Summary

  • First Championship play-off semi-final of 2016-17

  • Obita strikes Reading opener

  • Cairney heads home Fulham equaliser

  • Reading defender Paul McShane shown straight red

  • Reading finished third, Fulham sixth

  • Winner of two-legged semi-final will face Sheffield Wednesday or Huddersfield

  1. goal

    GOAL - Fulham 1-1 Readingpublished at 65 mins

    Tom Cairney

    CairneyImage source, Rex Features

    The breakthrough at last for Fulham!

    Scott Malone is played in behind the reading defence and whips a stinging low cross into the box.

    The cross has too much heat on it fro Ali Al-Habsi, who can only parry the ball up for Tom Cairney to head in the leveler for the hosts.

  2. Postpublished at 63 mins

    Fulham 0-1 Reading

    Fulham make their first change of the game, bringing Neeskens Kebano on for the ineffective Chris Martin.

    Reading's Yann Kermorgant spots Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli off his line and attempts an ambitious lob from all of 40 yards out.

    He wasn't too far away you know.

  3. get involved

    Get Involved #bbceflpublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 13 May 2017

    Fulham 0-1 Reading

    Michael Kemp: Reading don't have defensive qualities as 64 conceded. They are well drilled when they want to be like now. Superb so far. 

    Robert Green: Uh oh, Fulham have been wonderful scoring goals all season but we're also the masters of conceding daft goals. 

  4. Postpublished at 62 mins

    Fulham 0-1 Reading

    Adam Williams
    BBC Sport at Craven Cottage

    Fulham v ReadingImage source, Rex Features

    If there was an air of feeling frantic at 0-0 among the home fans, it's just been ratcheted up to a new high after that Jordan Obita goal for Reading.

    It looked harsh on Fulham as they arguably should've had a free-kick as Paul McShane tangled with Stefan Johansen, but a few players stood and waited for Stuart Attwell's whistle that never blew.

    Great finish by Obita though for his second goal in as many games.

  5. 'Game is opening up'published at 60 mins

    Fulham 0-1 Reading

    Bradley Allen
    Ex-QPR striker for BBC Radio London

    This game is opening up now with passages of counter-attacking football coming from both sides. 

    Fulham need to be careful they don't over-commit and concede again. 

  6. Postpublished at 58 mins

    Fulham 0-1 Reading

    I'm not sure too many people would have predicted that goal, but what a hit from Jordan Obita.

    Fulham look to respond, but Stefan Johansen's shot is straight at Ali Al-Habsi.

  7. goal

    GOAL - Fulham 0-1 Readingpublished at 54 mins

    Jordan Obita

    ReadingImage source, Rex Features

    From out of nowhere, Reading lead.

    Fulham think they should have been awarded a free-kick in the build-up, but Reading take hold of the ball, with Paul McShane picking out Jordan Obita on the left.

    Full-back Ryan Fredericks doesn't close the Royals man down quickly enough, and Obita finishes brilliantly off the inside of the post from a difficult angle.

  8. Postpublished at 53 mins

    Fulham 0-0 Reading

    Reading are being careful with how many bodies they commit forward when they get hold of the ball.

    Yann Kermorgant hangs a cross up for Lewis Grabban, but keeper Marcus Bettinelli claims it with ease.

    The visitors' tactics have been very effective so far, though it's fair to say they haven't exactly made for a thrilling game.

  9. Reading stopping Fulham's midfieldpublished at 50 mins

    Bradley Allen
    Ex-QPR striker for BBC Radio London

    I think that's something Reading have worked on: getting bodies around Fulham's midfield three of McDonald, Johansen and Cairney to stop them dictating play. 

    It's certainly working so far. 

  10. Postpublished at 49 mins

    Fulham 0-0 Reading

    Chris MartinImage source, Rex Features

    Chris Martin has scored 13 goals for Fulham this season, but he's not had a sniff of goal so far.

    No chances for either side so far in the early stages of the second half.

  11. Postpublished at 46 mins

    Fulham 0-0 Reading

    And now the second half is under way.

    No changes have been made by either side.

  12. get involved

    Get Involved #bbceflpublished at 18:33 British Summer Time 13 May 2017

    Who will win the Championship play-offs?

    Zach Kingsbury: Love to see Huddersfield do it. 

    Robert Green: Fulham's rampant goalscoring this season will hopefully outweigh our (at times) rickety defence.  

  13. get involved

    Get Involved #bbceflpublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 13 May 2017

    Who will win the Championship play-offs?

    Now you've seen two of the four sides in action, who do you fancy to triumph at Wembley on 29 May?

    Fulham, along with Norwich and champions Newcastle, scored the most goals in the regular season, but does Jaap Stam's defensive qualities make Reading more likely? Or maybe you prefer Huddersfield or Sheffield Wednesday, who play their first semi-final tomorrow at midday? 

    Tweet using #bbcefl to share your thoughts. 

  14. Postpublished at 18:25 British Summer Time 13 May 2017

    HT: Fulham 0-0 Reading

    Adam Williams
    BBC Sport at Craven Cottage

    Fulham fansImage source, Rex Features

    Maybe not the most memorable of first halves in terms of chances or opportunities, but certainly up there in terms of energy and passion.

    The home fans here are really getting behind Slavisa Jokanovic's men every time they pour forward.

    Reading look robust enough at the back and also possess a threat on upfront, but can they hold out this Fulham tide of pace and energy after the break?

  15. Still to come...published at 18:22 British Summer Time 13 May 2017

    Huddersfield v Sheffield Wednesday (12:00 BST)

    Sheffield Wednesday v HuddersfieldImage source, Rex Features

    Fulham and Reading will both have one eye on tomorrow's play-off semi-final first leg between Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday.

    Carlos Carvalhal's Owls lost in last season's play-off final, so will be hoping to set themselves on their way to putting that defeat to bed against the Championship's surprise package.

    You can follow every important moment from the 12:00 BST kick-off John Smith's Stadium with the BBC Sport website, like you can with every EFL play-off match this season.

  16. HALF-TIMEpublished at 18:19 British Summer Time 13 May 2017

    HT: Fulham 0-0 Reading

    Fulham v ReadingImage source, Rex Features

    It's still goalless as the half-time whistle is blown.

    Fulham have gone closest to breaking the deadlock, with Tom Cairney curling a shot narrowly wide from 25 yards out, and Sone Aluko firing off target when unmarked inside the Reading box.

    The visitors have looked well-organised, but they've not carved out any memorable chances of their own.

  17. Postpublished at 45+1 mins

    Fulham 0-0 Reading

    There will be three minutes of added time at the end of the half.

    Floyd Ayite has plenty of options to pick out inside the Reading box, but instead the Fulham tries an audacious shot with the outside of his right boot.

    It's a wasteful effort from the winger.

  18. Postpublished at 44 mins

    Fulham 0-0 Reading

    Jaap StamImage source, Reuters

    Plenty for Reading manager Jaap Stam to think about as half-time approaches.

    His side have rarely looked in danger of conceding, but they've seen less and less of the ball as time has gone on.

  19. Kermorgant shown a yellow cardpublished at 43 mins

    Fulham 0-0 Reading

    Reading striker Yann Kermorgant had already committed a couple of fouls, and he's shown the second yellow card of the game for his third offence of the half.

    Fulham are unable to turn the free-kick from close to the half-way line into a chance.

  20. Postpublished at 41 mins

    Fulham 0-0 Reading

    Fulham v ReadingImage source, Getty Images

    Reading again cause problems with the long ball, and Ryan Fredericks is forced to concede a corner.

    Incredibly, John Swift is booked before the corner is taken - for time wasting.

    Seriously.