IN FRONT of their biggest crowd of the season, 22,230, Reading lost ground to Wigan Athletic, the leaders, last night when they were unable to convert their superiority over Leeds United into goals.

Reading remain in second place, undefeated in seven league games, but they were almost beaten in the last minute when Marcus Hahnemann, their goalkeeper, was forced to produce a fine save.

It would have been unjust had Brian Deane, a Leeds substitute, denied Reading a point with his late header from a corner taken by Matthew Spring, another of Leeds’s substitutes. Leeds had their chances and kept their hosts relatively quiet in the second half after being under siege for much of the first, but victory would have flattered them.

The game was barely into the second minute when Leeds took the lead. Brett Ormerod’s cross spun off Nicky Shorey’s attempted tackle while Simon Walton waited unmarked for a header. For Walton, 17, it was his first senior goal for the club. Reading responded with intent, but they had to wait until the stroke of half-time for their equaliser.

Shaun Goater, in for the injured Nicky Forster, limped off with an injured calf after 40 minutes and was replaced by Lloyd Owusu. Steve Sidwell’s free kick found Dave Kitson, whose header was knocked on to the post by Neil Sullivan, the Leeds goalkeeper, leaving Owusu to prod home.

Most of the first 45 minutes were conducted in the Leeds half, but Sullivan was tested just once before conceding. Goater escaped Paul Butler’s challenge to leave only the goalkeeper standing between him and his target, but Sullivan blocked with his legs. Leeds should have gone two ahead shortly before Reading equalised when Michael Ricketts ran clear only to fire wide.

Quite how Glen Little failed to give Reading the lead seven minutes into the second half was so much of a mystery that Sidwell raised his arms in a gesture of amazement. Little was unmarked and at close range, with so much time that he was able to steady himself, yet still he shot wide.

Kevin Blackwell, the Leeds manager, said he was pleased with the outcome given how inexperienced his team is in the main. “They showed great fortitude,” Blackwell said. “Many sides would have crumbled under Reading’s pressure.” Steve Coppell, the Reading manager, had no complaints. “If we play like that we will be all right,” he opined.

READING (4-4-2): M Hahnemann — G Murty, I Sonko, I Ingimarsson, N Shorey — G Little (sub: R Convey, 82min), J Harper, S Sidwell, A Hughes — S Goater (sub: L Owusu, 40), D Kitson. Substitutes not used: D Morgan, R Newman, J Young.

LEEDS UNITED (4-4-2): N Sullivan — G Kelly, C Carlisle, P Butler, M Kilgallon — F Richardson, S Walton (sub: M Spring, 72) S Gregan, D Pugh — M Ricketts (sub: B Deane, 65) B Ormerod (sub: J Joachim, 82). Substitutes not used: S Carson, A Lennon.

Referee: R Olivier.