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Callum Paterson's fifth goal of the season secured a point for Cardiff against Reading

Cardiff and Reading settled for a point apiece in a game that did little to boost either club's hopes of reaching the Championship play-off spots.

In the second installment of a trilogy of games between the two sides in a nine-day period, the Royals took an early lead through Yakou Meite's header.

Cardiff equalised in the second period when Callum Paterson cracked the ball home from close-range after Reading failed to clear their lines from a long-throw.

The Bluebirds ended the contest looking the more likely winner, but they could not find a winner as they settled for a second 1-1 stalemate with Reading this week.

The Royals have an excellent recent record against the Bluebirds and they took control after only eight minutes with a superbly executed team goal.

Yakou Meite's header gave Reading a first half lead at Cardiff City Stadium

A free-flowing move saw Ovie Ejaria create space for Sam Baldock who found John Swift whose clever turn and cross allowed Meite to head home from close range and under the despairing dive of Alex Smithies.

The Cardiff City Stadium was quiet after the goal until another fan incident increased the decibel levels in the stadium when a fan in the Reading end was ejected.

It followed Reading saying they would review their match-day protocols after reporting Cardiff fans for 'discriminatory chanting' during the FA Cup tie between the clubs at the Madejski Stadium.

After Saturday's game Thames Valley police arrested four Cardiff fans for "alleged racially aggravated abuse", all later released under investigation

Cardiff, who dispute the allegations, subsequently demanded an apology.

The home fans had nothing to sing about in the first period apart from a speculative shot over the bar from Lee Tomlin, but a double change at the interval changed their intensity after half-time.

In a game of few chances the hosts levelled when Reading failed to deal with a long throw from Will Vaulks and when defender Michael Morrison headed onto his own post it allowed Paterson to smash home from close range.

The goal galvanised Cardiff and they might have led moments later, but Rafael Cabral saved Danny Ward's effort and Lee Tomlin fluffed the rebound.

Reading manager Mark Bowen told BBC Sport Wales:

"It is a difficult place to come and it was a difficult game, which shows with the home record Cardiff have got.

"They ask questions of you for 90 minutes, they put balls in good areas and you have to stand up to the challenge and I thought we did that in the main.

"All in all it was a battle of a game and from my point of view we can demand more quality and a cool head.

"You are disappointed not to win any game when you go in front, but we go away from here with a hard-earned point."

Cardiff City manager Neil Harris told BBC Sport Wales:

"I am extremely disappointed to only have a point, I thought only one team deserved to win the game.

"They had two shots in the first half and one ends up in the back of the net, so I was disappointed to be behind at half time.

"We made the adjustments at half time to play 4-4-2 with a diamond and I thought we built periods of pressure and were unlucky not to win the game.

"Now we prepare for Tuesday night in the FA Cup game and I will make changes for that game."