COVENTRY City made it two games unbeaten at the Ricoh Arena after a goalless draw with promotion-chasing Reading.
In what turned out to be a game largely lacking in clear cut opportunities, a few nailbiting situations in the final ten minutes added a bit of excitement to the clash but ultimately it was a game which had draw written all over it.
The opening 45 minutes was littered by half-chances but nothing clear cut as Kalifa Cisse unleashed the first effort of the match after two minutes, a half-volley slashed well wide.
Leon Best had an almost identical effort for the Sky Blues after nine minutes, wildly swinging at a bouncing ball but dragging it across Marcus Hahnemann's goalmouth from the corner of the penalty area.
Best also played a part in City's next effort four minutes later, providing a delicate cross into the box for Aron Gunnarsson who was just beaten to the ball by the head of Andre Bikey.
Jordan Henderson had the best chance of the first half to open the scoring on 23 minutes, coming within a bootlace of dispossessing Hahnemann infront of his goal although the 'keeper was able to just steer the ball away from danger.
Henderson had another chance to get his second goal for the Sky Blues three minutes after the half-hour mark, Danny Fox's corner sparking a mini goalmouth scramble which ended with the Tyneside winger steering a shot just wide of the post.
And Best also caused some minor excitement a miute before the end of the first half, running onto Henderson's through ball but being marginally beaten to it by Hahnemann who came off his line to get down low and wrap the ball up.
The second half started a bit more wildly as referee Terry Kettle handed out five bookings in the first ten minutes of the second period.
James Harper was first into the book for a foul on Guillaume Beuzelin quickly followed by Stephen Wright, Fox and Clinton Morrison before Bikey finished off the spate of yellows.
Bar the early hot-blooded nature of the opening second-half exchangees though, play soon reverted to the more composed fashion shown in the opening 45 minutes.
Infact it took a 76th minute effort from Jay Tabb to liven up proceedings, his effort flying just wide of Westwood's post.
And just three minutes later the Sky Blues almost benefitted from their own great piece of counter-attacking play.
Osbourne did well to hold up two players before releasing substitute Robbie Simpson down the right flank, Simpson cutting inside and playing the ball to Morrison with his back to goal who teed up Beuzelin to shoot just wide.
Royals substitute Noel Hunt had City fans' hearts in their mouths with two minutes to go, the Republic of Ireland international getting to the byline and firing at Westwood's near post only for his international teammate to palm the ball behind for a corner.
And the Sky Blues also had a chance to snatch a result deep into injury time, Isaac Osbourne's highly ambitious effort taking a deflection for a corner with just seconds to go.
Fox fired in a deep delivery near the back post which reached Simpson, but the striker could only manage a brushed header which whistled out for a goal kick.
Attendance: 17,218 (1,801 away)
Teams
Coventry City: Westwood, Wright, Dann, Turner, Fox, Beuzelin, Gunnarsson, Henderson (Osbourne 59), Eastwood (Hall 85), Morrison, Best (Simpson 45)
Subs: Marshall (GK), Ward
Reading: Hahnemann, Armstrong, Cisse, Harper (S Hunt 68), Kitson, Bikey, Long, Duberry, Tabb (N Hunt 81), Kelly, Little (Matejovsky 68)
Subs: Federici (GK), N Hunt, Pearce
