Half time at the Madejski Stadium sees Reading and Brighton & Hove Albion head in with the scores level at 0-0.
An acrobatic clearance from Royston Drenthe almost set Adam Le Fondre away on the break after five minutes, but the visitors' defence recovered well to deny him the opportunity.
Brighton had the best chance of the half on 25 minutes when David Lopez's cross was met by Andrew Crofts, who sent a diving header just wide of the post.
Reading went down to 10 men on 31 minutes when Pavel Pogrebnyak was shown a second yellow for diving by the referee.
The game began to get heated and Brighton were reduced to 10 men as well after Leonardo Ulloa went into a dangerously high challenge on Alex Bruce on 39 minutes.
Jake Forster-Caskey found plenty of room on the edge of the area on 42 minutes, but the midfielder could only drag his shot wide of the mark.