Reading remain in the League One play-off places despite being held to a goalless draw by 10-man Northampton.

The Cobblers were first to threaten at Sixfields through Ben Perry, who poked under onrushing goalkeeper Joel Pereira but into the side-netting, before Lee Burge saved from Royals midfielder Charlie Savage.

The first half was devoid of clear-cut chances as Burge also kept out Jayden Wareham’s powerful strike while Dara Costelloe chose take a touch instead of shoot when unmarked in the box and the opportunity was lost.

It was more of the same in the second half, with Pereira saving comfortably from Cameron McGeehan before the best chance for Northampton dropped to substitute Tyler Roberts at the back post but he could not beat the Reading goalkeeper.

Ex-Royal Nesta Guinness-Walker was sent off with 13 minutes to play after picking up two yellow cards and Reading spurned a big chance to win it, an unmarked Savage side-footing wide four minutes from full-time.