In-form striker Jack Marriott helped Reading secure a point in a scrappy 1-1 draw with Mansfield in League One.

Mansfield went ahead at the Select Car Leasing Stadium courtesy of a seventh-minute Tyler Roberts strike, before Marriott levelled in the 71st minute.

It was his fifth goal of the season – and his fifth in his past five Royals appearances.

Town dominated the early exchanges, with Roberts taking advantage of good work by Rhys Oates on the left flank to nip in and guide past home goalkeeper Joel Pereira.

Reading rallied before the interval, with Paddy Lane somehow missing an open goal from Ashqar Ahmed's cross.

In first-half stoppage time, Nathan Moriah-Welsh saw his angled drive crash against the home crossbar and onto the goal-line and then away to safety.

Neither side showed much composure in the second half until a triple substitution by Reading manager Noel Hunt on the hour.

Matt Ritchie, one of the Royals replacements, laid the ball back for Marriott to beat Liam Roberts with a precise finish.

Match report supplied by PA Media.

Media caption,

Clough: "We should have got the three points today"

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