Exeter City picked up a strong point at play-off hopefuls Reading, earning a 0-0 draw after a resolute performance where they created enough chances to take all three points back to Devon.
Manager Gary Caldwell named three changes to the City side that drew 1-1 with Northampton Town last time out. Ed Turns made his second start for the Grecians since joining in January, after sitting out the last three matches due to suspension. Caleb Watts and Ed Francis also returned, with Ryan Woods and Tony Yogane moving to the bench.
First half
The hosts started on the front foot asking questions of the City defence with long throws into the box which were well defended. Moments later Ryan Trevitt caught Andre Garcia on the turn after four minutes, giving the Royals dangerous free kick 25-yards from goal. Charlie Savage squared the ball to Lewis Wing, who fired the ball high and handsome.
City’s first chance of real note came with a quick break through the middle as Jack Aitchison drove the team up the pitch, but Ryan Trevitt can't get the ball out from under his feet to shoot and the keeper smothered the danger.
Straight down the other end Reading’s quick break saw the ball find Billy Bodin on the wing. He cut inside and sent a shot in which dipped before Joe Whitworth tipped it behind.
Loose play in the centre of the field saw Reading break, Charlie Savage's low ball into the box was slid out for a corner by MacDonald, before Joe Whitworth punched the set-piece out from under his crossbar as the Royals applied pressure on City.
It took 25 minutes for City to win their first corner. Ed Turns found Caleb Watts down the right with a lovely curling ball, and while Watts couldn’t get a cross in, he did win City's first corner. From the corner Magennis reached Francis' ball at the back post but his looping header was into the keeper's hands.
City played some neat possession in the middle which saw Ryan Trevitt try and slide a ball through to Demitri Mitchell, but it had too much on it, and Mbengue did well at the back to mop up for Reading with some calm defending.
The Royals really should have opened the scoring after 43 minutes, neat play saw Lewis Wing shoot from just inside the box, Joe Whitworth made a good save, and the ball zipped across the face of goal just beyond the reach of anyone in blue and white. The sides went in level at the break.
Second Half
City started the second half the brightest. Great determination from Jack Aitchison saw him run along the touchline before cutting back and shooting across the goal, but his shot was blocked wide.
Ben Purrington picked up a yellow for a late challenge trying to stop a counter from Reading. The resulting free-kick was taken quickly and resulted in Caleb Watts giving away another free-kick on the edge of the box and picked up a yellow. The free kick from Charlie Savage was wild and sailed above Whitworth’s goal.
Gary Caldwell made a double switch on the hour mark, with Tony Yogane and Josh Colwill replacing Jack Aitchison and Demetri Mitchell. Josh Magennis forced a corner for City, which Ed Francis sent in, the ball came back to Tony on the edge of the box, and he squared for Ryan Trevitt, but his strike was scuffed over.
City were looking bright on the counter. Ed Francis drove forward and sent a ball out wide to Colwill, his first time cross was low and dangerous and pushed away by Joel Pereira to safety.
City had strong shouts for penalty after some ping-pong in the Reading area. Joel Colwill looked to get a foot on the ball and looked to have been tripped, but the ref waved away City’s appeal.
Moments late City threatened again with a quick break as Tony Yogane crossed deep, Josh Magennis head back across goal and Ryan Trevitt couldn’t connect as he looked to open the scoring.
City were creating a host of chances, a Royals defender headed the ball onto his own bar before Tony Yogane tried to get a shot off, two blocks later and the ball came to Ed Francis, but his effort was wide.
Sonny Cox, who came on as a sub on 77, came close to opening the scoring, Josh Colwill slid a perfect pass through, and Sonny was just unable to get his shot away with a defender and Pereira closing him down quickly.
City kept pressing and great tenacity by sub Pat Jones kept the ball in on the byline, Ryan Trevitt crossed and it was headed away for a City corner. The corner was aimed at the keeper and a foul was called in Reading's favour.
Joe Whitworth pulled out a fine stop deep into injury time. Lewis Wing found space 35 yards from goal and unleashed a fierce drive towards the bottom corner, but City’s number 1 pushed it away to safety!
The full time whistle went and City picked up a strong point on the road!
Reading XI: Pereira, Knibbs, Savage, Bodin (Ehibhatiomhan ’58), Rushesha (Yiadom ’58), Wareham, Bindon, Mbengue, Camara (Akande ’77), Wing (c), Garcia.
Subs not used: Button, Abrefa, Carroll, Holzman,
Exeter City XI: Whitworth, Watts (Jones ’77), Turns, A MacDonald, Hartridge, Mitchell (Yogane ’60), Francis (Cole ’88), Trevitt, Aitchison (Colwill ’60), Magennis (c) (Cox ’77).
Subs not used: Harper, Woods.
Yellow Cards: Magennis ’40, Purrrington ’51, Watts ’52, Aitchison ‘56, MacDonald '90+7
Attendance: 7995 with 448 away.