What a finish to the top game of the Championship. One minute into injury time of an encounter that seemed to be heading for a barren conclusion, Darren Bent appeared to have won the points for league leaders Ipswich with his 11th goal of the season, only for Ivar Ingimarsson to equalise for the Royals with virtually the last kick of the game.

Reading's initial forays were instigated mainly by Glen Little's nifty footwork down the left though on the other flank Nicky Forster wasted no opportunity either trying to get his crosses in.

On 26 minutes, Little almost brought the home crowd to their feet with a mazy 20-yard dribble through three tackles, his final shot saved comfortably by Kelvin Davis. Every time Reading got behind the Ipswich defence, however, a defender was on hand to clear, invariably the impressive Richard Naylor who, in his 250th appearance for the Tractor Boys, made no fewer than four timely interceptions in the first period alone.

It was a tight affair though as an attacking force, Ipswich had surprisingly few first-half opportunities, the home defence keeping a close watch on Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi, the latter forced to have his head strapped on the half-hour following an accidental clash.

With a point sufficient to cement their place at the top, the visitors for a while continued to let Reading enjoy large chunks of possession. But as the second half progressed, so Joe Royle's team suddenly discovered a sense of adventure and came on strong. Bent almost broke the deadlock with a thunderous drive that Marcus Hahnemann pushed wide, then Nicky Shorey headed a Naylor effort off the line.

Three more golden opportunities ensued, Kuqi bringing an excellent save out of Hahnemann, Darren Currie hitting the post with a curling cross-shot and Naylor narrowly wide with an overhead kick.

Right at the death, back came Reading, Davis's fingertip save keeping out Shorey's header before Bent and Ingimarsson rounded off an entertaining afternoon with their two last-ditch strikes that ensured the right result over the full 90 minutes.

Andrew Warshaw (Sport.Telegraph)