Reading were held to a deeply disappointing 1-1 draw at home to relegation strugglers Shrewsbury Town, perhaps a tad fortunate to escape with a draw.

The Shrews had won their previous two and saw much of the better chances but fell behind to Jayden Wareham's first half goal.

Struggling to create anything clear cut and failing to register successive passes for a lot of the evening, it came to nobody's surprise when Taylor Perry deservedly pulled the visitors level early in the second half.

Seeing lots of the ball, nothing of note was created in the final third and boos met the full time whistle.

Despite their lowly position, Shrewsbury were a side in form, having won their last two matches, and looked to continue that with a fast start in Berkshire. Taylor Perry and Dominic Gape both tried their luck from distance, to no success, as the Shrews settled fasted on what was a rough surface.

Andre Garcia was required to make a big block on Perry’s shot after 15 minutes, but Chem Campbell’s drag-back from the resulting corner gave Salop a perfect opportunity to edge in front from the penalty spot. Up steps Marquis, who scored on the same ground for Millwall back in 2011, but this time his attempt failed to hit the net as Pereira twice denied the experienced forward.

Those of a Royal persuasion hoped it might kick-start the hosts, but it was still Gareth Ainsworth’s men who looked in control as the half ticked along.

Calling out for a moment of magic, it came for Reading shortly before the half-hour mark as Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s clever run to the by-line allowed him to cut the ball back into the six-yard box, where Wareham was ready to side-foot powerfully past Jamal Blackman and into the net.

Harrison Biggins and Lewis Wing both tried their luck from range but neither tested the keepers as the match continued to frustrate the near-8,000 supporters in attendance.

Anyone hoping for an improvement after the break would be in for disappointment as the Royals continued to ride their luck. It came to nobody's surprise when the visitors pulled level within 10 minutes of the restart, Perry firing past Pereira into the far corner to deservedly level. Marquis nearly put the Shrews ahead with a volley, which the defence shoddily allowed to bounce and sit up nicely.

Even a treble change on the hour mark was unable to elicit a spark out of the side on what was a flat evening on and off the field at the SCL Stadium. Ehibhatiomhan looked to have been impeded in the box with barely minutes left on the clock but it did nothing for referee Abigail Byrne.

Back at home on Saturday, Steve Evans' Rotherham United visit the SCL Stadium.