Middlesbrough 1 (Killen 47)
Reading 1 (Wheater OG 63)
The Royals battled their way back from a goal down to earn a deserved draw at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Jimmy Kebe forced Daivd Wheater to turn the ball into his own net after a magnificent run and cross from the right hand side.
Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Jones; Hoyte (Naughton 65), Grounds, Pogatetz, Wheater; O'Neil (c), Robson, Franks (Emnes 86), Arca; Killen, McDonald (Lita 74)
Subs: Coyne, Naughton, Riggott, Taylor, Emnes, Lita, Miller
Booked: Arca, Robson, Killen
Reading (4-2-3-1): Federici; Griffin, Bertrand, Ingimarsson (c) (Khizanishvili 90), Mills; Howard, Tabb; McAnuff, Kebe, Sigurdsson; Long
Subs: Hamer, Gunnarsson, Matejovsky, Robson-Kanu, Church, Rasiak
Attendance: 17,082 (375 away)
Referee: R Hall
Live updates
2pm - Reading's team is in and we're unchanged from the midweek win over QPR. The bench also remains the same.
2:10pm - Boro's team is named and Leroy Lita is on the bench. There's a change for the home side in goal, Danny Coyne dropped for Brad Jones - one of Adam Federici's rivals for a place in the Australia World Cup squad.
2:20pm - Among those in the press box today is former referee Jeff Winter.
2:30pm - Discussions are taking place among the 'Boro-based media about Jones' inclusion - and the debate is punctuated by John Carew's equaliser past Marcus Hahnemann on on the live Sky game from Villa Park.
2:37pm - The teams are out warming up on a chilly, drizzly day in the north east. Our hardy supporters are beginning to congregate.
2:45pm - The Riverside pitch looks in OK nick. There's a few warming up in hats and gloves - a wise move! The only Reading player not wearing a sweatshirt is Jimmy Kebe - he's brave!
2:50pm - Young duo Jake Taylor and Nicholas Bignall are out warming up with our team, having travelled with the squad on the plane yesterday.
2:51pm - Former England and 'Boro man Danny Mills is on the pitch talking about his upcoming wheelchair charity race. More details at justgiving.com/dannymillswheelchairmarathon
2.57pm The teams are out on the pitch and the ever present pre-match handshakes are taking place. We're just about ready to get underway.
3.01pm Brian McDermott's side will defend the goal behind which their travelling support are taking their seats. Those fans have done well to make the epic 296 mile journey from Berkshire!
3.02pm Early corner for Boro but well cleared by the Royals - Matt Mills bravely leapt to block a ball dropping out the overcast Teeside sky.
3.05pm Gylfi Sigurdsson skips away from his man after a neat ball inside by Jobi McAnuff, but despite being clattered to the floor referee Mr R Hall waves play on. Should have been a freekick to the visitors.
3.07pm A quiet opening to the game - not quite up there with some of the humdinging starts we've had previously this season. No chances for either side.
3.09pm First half-hearted effort on goal, Chris Killen sends a low drive from 25 yards that's easily gathered by Federici.
3.10pm Another half chance. A foraging run down the left eventually sends the ball into the box where Scott McDonald pokes a half volley well wide from the penalty spot.
3.13pm First signs that Reading are starting to creep into the Boro half. A free-kick on the left byline is swung in by Brian Howard, but well cleared by Wheater, whilst moments later Matt Mills leaps at the far post before heading just wide.
3.15pm More good stuff from the men in hoops. A clever quick free-kick catches the home side napping, and as Shane Long flicks on Ivar Ingimarsson finds himself in on goal. Unfortunately he's denied by the linesman's flag. The big Icelander is of course still looking for his first goal of the campaign.
3.17pm McDermott's charges are keeping the pressure on. Jimmy Kebe sends a looping cross into the six yard box - causing Justin Hoyte to panic and flash a volley over his own bar.
3.19pm Both the atmosphere and the tempo are starting to rise here - with a brief spell of end-to-end football. It culminates with McDonald sending a bouncing header inches past Federici's post, an effort that sends our Aussie scrambling across his goalmouth.
3.22pm Magical stuff from McAnuff. Backed into a corner on the byline, he somehow spins past two Boro players before nipping the ball past Arca on the edge of the box. The Argentinean clatters him to the ground with a poorly timed tackle. He's booked and it's a well-placed set piece for the Royals.
3.23pm Gylfi Sigurdsson swings the free-kick well over the bar. It was at an awkward angle for Reading's top scorer and he couldn't quite get the required dip.
3.26pm A good early cross by Kebe catches the Boro defence off guard, but as McAnuff arrives late on the edge of the box he stumbles and can't quite control. Hoyte clears.
3.29pm Still the Royals stay within the Middlesbrough half. A nice knockdown by Sigurdsson almost sends Kebe hurtling into the box, but the Malian touches it too far and Brad Jones collects.
3.30pm Best chance of the game!! A delicate chipped cross by McAnuff finds the leaping Long six yards out, and although the Irishman does well to direct his header towards the corner Brad Jones pulls off a fantastic one-handed save. Kebe can't quite connect with the rebound.
3,33pm Boro break and Barry Robson pulls out a couple of body swerves to open up space 25 yards from goal. He follows that up with a daisy cutting drive but Federici does brilliantly to hold on with Boro strikers ready to pounce.
3.36pm This time it's the away side who break, as from a Middlesbrough corner Andy Griffin does brilliantly to shift the ball upfield to Jimmy Kebe. With space ahead of him the winger bursts into the area, but is crowded out before he can weald a boot for the shot.
3.39pm The home fans are starting to get edgy as the Royals continue to hog possession. Brian Howard takes a shot from 30 yards but a deflection takes all the sting away and Jones snaffles it.
3.42pm Wonderful move from Reading involving slick, quick passing from Tabb and Kebe. Jimmy drives a ball into the centre for Long to control, but the number nine can't quite get a shot on goal.
3.45pm Two minutes of added time shown by the fourth official.
HALF TIME
4.06pm We're back underway. Let's hope the Royals pick up where they left off, which was well on top towards the end of the first period.
4.08pm GOAL! Boro have taken the lead out of absolutely nowhere. A long, looping cross from deep is headed towards goal by Chris Killen and it loops agonisingly over Federici's outstretched palm and into the corner of the net.
4.10pm That's given Gordon Strachan's side a boost - now they push forward with the hoops looking slightly stunned. A cross from O'Neil ends up swirling dangerously towards goal and Federici is forced to tip it over the bar.
4.13pm Sigurdsson does well to slide in Jobi McAnuff, who has space to run into inside the area. He takes a heavy touch and has to settle for a corner. Nothing much comes of it.
4.17pm Barry Robson is booked for a rather poor attempt at a dive in the centre circle. Frustratingly Sigurdsson had the ball in space and so maybe it would have been best to play advantage there.
4.19pm Clever trickery from Kebe on the right wing has he jinks past his man and into the area. He slams a shot towards goal but Jones manages to hold on at his near post.
4.23pm A break in play as Jonathan Grounds is treated for injury. 17,082 people here at the Riverside today - 375 from Reading.
4.24pm GOAL!!! Magnificent play from Kebe and he's got us back in it! The Malian magician is stranded on the byline with two men to beat, but skips past two and forces his way into the area by the finest of margins. It's an impossible angle for the shot but he slams an unstoppable cross into the six yard box that takes a wicked deflection and flies into the back of the net off Wheater's boot. Great stuff.
4.27pm A reeling Boro have been forced to make a sub. The injured Hoyte limps off to be replaced by on loan Tottenham full back Kyle Naughton.
4.29pm Quick feet by Bertrand to skip inside and win a corner for his side. The set-piece is half cleared but only as far as Howard, who drags a volley wide from distance.
4.31pm A Reading striker has found the net - though it's at The Valley, London. On loan Royal David Mooney has just scored an equaliser for Charlton Athletic. Oliver Bozanic has also netted for Aldershot.
4.35pm Leroy Lita is coming off the bench for Boro. The ex-Royal bagged a brace at Madejski Stadium earlier this season and will surely be pumped for a match up with his former paymasters this afternoon.
4.36pm Again world class stuff from Kebe. He speeds past two Boro bodies before sending in a teasing cross that drops to McAnuff at the far post. His shot is deflected over the bar. It flashed past Long in the first instance and maybe he could have done better with an attempted header.
4.40pm Eleven minutes remain here on Teeside and this game is finely balanced. Both sides have had dominant spells at different stages - sure to be a tight finish.
4.43pm Supreme strength from Long on the near side to sneak past his marker, though as he dashes in on goal he's blocked before he can square to the supporting Sigurdsson.
4.47pm The home crowd are up and suddenly Boro have their tails up. A series of deflections and ricochets eventually find their way to Killen, who sees his smashed shot held by Federici.
4.49pm Now the Royals come close to snatching all three points - through Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Icelandic youngster drives a free-kick low at goal, it catches Jones unaware but somehow bounces off the keepers body and over the bar. He didn't know a lot about that.
4.52pm Five minutes time added on by the fourth official. Ivar Ingimarsson has taken a heavy knock and is going to need to come off. Khizanishvili replaces him. Matt Mills has taken the armband in the captain's absence.
4.57pm Gylfi SIgurdsson twists and turns into space on the edge of the area before squeezing a shot on goal. It's well tipped away by Brad Jones though.
FULL TIME - Mills is in with our supporters to give them his shirt and thank them for their support.
