Reading and Brighton & Hove Albion played out a 0-0 draw in their Championship clash, with both sides ending the game with 10 men.

After just five minutes, Reading almost hit Brighton on the break when Royston Drenthe's clearance found Adam Le Fondre, but the defence recovered to deny the opportunity.

The away side had the best chance of the half when David Lopez's cross was met by Andrew Crofts, who sent a diving header just wide of the post on 25 minutes.

Reading went down to 10 men on 31 minutes when Pavel Pogrebnyak was shown a second yellow for simulation by the referee.

The game began to get heated and Brighton went down to 10 men after Leonardo Ulloa went into a dangerously high challenge on Alex Bruce on 39 minutes.

The Seagulls had a chance late in the half when Jake Forster-Caskey found plenty of room on the edge of the area, but the midfielder could only drag his shot wide of the mark.

The home side started the second half at a frantic pace and tested the goal through Jem Karacan, whose effort was kept out by the goalkeeper.

Lopez opened up an opportunity for himself on 55 minutes, but he could only slice his effort wide.

Ashley Barnes almost gave Brighton the lead just after the hour mark with a first-time volley from a Croft cross.

Bsrnes nearly gave the away side the lead again on 78 minutes when he got on the end of Forster-Caskey's cross, but he was denied by a fine save from Alex McCarthy.

A minute later, Pearce came close to opening the scoring but his half volley was hit straight at the goalkeeper.