Reading pocketed another point towards their promotion bid but slipped further behind Coca-Cola Championship leaders Wolves after a stalemate at QPR.

The Royals kicked off two points off the top following their win over Wanderers on Tuesday night but found Rangers a tougher proposition at Loftus Road.

The hosts have promotion ambitions of their own, sitting just outside the play-offs, but both sides gave the distinct impression they would settle for a point which made for a disappointing game for the 17,120 crowd - Rangers' biggest of the season.

The outcome would have been different had Heidar Helguson not squandered a gilt-edged chance in the first half.

Rangers goalkeeper Lee Camp thwarted Reading's best efforts, denying Kalifa Cisse and Leroy Lita either side of the interval.

Stephen Hunt and James Harper were in the Reading line-up despite being linked with moves to the Premier League before Monday's deadline.

But it was Rangers who dominated possession early on and Mikele Leigertwood fired wide before Helguson missed his straightforward opportunity to open the scoring.

Lively winger Lee Cook swung in a cross from the left but Iceland striker Helguson, arriving at the far post a couple of yards out, headed horribly wide.

Reading came within a whisker of taking the lead in the 17th minute when Kevin Doyle's shot ricocheted into the path of French midfielder Cisse, whose low drive was fingertipped around a post by Camp.

Camp then had to palm away Lita's cross-shot before Hunt whipped in a dangerous cross which Damien Delaney cleared with Jimmy Kebe lurking.

Camp saved his side again at the start of the second half, keeping out Lita's angled drive which deflected of Kaspars Gorkss after the striker was sent through by Doyle's clever chip.

Centre-half Alex Pearce was then inches away from connecting with Chris Armstrong's floated free-kick, but again the ball bounced to safety.

Rangers' best move of the match came on the hour mark when Liam Miller and Delaney combined well to send Cook scampering down the left wing, but his cross flew past Helguson's outstretched boot into Adam Federici's arms.

A late scramble caused minor panic in the Rangers goalmouth but neither Doyle nor Michael Duberry could force the ball home, before Hunt shot wide after Camp had spilled a high ball.

Teams

QPR Camp, Connolly, Stewart, Gorkss, Delaney, Routledge,Mahon (Ephraim 77), Leigertwood, Miller, Cook (Di Carmine 90),Helguson (Blackstock 85).

Subs Not Used: Hall, Alberti.

Booked: Helguson.

Reading Federici, Rosenior, Duberry, Pearce, Armstrong,Kebe (Gunnarsson 90), Harper, Cisse, Stephen Hunt, Lita, Doyle.

Subs Not Used: Andersen, Matejovsky, Bikey, Long.

Booked: Stephen Hunt, Duberry.

Att: 17,120

Ref: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).