Second-placed Reading could only play out a goalless draw with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
Coppell's men held at Loftus Road
Second-placed Reading could only play out a goalless draw with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
Steve Coppell's side had been hoping to keep the pressure on Championship leaders Wolves but they were unable to break the deadlock in an even contest at QPR.
The home side also created opportunities to nick a winner, with Heidar Helguson squandering a glorious chance in the first half.
QPR dominated possession early on and Helguson, arriving at the far post a couple of yards out, headed horribly wide from Lee Cook's cross.
Reading came within a whisker of taking the lead in the 17th minute when Kevin Doyle's shot ricocheted into the path of French midfielder Kalifa Cisse, whose low drive was fingertipped around a post by Lee Camp.
Camp then had to palm away Leroy Lita's cross-shot before Stephen Hunt whipped in a dangerous cross which Damien Delaney cleared with Jimmy Kebe lurking.
Camp saved his side again at the start of the second half, keeping out Lita's angled drive which deflected of Kaspars Gorkss after the striker was sent through by Doyle's clever chip.
Centre-half Alex Pearce was then inches away from connecting with Chris Armstrong's floated free-kick, but again the ball bounced to safety.
Rangers' best move of the match came on the hour mark when Liam Miller and Delaney combined well to send Cook scampering down the left wing, but his cross flew past Helguson's outstretched boot into Adam Federici's arms.
A late scramble caused minor panic in the Rangers goalmouth but neither Doyle nor Michael Duberry could force the ball home, before Hunt shot wide after Camp had spilled a high ball.
