Doyle denied late on as Royals held by Forest

PAUL SMITH produced a spectacular late save as relegated Reading were denied victory on their Coca-Cola Championship return by Nottingham Forest yesterday.

The hosts had controlled much of the game at the City Ground but were happy to settle for a goalless draw after Kevin Doyle’s header brought the best out of Smith 10 minutes from time.

And Smith’s brilliant effort certainly brought a wry smile to the face of his former manager Steve Coppell.

The Reading boss said: “It was the one opening we had in the game and it just happened to be Paul who got in the way of it. I gave him a regular spot in the Brentford team when I was there.

“It was a great save but I won’t tell you what I said to him afterwards.

Outside of the 80th-minute chance when Doyle’s thumping header from Stephen Hunt’s cross was turned onto the bar, there was very little in the way of goalmouth incident.

Forest can take credit from an overall performance that restricted Reading to their one opening.

Manager Colin Calderwood said: “We knew it would be tough against Reading but we are a Championship side now and we have to be judged on that. I’m quite satisfied with the way it panned out and I wouldn’t want to use our lack of strikers as an excuse.”

NOTTM FOREST: Smith, Chambers, Morgan, Wilson, Bennett, Guy Moussi, Perch, Davies (McCleary 90), McGugan (Sinclair 83), Cohen, Earnshaw.

READING: Hahnemann, Rosenior, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Stephen Hunt, Kebe, Harper, Matejovsky (Cisse 42), Convey, Lita, Doyle.

Referee: Stuart Attwell.