutive wins.

Reading had controlled the first half, but unlike in their previous recent matches they were unable to convert any one of their early chances into goals. In fact they had won five of their previous six games by a 1-0 scoreline, and their hopes for that happening again were emphasised afterwards by Kevin Dillon. Their assistant manager said: "We were banking on a 1-0 win and we had a chance at the end to do that. Overall though, on chances we shaded it." The Reading manager Alan Pardew had implied beforehand he thought his parsimonious defence would finally be breached for the first time since they lost 1-0 at Preston, way back in late October. That it was not was in large part down to Matthew Upson, the Arsenal defender whose three-month loan period has now ended.

The Royals' run of form since that defeat led to Pardew picking up the manager of the month award for November and his main striker Nicky Forster collecting the equivalent player's award. The manager prize is usually a sure signal that the team concerned will lose their next game, but the longer this match went on, the more it was certain that Reading would beat that particular state of affairs.

The opening 45 minutes went almost completely the way of the Berkshire side and while Forster was at the heart of all the best moves, neither he nor any of his teammates was unable to convert the opportunities that fell their way.

The best of these came a white-knuckle three minutes before the interval. Another typical Forster run saw him make space for himself and he scampered down to the by-line. From there he crossed for John Salako, but last week's match-winner at Brighton was foiled this time by Shaka Hislop, who saw the ball come straight at him.

A minute later and this time the full-back Graeme Murty was involved in the build-up. His cross found Salako and the former Crystal Palace winger tried a first time shot that forced Hislop into a far better save, down to his left.

Portsmouth still top the First Division and boast the best attack but Harry Redknapp had his hand forced by the midweek injury to his top scorer Vincent Pericard. Paul Merson roved behind a front two of Svetoslav Todorov and Mark Burchill, but all to little effect as Reading comfortably soaked up everything Portsmouth could throw at them, as you would expect of a team that has now gone 11 hours without conceding a single goal.

Todorov's contribution was summed up 12 minutes into the second half when the Bulgarian worked his way into the penalty box only to skew his shot so badly it went for a throw-in. Forster should have wrapped up all three points just three minutes from the end as Portsmouth clung on for a point, when Kevin Watson slipped the striker into space, but he drilled his shot high over Hislop's bar to ensure honours remained even.

Reading 0 Portsmouth 0

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