Reading and Queens Park Rangers were both relegated from the Premier League after a fitting obituary for both clubs: a 0-0 draw that had plenty of energy but a lack of quality and confidence.
Reading vs. Queens Park Rangers: Final score 0-0, Scoreless draw condemns both sides to relegation
Reading and Queens Park Rangers both needed a win to keep their relegation hopes alive, but a draw sealed both of their fates to confirm both clubs’ demotion to the Championship.
Richard Heathcote
It was a bright start from both sides, with plenty of attacking intent and spirit showed by both the hosts and the visitors, although a lack of quality led to few real chances. It was a theme that was to continue for the entire game, although a goal looked likely after Loic Remy and Gareth McLeary both had efforts in the opening couple of minutes.
The closest either team went to opening the scoring in the first half came soon after, Adel Taarabt winning a free-kick on the edge of the area after a foul by Jem Karacan, and Esteban Granero stepped up to curl in a free-kick which flicked the bar on the way over. QPR had another chance to open the scoring soon afterwards as Jay Bothroyd got clear of the Reading defence - Alex McCarthy charged out of his goal to deny the striker, and his chipped effort landed wide of the post.
It was soon Reading's turn to threaten, however, and a quickly-taken free-kick after Jose Bosingwa gave a cheap one away on the edge of the area almost caught the visitors' defence out. Pavel Pogrebnyak could not get a decisive enough touch, however, and after a brief goalmouth scramble, the Rs eventually managed to hack the ball clear.
A lack of quality and confidence had been the problem with the first half, although the second was not to prove much better, with fewer chances going either way. Jobi McAnuff almost changed that when he produced a fine pass to release Pogrebnyak, but the Russian's curling effort was wide of the post.
Adam Le Fondre was soon introduced to the fray in a bid to find a goal for the hosts, and he had an excellent chance to do so when Danny Guthrie's deep cross found the striker's run at the back post, but he couldn't quite direct his header on target and the game remained deadlocked.
In the end, a late series of Reading corners threatened to bear some fruit for the hosts, but the QPR defence held firm enough to at least go out fighting. The final whistle, however, heralded the confirmation of the drop for both sides and the final extinguishing of their slim hopes.
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