Ipswich 2-2 Reading: Royals rescue point at Portman Road

Jordan Obita rescued a point for out-of-sorts Reading to keep their promotion push on track in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Ipswich.

Tom Lawrence was once again the star of the show for the hosts, twice putting his team ahead and making it eight goals in eight games. But Reading hit back with goals from Jordon Mutch and Obita's 79th-minute long-range effort.

Ipswich, whose manager Mick McCarthy was facing increasing pressure from the terraces, started brightly and Josh Emmanuel tested Ali Al-Habsi at his near post after some neat touchline trickery.

In the 20th minute, they went close again when the two full-backs combined, Emmanuel crossing for the onrushing Jonas Knudsen to head just wide.

New Ipswich loan signing Emyr Huws tested the handling of Al-Habsi with his own shot from distance before Knudsen was denied by the Reading goalkeeper as the left-back looked to push the ball past him.

The Suffolk side deservedly took the lead two minutes before the interval with a goal made in Wales. Huws led the break out and his through-ball to Lawrence allowed the attacker to run at the heart of the Reading defence, gain a yard of space and fire home off the underside of the crossbar.

Out of the blue, Reading equalised with their first real chance of the game. Luke Chambers miscued a ball down the line, allowing half-time substitute Lewis Grabban to feed the ball across to Mutch who calmly side-footed into the corner.

And the visitors almost took the lead just minutes later when Danny Williams' first-time shot forced Bartosz Bialkowski into a smart diving save.

Lawrence went agonisingly close to restoring Ipswich's advantage after another mazy run ended with his goal-bound shot blocked by Tyler Blackett before the same player saw his corner headed off the line by the alert Kermorgant.

David McGoldrick went closer still on the hour mark, the busy Al-Habsi just keeping hold of his powerful low shot before Ipswich regained the lead in the 61st minute. McGoldrick's through-ball from inside his own half dissected the heart of the Reading defence and Lawrence ran through to slot the ball under Al-Habsi.

But Reading equalised in the 79th minute when Garath McCleary's corner was cleared by Christophe Berra but Obita brilliantly found the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy:

"It was certainly a positive reaction from Tuesday night when we were comprehensively beaten. That performance was unacceptable and unpalatable but today was completely different. I made a few changes and the new faces have helped liven up the place and gave us all a spark.

"Not everything we touched turned to gold in the transfer window, but it is great to get people in who want to be here - whether they are just starting out in their career or looking to resurrect it."

Reading boss Jaap Stam:

"I don't think we were ever in the race for the top two. We are just beginning to build something this season after finishing 17th last year.

"I thought it was an entertaining match, though I was not always very confident on the touchline. My main frustration was how we conceded the goals - it makes it very hard when you have to equalise twice. I don't think we deserved any more but it was an important point for us."