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Despite being a friendly fixture, passions at time ran high last night with some fiery tackles flying in. John Mackie, castigated at times last year, was unsurprisingly at the bottom of much of the game's bite.
Following last night's game the Royals now have just one pre-season game remaining prior to the big kick off away at Ipswich on August 9th. Hopefully we will not see a repeat of yesterday's lacklustre first half display. Indeed, against better opposition Reading could have found themselves three down inside fifteen minutes.
Fortunately, no Reading players limped off injured so Pardew will be confident that he will have a full squad to choose from once the new campaign gets underway. Steve Brown, who has a knee injury, is currently the only player with fitness doubts.
Early doors the home side had all the possession as the Royals struggled to adapt to the slippery damp July conditions. The quest for victory wasn't helped by Pardew's bizare decision to experiment with James Harper on the left wing.
Twenty-two-year-old Harper, who was the clubs Player of the Year last year, will surely be told to stick to his central role in future as the Cherries were able to focus much of their play down Harper's side of the field. Winger Wade Elliot attempted to exacerbate Reading's left-flank woes, but to no success.
Realising his tactical mistake, Pards was quickly able to make a change, bringing on the in-form Nathan Tyson.
Tyson has been suggesting that he is ready to explode onto the scene this year with some mazy pre-season displays. However, veteran winger John Salako, booed by his own 'supporters' at times last season, is not going to give up his first team spot easily. Old John played like Young John last night, demonstrating some of the form that made him such a hit when he first signed for the Royals.
With few chances for either side, it wasn't until the twenty-nineth minute that the Royals managed a shot on goal, but alas, even then there wasn't a shot on target. Nicky Forster's twenty-yard pelter was deflected wide of goal by an ailing Bournemouth defender.
In a first half dominated by the home side, a flick header wide and a powerless shot into Hahnemann's hands was poor reward for some excellent possession play. If the Cherries wish to make an impact on Division Two they must improve their offensive output.
A more focused Reading entered the field for the second half. Their cause was helped by a spate of substitutions by Bournemouth, disrupting their play.
Kevin Watson was presented with the best chance of the game two minutes after the restart but his attempt to lob sub 'keeper Neil Moss from close range was well resisted. In fairness, Watson should have done better.
Nathan Tyson also went close shortly afterwards as Reading attempted to turn the screw on the ever-less confident Cherries.
As the game went on a no score draw was looking the likely outcome despite persistent Reading efforts to win the game. John Salako's twenty-yard pot shot served as warning for the avalanche of efforts that was to follow in the closing ten minutes.
Henderson and Butler both fashioned, and missed, chances as the game reached it's conclusion, with Butler going closest to breaking the deadlock, but Moss was once more alert to the danger.
Alan Pardew has said that the results don't matter in pre-season. But the performances surely do. Despite the high fitness levels shown by Reading players, Pards will hope for a better display from his side on Friday so as to go into the new season full of confidence.
Reading Line-Up:
Hahnemann, Murty, Mackie, Williams (Castle 76), Shorey, Watson (Sidwell 70), Murray (Salako 70), Sidwell (Tyson 30), Harper, Henderson (Savage 80), Forster (Butler 76).
AFC Bournemouth Line-Up:
Stewart (Moss 46), Young (Elliott 78), Cummings (Saadi 79), Maher (Broadhurst 46), C Fletcher (Skelton 78), Purches (Stock h46), Browning (Canham 66), Elliott (Thomson 46), O'Connor (Thomas 60), S Fletcher (Holmes 46), Hayter (Feeney 46 [Hayter 81]).