Leaders Birmingham stretched their unbeaten League One run to 16 matches but had to settle for a hard-fought 0-0 draw at play-off contenders Reading.

Neither side impressed in a cagey first period but each, with better finishing, produced enough second-half chances to have ended the stalemate.

Birmingham had lost only two league games all season, with their most recent defeat being the 3-2 reverse at Shrewsbury back in November.

Reading, unbeaten in four league matches and chasing a top-six slot, started quickly but rarely troubled visiting keeper Ryan Allsop.

Chem Campbell headed wastefully wide, from a Charlie Savage corner, when Allsop should really have been tested at the very least.

Birmingham created little going forward before the break, with early substitute Willum Willumsson – on for the injured Scott Wright after just 10 minutes – miscuing a volley from a fine Alex Cochrane cross.

The game livened up in the second half, with Allsop saving well from Lewis Wing’s fierce angled drive.

Blues then twice went close, home keeper Joel Pereira making a good stop from Kieran Dowell’s shot and Amadou Mbengue having to clear off the goalline from Lyndon Dykes’ close-range effort.

Home substitute Jayden Wareham almost broke the deadlock late on but, with Allsop struggling, his attempt drifted just wide of the far post.

In a frantic finish, at both ends, Allsop had to save smartly from a Campbell header.