Last updated on .From the section Championship

Thibaud Verlinden and John Swift tussle during the goalless draw

Stoke City were involved in their seventh goalless draw of the season despite dominating against relegation battlers Reading.

City twice hit the woodwork in the opening quarter of an hour as James McClean teed up Tom Ince, who crashed a shot against the post.

And two minutes later Thibaud Verlinden, on his first league start, sent in a pinpoint cross which Sam Vokes headed against the crossbar.

McClean again teed up Vokes to head just wide before forcing Emiliano Martinez into a superb reaction save, while Modou Barrow was inches from meeting Lewis Baker's low cross and giving Reading a late winner.

For all of their efforts and near-misses against the Royals, Stoke have now scored just seven goals in Nathan Jones' first 12 league matches in charge.

The Potters looked likely to improve on this meagre goal tally after their quick start, with McClean and Verlinden continuing to cause plenty of problems on both flanks.

The visitors managed to weather the storm, but showed little attacking threat, with Callum Harriott's tame shot their only shot on target as England goalkeeper Jack Butland chalked up a fourth successive clean sheet.

A sixth draw in a seven-game unbeaten run moved the Potters up a place to 16th, but Wigan's win over Bolton meant Reading dropped to 21st, just a place and point above the relegation zone.

Stoke boss Nathan Jones told BBC Stoke:

"The first half we were excellent, it's just a shame we couldn't get the goal because if we had we would probably have gone on and got a few more.

"We work defensively, but we work far more on our attacking play. We have got some wonderful attacking players in theory so I'm just going to demand a little bit more from them now.

"It's just frustrating that we are not at least even nicking games because I have built my reputation as a very attack-minded manager and at my previous club only Man City scored more goals in three years, so it's a little bit puzzling, but one of those things."

Reading manager Jose Gomes told BBC Berkshire:

"I didn't like the game, it wasn't a beautiful game with the very strong wind. It was impossible football regarding the weather conditions.

"We played against the wind in the first half and Stoke created some chances they could score.

"In the end we could score as well, just at the end, so I think it was a fair result."