Reading FC 0-0 Milton Keynes Dons: Instant Reaction

Reading: Bond, Obita, McShane, Ferdinand, Gunter, Robson-Kanu (Blackman), Norwood, Tshibola (Cox), Quinn (Fernandez), Williams, Sa

Steve Clarke largely kept faith with the team that came so close to a win at Hillsborough, with the only change seeing Jordan Obita replacing Andrew Taylor. Jonathan Bond kept his place in goal despite his howler on Wednesday and new signing Alex Fernandez was named on the bench.

Reading had the better of the first half, with surging runs from Orlando Sa and Danny Williams both ending in decent half chances while Hal Robson-Kanu was denied from close range. Stephen Quinn and Oliver Norwood also came close in the first 45 but it was the MK Dons who were the nearest to breaking the deadlock after former Royal Simon Church poked an effort against the inside of the post. Beyond that the visitors were restricted to the odd corner and half opening from scuffed Bond clearances.

Into the second-half and Reading again had the better of the chances, with Tshibola, Norwood and Blackman all testing Dons keeper David Martin. Sadly we once again couldn't make the opportunities count and even with a five minute cameo from Fernandez had to settle for a frustrating 0-0 draw.

The big positive here is the number of opportunities we carved out while again looking comfortable in defence. The problem through is obvious, the chances just aren't being converted and quality in that final third is still very much missing. Still you get the feeling that the team are on the verge of bursting into form rather than collapsing into freefall so for me the glass is very much half full.

We'll bring you a full report as well as player ratings a little later this weekend.