Andy Carroll’s late penalty left Norwich City frustrated with a 1-1 draw in their first game after firing Dean Smith as head coach.
Adam Idah’s 53rd-minute strike had given the Canaries the lead at Carrow Road, but substitute Kieran Dowell’s trip on Nestor Guiness-Walker gave the ex-West Ham forward the opportunity to fire beyond a helpless Angus Gunn and earn a point for the Berkshire side.
Half chances went begging for American international Josh Sargent and Dowell’s fellow substitute Onel Hernandez before Carroll’s equaliser, in Allan Russell and Steve Weaver’s first game in temporary charge of the Norfolk outfit.
The result leaves Norwich seventh in the table, 14 points away from the automatic promotion places they’re aiming for and outside the play-offs on goal difference after Middlesbrough’s 2-1 win over Blackburn on Thursday.
Next they face Watford at Carrow Road, after the Hornets’ 4-0 defeat to Russell Martin’s Swansea.
NORWICH CITY (4-3-3):
Substitutes:
1. Krul (GK)
4. Omobamidele
8. Hayden (on for McCallum, 90+2)
9. Hugill
10. Dowell (on for Nunez, 75)
25. Hernandez (on for Idah, 75)
46. Gibbs
Interim coaches: Allan Russell and Steve Weaver
Bookings: Hanley (2), McCallum (31), Sara (78)
READING (5-3-2):
Substitutes:
21. Bouzanis (GK)
6. Dann
7. Long
11. Meite (on for Joao, 65)
12. Rahman
18. Guiness-Walker (on for McIntyre, 74)
27. Mbengue (on for Hoilett, 89)
Manager: Paul Ince
Bookings: Holmes (58), Loum (77)
KEY MOMENTS
3 - Hoilett is brought down on the edge of the box by Hanley, before Gunn tips Ince's free-kick over the bar.
5 - Sara sends Pukki through and he attempts to square for Idah, but Sarr intervenes.
13 - Carroll's header finds Joao, who goes down under McLean's challenge but sees the foul go the other way.
17 - Idah's flick-on finds Pukki through on goal, but his touch is poor and the ball rebounds to Sargent, who can't force over the line.
44 - Nunez' swerving dive from distance is saved and held well by Lumley.
45+1 - Hoilett's free-kick flies wide of the far post after McLean bundles Joao over.
Half time - Norwich City 0-0 Reading
53 - GOAL NORWICH (Idah): The ball eventually falls to Idah after some clever headed work from Sara and Pukki, and the Irishman makes no mistake to drive home at the near post.
63 - Joao should score his free header after Ince's corner finds him, but Gunn pulls off a fantastic save to deny him.
66 - Nunez plays Sargent through and he drives across goal from a tight angle, but Lumley saves and holds.
82 - GOAL READING (Carroll penalty): Carroll calmly drives into the side netting after Dowell's foul on Guinness-Walker is given as a penalty.
Full time - Norwich City 1-1 Reading
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 8, Aarons 7, Hanley 6, Gibson 6, McCallum 6, McLean 7, Sara 7, Nunez 5, Sargent 6, Pukki 7, Idah 8. Subs: Hernandez 6, Dowell 4.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 57pc-43pc
Shots: 11-12
On target: 5-4
Corners: 8-7
Fouls: 17-7
Added-on time: 2 mins/3 mins
ATTENDANCE: 26,218
REFEREE: David Webb
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