Game over! QPR AND READING DROWN IN RELEGATION WATERS

Reading and QPR were both relegated from the Barclays Premier League today with neither side able to secure the win they required at the Madejski Stadium to still have an outside chance of surviving. In a game bereft of quality both sides were guilty of wasting the few chances that fell their way as they both bowed out of the top flight with a whimper.

A win for either would have kept them mathematically in the hunt for survival and relegated the losers, whereas the draw condemned both clubs to the npower Championship.

Chipping in: Queens Park Rangers striker Jay Bothroyd tries a lob over Alex McCarthy

Debate: Referee Kevin Friend (right) remonstrates with Reading's Adrian Mariappa (left)

                              MATCH FACTS

Reading: McCarthy, Gunter, Mariappa, Morrison, Kelly (Harte 76), Karacan, McAnuff, Guthrie, Pogrebnyak, McCleary (Le Fondre 64), Blackman (Robson-Kanu 56)

Subs not used: Taylor, Pearce, Daniel Carrico, Hunt

QPR: Green, Traore, Hill, Onuoha, Bosingwa (Fabio 74), Taarabt (Hoilett 68), Granero, Jenas, M'bia (Mackie 89), Remy, Bothroyd

Subs not used: Julio Cesar, Ben-Haim, Derry, Park Ji-sung

Booked: Granero, Fabio

Referee: Kevin Friend

Reading boss Nigel Adkins had remained positive ahead of the game while his QPR counterpart Harry Redknapp had seemingly already accepted his side's fate and both will now spend the summer building teams to fight for promotion straight back into the Premier League.

Reading arguably started the better of two sides who were obviously nervous but they could not test QPR goalkeeper Robert Green.

The visitors got back into the game and both Jermaine Jenas and Esteban Granero went close to putting Rangers ahead, with the latter clipping the crossbar from a free-kick.

While their fans vented their anger at former manager Mark Hughes the QPR players were still trying to prise open the Reading defence.

Stephane Mbia played a perfect ball into Jay Bothroyd whose lofted effort beat Alex McCarthy but dropped just wide of the post.

Aerial fight: Reading's Pavel Pogrebnyak (left) tries to take the ball down while being pressured by Clint Hill (right)

Tense: Manager Harry Redknapp (left) and Reading boss Nigel Adkins (right) issue instructions from the bench

Twisting and turning: Nick Blackman tries to find his way past QPR defender Armand Traore (left)                            

With half an hour on the clock Reading had still yet to force Green into a noticeable save. But the former England goalkeeper had a scare as Jobi McAnuff chased a weak pass back from Jose Bosingwa and Green's kick hit the on-rushing Reading captain before flying behind for a goal-kick.

Adel Taarabt side-footed wide from outside of the box before Bothroyd's clever backheel found Armand Traore, whose shot was deflected wide.

Seven minutes before the break Adrian Mariappa and Pavel Pogrebnyak almost bundled Reading into the lead but QPR kept the ball out through a combination of Green and Bosingwa.

McAnuff then stung the palms of Green on the stroke of half-time with the Royals enjoying a rare spell in the ascendancy.

Battle: Jermaine Jenas (right) holds off the challenge of Chris Gunter

Positive: Armand Traore surges forward from the left back position as Danny Guthrie (left) trails

Probing: Adel Taarabt (right) tries to hold off the challenge of Jobi McAnuff                         

Taarabt had another great opportunity to put Redknapp's side ahead after he exchanged passes with Loic Remy seven minutes after the re-start but he fluffed his lines.

The Morocco international was guilty of placing another shot wide moments later with Adkins introducing Hal Robson-Kanu from the bench in his search to unlock the QPR defence.

Pogrebnyak was almost the man to break the deadlock for Reading as he picked up McAnuff's pass before cutting inside Bosingwa and bending an effort inches wide of Green's post.

The home supporters had been singing the name of leading goalscorer Adam Le Fondre throughout the game and he was introduced with 25 minutes remaining as Garath McCleary made way.

Scathing: QPR fans held up a banner for their previous banner Mark Hughes

Tumble: Taarabt manages to stray on his feet after Guthrie sticks a leg out to stop the playmaker          

Subdued: Redknapp watches from the bench alongside his backroom staff

Green tipped a later Sean Morrison header over the bar and Bothroyd forced McCarthy into a smart low save but neither team provided a moment of class to collect all three points with both clubs sharing the spoils and the heartache of relegation.

Meeting of minds: Tony Fernandes (left) and Sir John Madejski (right) talk to one another

Huddling up: Reading players try to psyche themselves up before the match

                                        

Dogfight: Reading manager Nigel Adkins (above) and QPR boss Harry Redknapp (below) during the match