Reading’s League One play-off hopes suffered a setback when they were held to an uninspiring goalless draw at home to relegation-threatened Exeter.
Neither side impressed in a scrappy and goalless first half but it was Exeter who provided more of a goal threat after the break.
Reading went into the game on a six-match unbeaten run, winning 2-1 at Wigan on Saturday to leave them just three points off the top six.
Exeter had sat three points above the relegation zone, having registered only one victory in their past 11 league outings.
Reading dominated the early stages but had little to show for their enterprise until Billy Bodin’s angled drive forced a good save from City goalkeeper Joe Whitworth.
Bodin later saw a goal-bound volley, from Charlie Savage’s superb cross to the far post, deflected wide.
The visitors offered little going forward before the break but were vastly improved in the second half, going close on a number of occasions.
Ryan Trevitt squandered two promising openings and a teasing Caleb Watts centre saw the attempted clearance of Royals defender Amadou Mbengue cannon against the home crossbar and away to safety.
Reading responded belatedly and almost snatched victory but for Whitworth’s fine save to keep out a late Lewis Wing piledriver from long range.
Chesterfield kept their play-off hopes alive following a 4-1 League Two win over Morecambe, thanks to goals from Will Grigg, Ash Palmer, Michael Olakigbe and Tom Naylor.Kyle McFadzean headed a fraction wide from Dylan Duffy’s cross, while Lee Angol went close for the visitors before Chesterfield took the lead.The goal came in time added on at the end of the half when Palmer’s header wa...

Nat Phillips struck six minutes from time as Derby took a massive step towards Sky Bet Championship survival but Hull’s hopes of similarly avoiding the drop suffered a major blow.In a low-quality contest that was dubbed a relegation six-pointer between two sides immediately above the bottom three at the start of the day, Phillips’ late header gave the Rams a priceless 1-0 win.Derby had...

Motherwell scored two goals within a minute late in the first half to dent St Johnstone’s dwindling survival hopes in a 3-2 win.Saints took an early lead through Makenzie Kirk’s eighth William Hill Premiership goal of the campaign.However, a change of tactics from Michael Wimmer sparked a revival and helped secure a home victory that lifts Well up to seventh.Rock-bottom St Johnstone ar...

York continued their stellar form in the run up to the play-offs despite their faint title hopes finally being put out.City needed a monumental swing for Barnet to give away top spot and, with the Bees duly confirming promotion, York beat Solihull Moors 2-0.It was a seventh game unbeaten, with their aggregate score over that period 23-6.Cameron John got them on their way here, scoring three minute...

Charlie McCann scored the only goal as Forest Green beat National League promotion rivals Oldham 1-0 at The New Lawn.Rovers broke the deadlock in added time at the end of the first half.Joe Quigley found McCann, who cut inside before firing his shot into the bottom corner for his second goal in as many games.Rovers went close to a second in the 58th minute when McCann’s effort from a corner ...

Halifax cemented their play-off place thanks to a 1-0 win over relegation battlers Braintree at The ShayBoth sides had chances in the first half. Halifax forward Daniel Nkrumah raced through on goal, but his shot was saved by Braintree keeper Henry Gray.Kyrell Lisbie broke into the Halifax box and squared towards Tom Blackwell, but Halifax goalkeeper Toby Savin got a touch to take the ball away.Ha...

Phoenix Patterson and Zech Medley hit second-half goals as Fleetwood earned a 2-0 League Two victory at home to Newport.Winger Patterson sent a superb free-kick into the top corner early in the second half and centre-back Medley scored a fine training-ground goal to give midtable Fleetwood their first home win since early February.The first half – which was significantly delayed due to a med...

Kilmarnock made their move for William Hill Premiership safety with a 2-0 win over Ross County in their first post-split fixture at Rugby Park.It was a dire encounter in the first half, lit up in the 37th minute when striker Bruce Anderson broke the deadlock with a back-post header.The second half brought improvement and in the 69th minute midfielder Liam Donnelly doubled that lead with a close-ra...

Walsall squandered the opportunity to climb back into the League Two automatic promotion places after falling to a 1-0 defeat against Accrington Stanley at Bescot.Ben Woods scored the only goal of the game with a stunning 33rd-minute volley from the edge of the penalty area to secure League Two safety for the visitors.Taylor Allen and Albert Adomah hit the post for Walsall, who are winless in 13, ...

John Marquis scored twice as already-relegated Shrewsbury beat Barnsley 2-1 at Oakwell.The visitors had the ball in the net early on after Mal Benning volleyed in a George Lloyd cross but the flag went up for offside.The Shrews did take the lead in the 18th minute. Luca Hoole beat his man and sent in a delivery that Marquis slammed home.At the other end, keeper Jamal Blackman made a good stop to d...



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