Leeds 0, Reading 0

Leeds United ended Reading’s eight-match winning run and kept their first clean sheet in six games but an entertaining goalless draw at Elland Road kept them outside the play-off positions on goal difference.

Earlier in the day Nottingham Forest had climbed above Leeds into sixth place with a 3-2 win over Leicester, so Simon Grayson’s players knew they needed victory to make their absence from the play-off zone short-lived.

Grayson rang the changes again, captain Richard Naylor making his first start since October 19 and looking reassuringly strong at the centre of the defence, while there were also call-ups for Paul Connolly, Billy Paynter and Jake Liver-more.

Leading scorer Luciano Becchio missed out, however, with a hamstring injury.

Reading included former Leeds defender Ian Harte in their ranks and there was a sportsmanlike cheer for the Irishman from home fans as he took an early corner.

The best chance of the opening half-hour fell to United winger Robert Snodgrass. The Scot rose to meet Bradley Johnson’s cross a few yards out but his accurate header brought an instinctive one-handed save from Reading’s England Under-21 keeper Alex McCarthy.

Max Gradel was unfortunate not to open the scoring for Leeds when he won possession in his own half, raced towards the penalty box and let fly, McCarthy parrying the ball which spun agonisingly outside the keeper’s right-hand post.

United began the second half with Neil Kilkenny in place of Livermore, who had been close to collecting a second yellow card just before the interval.

Naylor became the second Leeds player to be booked – for a mistimed tackle on Shane Long – and when Andy Griffin sprinted past Gradel, the right back’s low shot was only just off target.

When Bradley Johnson ran from his own half, cut inside two defenders and shot against the bar, the midfielder beat his fist into the turf in disappointment.

Leeds made a double substitution in the 82nd minute, Sanchez Watt and Davide Somma replacing Howson and Paynter.

But the Royals nearly snatched an 83rd-minute winner when Mikele Leigertwood broke through on the right and shot fractionally wide.

At the other end, Gradel’s shot was beaten out by McCarthy to Snodgrass whose goal-bound header brought another fine save from the keeper.

United now strive to climb back into the top six at Crystal Palace on Monday.