Saturday 22 August 2015 22:35, UK
Reading failed to win at the Madejski Stadium for the seventh Championship match in a row, a run stretching back to last season, as they were held 0-0 by MK Dons.
The stalemate means Reading have now failed to score in the league at home in 626 minutes.
Reading dominated the game, with Oliver Norwood twice denied by fine saves from visiting goalkeeper David Martin. MK's best effort saw Simon Church strike a post in the first half.
Reading had made a disappointing start to the season, gaining only two points from their opening three league games.
Contrastingly the away team from Milton Keynes, in their first campaign in the second tier, had made a decent opening with wins over Rotherham and Bolton.
Both sides began cautiously in the searing heat, with MK's Darren Potter creating the first chance - a close-range shot that he dragged wide.
Reading were quick to respond, with Hal Robson-Kanu glancing a header off target from a Jordan Obita cross.
MK came under increasing pressure as Reading upped the tempo. Robson-Kanu had a shot blocked, from an Orlando Sa cross, and Sa was denied by a fine last-ditch tackle from defender Antony Kay.
Rob Hall could have done better on an MK break but, after dispossessing Obita, he cut in from the right and flashed a shot wide.
Reading resumed control and Sa was stopped from shooting by a firm challenge from Kyle McFadzean and then Sa and Robson-Kanu had close-range efforts blocked by the hard-pressed MK defence.
Diego Poyet, making his debut on loan from West Ham, anchored the MK midfield with growing authority.
But Reading went close through attempts by Danny Williams, after a long solo run, and Stephen Quinn, who drove over from 20 yards.
Shortly before half time, former Reading striker Church struck a post for MK, after a scramble in the home goalmouth, and Norwood forced a good save from Martin at the other end.
Martin was in action again early in the second half, smothering a low drive from Gunter. And Martin was alert again, denying Aaron Tshibola after a good Quinn pass.
MK were hanging on grimly. Sa headed over from a Gunter cross and Martin had to save athletically from both Williams and Norwood.
Little was seen of MK going forward late on, with home goalkeeper Jonathan Bond a virtual bystander.
Martin came to his side's rescue again near the end when saving a powerful 20-yard effort from Nick Blackman and MK held on for a draw.
"Dave gives us more than just his shot-stopping. His calmness, his feet, his distribution with his hands. There's so many components to Dave that, for me, he's irreplaceable. He marshaled the backline superbly today and the boys in front of him did a wonderful job, too."
"That was another solid performance. We controlled the match from start to finish and almost every game this season has been like a carbon copy of the one before."
