Reading are really pushing for a second goal.

Another quality Charlie Adam cross causes havoc in the box but QPR just about survive.

Image source, Rex Features

QPR keeper Joe Lumley is called into action. This is turning into a fine game.

Lucas Joao has another sight of goal, hooking a first-time effort towards the corner of the net after a good Reading break on the right, only to see Lumley sprawl across goal and tip it wide.

Chances at both ends.

Lucas Joao goes close with a header for Reading and QPR then break and we almost have another goal of the season contender.

A staggeringly good spin and turn by Eberechi Eze in the box ends with the Rangers man prodding an effort towards goal with the outside of the foot but it is cleared on the line.

That John Swift goal is the sort of hit that, as an opposition fan, makes you question why you.

You can't help but admire and actually applaud. But c'mon. Did it have to be against us?

Life's just not fair sometimes.

QPR are committing more men forward now.

Image source, Rex Features

What have QPR got in reply?

You feel Eberechi Eze and Bright Osayi-Samuel will both have a say in the final third of the match.

Can they see enough of the ball against an experienced Reading side who have been growing in confidence under Mark Bowen.

John Swift has been as good as anyone on the pitch today. That goal takes any performance to another level. If it's the only one we see tonight then it's probably a fair enough way to settle any game.

Charlie Adam seems to have been around forever and the Reading man is using all his experience. He has, at times, been running the show for the hosts.

Twice he sets up half-chances, the second occasion when pinging a lovely cross-field pass.

John Swift always seems to have time on the ball. On this occasion it does him no favours as he takes a whack as he delays a pass.

Reading's free-kick comes to nothing though.

Away we go again.

I have no idea where this one is heading. Both sides will be encouraged by that first half.

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds missed the chance to close the gap on Championship leaders West Brom as they could only take a point from Preston's visit to Elland Road.

They needed a late deflected goal from Stuart Dallas to claim that too as Preston looked set to hold onto the lead given to them in the first half by Alan Browne.

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa:

"I was not happy with the first 20 minutes, it was not a good spell for us, we did not cope with their pressing and did not get into our game. I felt we took control after their goal.

"It was a better display from then and we controlled 75% of the game. We had enough chances to win the game towards the end and we probably should have won it.

"I admire Preston for how they got at us in the first quarter of the game. They worked very hard to put us under pressure and close us down. We struggled to move the ball today.

"We had to move it sideways a lot and when we lost the ball going across the line it created problems for ourselves."

Preston boss Alex Neil:

"It took a deflected effort for them to get something from the game. Naturally we are disappointed not to win but I am proud of my players," he said.

"They are one of the top sides in this division and we more than matched them.

"I can't ask for any more from the players. They played really well and I felt we did enough to win the game."

Image source, Rex Features

Barnsley proved stubborn opponents for Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion in a 1-1 draw, as Aapo Halme's late leveller denied the Baggies the chance to extend their lead at the top.

The Throstles failed to add to Filip Krovinovic's early opener and Halme's goal ensured a share of spoils at Oakwell.

Barnsley boss Gerhard Struber:

"I feel good and I am very happy with our performance today. I think we were very disciplined and created a lot of chances.

“I think West Brom were, as expected, a difficult team as league leaders, and I think after this game I am very happy with this team."

West Brom boss Slaven Bilic:

“It’s a big disappointment. We knew it was going to be hard because they’ve recently got a really good record and are playing good football, especially at home.

“I expected us to be more clinical. We wanted the midfield to be full of good players.

“It is a sticky period, I’m never happy with a point but we have to take it."

Brentford's attacking players - who have been linked with moves to higher-ranked clubs in the January transfer window - impressed again in their 3-1 win over Swansea.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank:

"I can't understand why anyone would want to leave Brentford right now.

"We are in a good place, playing attractive football and they are all in a very good place in terms of their football and their lives here, they are all enjoying themselves."

Swansea manager Steve Cooper:

"We looked short in the first half and didn't do the basics well enough in terms of getting to the ball and putting pressure on Brentford.

"They were two soft goals, one from a set piece, but we only have ourselves to blame."

Image source, Rex Features

Charlton left it late to clinch the three points against Bristol City, eventually sealing a 3-2 win thanks to a goal from Alfie Doughty 10 minutes from time.

It didn't stop boss Lee Bowyer from delivering an unseasonally grumpy press conference.

Charlton boss Bowyer:

“That second goal should never have happened – that’s why Albie [Morgan] went on loan.

“He’s a long way away, he’s a 19-year-old learning the game. We can’t afford just to keep playing him, we will keep conceding goals.

“If we had senior midfielders back, Albie would not be playing. Is he doing well? Yes. But he needs to learn the other side of the game. It’s not just him. But he’s doing well, he’s been thrown in at the deep end.

“They are doing everything they can, but they are just kids. We’re running out of players. We’ve had four knee injuries since before Christmas.”

Bristol City boss Lee Johnson:

“It was individual errors. If you look at the goals back, you’d be disappointed at the errors.

“We got ourselves into a great position and it gave us a boost. I thought in the second half we showed what we were about. There were positives, but it is difficult if you make errors like that. It was the bits that we work on, the fundamentals of our defending.

“We had a couple of good possession patches, but their front two caused us problems. They were bruisers and bumped us.

Middlesbrough's 1-0 home win against Huddersfield was a double delight for Teessiders boss Jonathan Woodgate, as the matchwinner was Djed Spence, one of his young talents given an opportunity to impress.

It's a result that bumps Boro up above the Terriers into 18th, with both sides down at the wrong end of the table.

Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate:

"When you get opportunities you’ve got to take them, and Djed has done that. His future was maybe a little bit uncertain at the start of the season, but he certainly won’t be going on loan in January now, that’s for sure.

“You’ve got to be brave to do it. I could have put a left-sider on that side (instead of Spence at right wing-back), but you’ve got to be brave to make these decisions. I’ll always go with core values, and one of those is, ‘be brave in what you want to do’. I think that’s paying dividends."

Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley:

"It was a tight game. I felt they started well, but we came into it and were able to get good control of the possession. We had to tweak how we wanted to play because Middlesbrough can be physically dominant with the three centre-halves.

“I was disappointed to concede the goal when we did, and losing Jonathan Hogg (through injury) was a big blow after 20 minutes because he’s a talisman and a leader."

Image source, Dan Westwell

Nottingham Forest's win at Hull earlier came courtesy of Lewis Grabban's two goals at the KCOM Stadium.

Hull manager Grant McCann:

"We were disappointing. There are no excuses - we probably got what we deserved.

"The game was quite stop-start, and that affected how we wanted to play. We kept giving the ball away too easily and we just didn't get going.

"We tried. We huffed and puffed a little bit, but it didn't seem to happen. Everyone was off."

Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi:

"It is not easy to come here and win this way, so congratulations to the players.

"We started the game in a good way. We worked very hard and were very compact.

"I think we deserved to win. Three points and a clean sheet - this is very important. It was not our best performance away but we were very solid."

While we await the resumption of play from The Madejski, let's see what a few of the other Championship managers had to say about their respective Boxing Day games...

And that's the half done.

No goals, but it's by no means been a stinker.

Charlie Adam sends in an inviting, curling cross towards the far post which comes to nothing as Reading respond to QPR's good spell.

There will be a minute of stoppage time before a breather.

Image source, Rex Features

We are into the final two minutes.

Will we get a breakthrough before the interval?

QPR are now on top having been second best for the first 30 minutes.