Reading’s play-off hopes hit as they are held in scrappy Shrewsbury draw

Reading’s League One play-off hopes were dented on Tuesday night as they were held to a scrappy 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Shrewsbury at the SCL Stadium.

The visitors squandered the chance to go ahead early on – when John Marquis missed a penalty – and Reading took the lead in the 28th minute through Jayden Wareham.

Taylor Perry levelled 11 minutes after the break as Town enjoyed the better of the second half without finding a winner.

After a disjointed opening, the game came to life when Chem Campbell clumsily fouled Harrison Biggins in the home area.

But Marquis, Shrewsbury’s nine-goal leading marksman, missed his third spot-kick of the season with a tame effort at Joel Pereira.

Pereira also did well to turn Marquis’ follow-up attempt over the crossbar.

Town counted the cost 11 minutes later, when Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan superbly cut the ball back from the byline for Wareham to tuck past Jamal Blackman.

Slack defending by the hosts allowed Shrewsbury to equalise in the 56th minute, Perry driving in powerfully from an acute angle.

Reading were somewhat fortunate to cling on to a draw, with Marquis and Vadaine Oliver both wasting good openings for the away side towards the end.

Shrewsbury head coach Gareth Ainsworth was also booked late on for venting his frustrations in his technical area.