Reading were lucky to escape defeat as they held Birmingham City to a 1-1 draw in their Premier League match on Saturday.

Mikael Forssell had given Birmingham an early lead in the 4th minute but Reading equalized 6 minutes into the second half through Stephen Hunt from the penalty spot. Birmingham dominated the proceedings and had two good chances to go back into the lead but were unable to hit the back of the net.

Birmingham raced to the lead in the 4th minute when Nickey Shorey cleared Forssell's header off the line but the ball went straight to the Finnish striker who made no mistake from close range to put his side in front.

Birmingham dominated the possession in the first half but were unable to create any real chances though Forssell and Cameron Jerome looked lively up front. Reading's best chance of the first half fell to James Harper minutes before half time when he shot straight into the hands of Maik Taylor.

Reading pressed forward in search of an equalizer and were rewarded six minutes after restart when Hunt was fouled inside the penalty area by Taylor and the 26-year old kept his nerve to convert the penalty.

Birmingham very nearly took the lead late in the game when McSheffrey saw his shot hit the cross bar and as Ibrahima Sonko tried to clear the ball of the line, headed against the bar. Reading managed to hold on to the score line to grab a much needed point for Steve Coppell's side.