Reading 1-1 Leicester City

Danny Drinkwater

Danny Drinkwater's equaliser earned Leicester a point as Reading moved into the play-off places on goal difference.

Defender Alex Pearce headed the Royals in front from Jordan Obita's free-kick after 15 minutes.

But Drinkwater drove in an equaliser from 20 yards to pull Leicester, already promoted to the Premier League, level after half an hour.

After half-time, Pavel Pogrebnyak's header hit the post for the hosts, who had Mikele Leigertwood sent off.

The Foxes are now seven points clear of second-placed Burnley with four matches remaining, while Reading, winless in seven at home and with one win in five, are level on 64 points with Brighton and Ipswich below them.

They took a step towards ending their miserable home form when Pearce rose above Wes Morgan to score with a powerful header from Obita's ball in from the right.

Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel pulled off a fine save from Jobi McAnuff's close-range effort following a cross from the impressive Garath McCleary and Dean Hammond was fortunate not to concede a penalty for handball.

But as Reading failed to clear a corner, Hammond laid off for Drinkwater to hit a powerful shot into the bottom corner.

Schmeichel did well once again when he pushed away an effort from McCleary after the Royals winger had got in behind Morgan.

After the break Pogrebnyak's header came back off the woodwork from McCleary's ball from the right.

Leicester's Morgan also went close with a header from a deep cross from Riyad Mahrez before substitute Leigertwood was shown a second yellow card for a lunge at Mahrez with four minutes left.

Reading manager Nigel Adkins:

"It's a very important point that puts us back in the play-offs with four games to go.

"It will be nail-biting and it's going to go all the way. We're in there battling and we still have a chance.

"It was a clear penalty [for Hammond's handball] that the referee's not given. But we've played a team who will be worthy champions and who are going to be in the Premier League next season. We wanted passion and hunger and we got that."

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson:

"We were a bit sloppy mentally but I have to balance looking at a performance like that at this stage of the season.

"The players are still putting the effort in. We had chances to win it but with the problems Reading caused us in the first half it would be miserly for me to be too greedy.

"We had to work hard for a point but it's a point in the right direction. The players will deserve the title if they get it."