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Andy Lonergan pulled off several late saves for Bolton as they stretched their unbeaten run to five matches with a goalless draw at Reading.

Glenn Murray and Jordan Obita missed early chances in a poor first half.

Tim Ream's close-range header forced a good save from home goalkeeper Adam Federici before Michael Hector missed three good chances for the Royals.

Darren Pratley went close for Bolton and Lonergan made a stunning one-handed save late on to deny Danny Williams.

The result means Bolton move up to 17th in the Championship, while Reading remain in 14th.

Max Clayton flashed a low centre across the face of the home goal early on but no team-mate was on hand to provide the vital touch.

Reading responded quickly from an Obita corner on the right which Hector nodded on, but Murray was unable to get a clean connection at the far post and headed tamely wide.

Obita should have done better when latching onto a Garath McCleary cross but showed poor control and the chance went begging.

Reading tried to up the tempo as the half wore on, with McCleary taking too long over a shot from outside the area, which was blocked, and Oliver Norwood firing a 20-yard free-kick harmlessly over.

Just before half-time, another Obita corner ricocheted among a mass of bodies until landing at Murray's feet, but his close-range effort struck McCleary and rebounded to safety.

Tim Ream's close-range header was well kept out by Federici, before Reading launched a fierce assault.

In the space of only a few minutes, centre-back Hector missed three good chances - nodding over an Obita corner, slicing a shot wide and then being denied by Lonergan's agile save from his firm header.

Bolton also counter-attacked swiftly, as Pratley went close with a powerful cross-shot and Ream missed the target when unguarded at the far post.

But Bolton were again indebted to Lonergan near the end when he made a superb save to keep out a stinging 25-yard attempt by Williams.

Reading manager Nigel Adkins:

"We had more than enough opportunities to win the game. We looked a massive threat, especially from set-pieces.

"We were dominant going in at half time but, afterwards, we just couldn't get that all-important goal that probably changes the mood of everyone."

Bolton manager Neil Lennon:

"It's never easy coming to a stadium again after such a defeat as that [last season's 7-1 loss]. But we showed plenty of character today.

"We played very well in the first half without really hurting Reading. At times, on the counter-attack, in the second half, we were very good. We just missed the final pass or the finish."