How they rated
JOEL PEREIRA
Wasn’t tested too often. Got a hand on Draper’s header but couldn’t keep it out.
ANDY YIADOM
Returned to the side for the first time in three weeks.A decent enough display down the right.
AMADOU MBENGUE
A few shaky touches but provided some important defensive interventions.
TYLER BINDON
Strong in the air and composed on the ball for the most part. A vitally important equaliser as he headed in from Wing’s corner to rescue a point.
JERIEL DORSETT
A sloppy opening to the game, but got better as the game wore on. Subbed off on 70 mins for Mola.
BEN ELLIOTT
Given the nod to start in the absence of Savage and Craig in a central role. Showed some nice touches and grew into the game.
LEWIS WING
Played a deeper role as Selles changed the dynamic of the midfield. A few brilliant moments and passes. Picked up a booking.
HARVEY KNIBBS
Slid in brilliantly to steal the ball in Lincoln’s box which led to Azeez and then Mukairu’s efforts being blocked off the line.
FEMI AZEEZ
Provided some bright moments, including a second-half chance when he breezed past his full-back and hit over the bar.
PAUL MUKAIRU
A frustrating lack of end product. Had his shot blocked off the line by the arm of Jack Moyal but no penalty given.
SAM SMITH
Plenty of hard work up top and some nice link up play, but starved of any clear cut chances.
SUBS
Clinton Mola 6, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan 6 6 6 6 7 6 7
7 6 6 5 6
BY ANDY PRESTON
READING FC are still six points above the relegation zone after Tyler Bindon’s late header secured a point against in-form Lincoln City.
The Royals had felt aggrieved not to have been given a firsthalf penalty after a Jack Moylan handball on the line.
They then fell behind to a Freddie Draper header before Bindon nodded in from a corner to level the game.
The only side below Reading to pick up a point were Port Vale which means there are still several teams left in the relegation dog fight.
Ruben Selles decided to make three changes following his team’s heavy defeat at Bolton on Monday.
Club captain Andy Yiadom returned to the side for the first time since his suspension against Derby.
Ben Elliott was selected to play alongside Lewis Wing in central midfield, while Paul Mukairu was given the nod to start on the leftwing following his consolation goal at Bolton.
The Imps, who had scored 20 goals in their last five matches, started brightly to try and force an opening as Reading gave the ball away cheaply on a couple of occasions in the early moments.
After getting a foothold in the game, Reading’s first promising move of the match was orchestrated by Lewis Wing who picked out Sam Smith down the channel and his cut back was fired over by Ben Elliott.
Harvey Knibbs went to ground in the box searching for a penalty, but went down all too easily for the referee’s liking and was told to get back to his feet.
Reading will be racking their brains as to how they didn’t score the opening goal with just over half an hour gone.
Some persistent work from Harvey Knibbs saw him slide in to win the ball and cut back for Femi Azeez who had his shot blocked off the line, the follow up fell for Paul Mukairu who looked destined to score, but also saw his effort blocked.
It proved to be a controversial moment in the match as replays clearly showed that Jack Moylan had blocked the ball with his arm, but the referee deemed it not to be a handball after the player fell to ground holding his face.
The Royals had the final chance of the half when Azeez teed up Knibbs in the box, he cushioned the ball with a touch before smacking the bouncing ball over the target.