Reading FC put another point on the board as they played out a goalless draw with runaway League One leaders Birmingham City.
Despite the disparity in spending in recent years, the Royals kept in the hunt for a play-off place by keeping the Blues at bay.
The result puts Reading three points outside the top six before the teams above them play this afternoon.
The Blues were without star striker Jay Stansfield who was stretchered off in their EFL Trophy game, which meant he was replaced by Lyndon Dykes.
Amadou Mbengue was named in the starting eleven for Reading as he made his 100th appearance for the club, while Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan was given the nod up top.
Chances were few and far between in an evenly matched opening 45 minutes which lacked any real quality in the final third from either side.
But Reading could be pleased with their first-half efforts against the runaway league leaders as they prevented the Blues from creating any clear cut chances.
There were confident displays at the back from the centre back pairing of Amadou Mbengue and Tyler Bindon to help shut Birmingham out, while the only shot on target throughout the first-half came from Reading’s Mamadi Camara who forced a routine stop from Ryan Allsop.
Lewis Wing forced a strong hand from Allsop early in the second-half when he tried one his trademark long drives at goal.
Another superb piece of defending then saw Mbengue make a goal saving block on the line to prevent Dykes from putting the visitors ahead.
It was then Bindon’s turn to make an important intervention when he stood in the way of Tomoki Iwata’s shot at goal.
Noel Hunt turned to his bench to bring on Jayden Wareham to replace Ehibhatiomham, who came off with a head injury.
He had a sight at goal within moments of coming on but skewed his effort just wide of the far post from a tight angle after Michael Craig squeezed the ball through to him.
Reading had chances late on when Chem Campbell headed at the back post but was stopped by Allsop before Wareham took a superbly cushioned touch in the box but had no one to lay it off to.
However, neither side did quite enough to snatch a goal which meant the points were shared.
Next up for Reading is an away trip to Wigan Athletic next weekend.
Reading: Pereira, Craig, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia, Savage, Wing, Knibbs, Campbell, Camara, Ehibhatiomhan
Subs: Akande, Abrefa, Bodin, Button, Holzman, Rushesha, Wareham
Birmingham City: Allsop, Laird, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane, Iwata, Paik Seung-Ho, Wright, Dowell, Anderson, Dykes
Subs: Bielik, Garner-Hickman, Hanley, Hansson, May, Peacock-Farrell, Willumsson
