With both clubs resigned to spending next season in the Championship this was never going to be a particularly inspiring fixture. A flurry of corners near the end hinted that Reading might delay the inevitable outcome of their season, but in the end it was fitting that the two weakest teams in the league should grind out a draw which condemns them both to lower division football. (“If you’re all going to Bournemouth – clap your hands” chanted the home fans long before the end.) It must be more galling for Rangers fans having seen their club invest vast sums of money for a very poor return.

Reading were quick to close Rangers down in the opening phase of the game winning the ball in midfield but unable to profit from the possession gained. McAnuff broke through only to be pulled back referee Friend because Clint Hill clumsily tripped over his trailing leg when he mistimed his challenge as McAnuff went past him with ease. Reading probably had the best chance to open the scoring in the first half when the Rangers defence made hard work of dealing with a Guthrie cross. The ball bobbled about before a Rangers boot sent it into the stands. Reading should have had penalty when Guthrie found Kelly running into the box with a delightful diagonal ball. The Reading full back’s first touch was perfect but was unable to get his shot away as a Rangers defender made contact from behind. Reading finished the half with a couple of shots in quick succession, one of which from McAnuff drew a save from Green.

Reading came out for the second half looking for a goal and forced two corners in quick succession. The gloved Taraabt was substituted shortly after missing two good chances with completely miscued strikes at goal. Robson-Kanu came on for Blackman who had looked out of his depth all afternoon and Le Fondre replaced McCleary who had been having an impact. The crowd had been calling for ‘Alf’ to join the fray throughout the game. The changes did little to effect the pattern of the game. Pogrebnyak manoeuvred himself into a scoring position but curled the ball wide and then demonstrated how poor he is in the air by mistiming a header from a good cross when he really should have at least hit the target. Morrison on the other hand powered a header goalwards only to see Green stretch to tip his effort over the bar.

The home crowd sympathetically encouraged their team to the end and applauded them off at the end because they could see Reading were at least trying to play good football. McAnuff is clearly eager impress the new manager and retain his place in the team next season as he continued to play with greater determination than at any stage of the season. Reading, although out of their depth in the Premier League, with the nucleus of a good Championship side, financial stability and a good manager, can look forward to next season with a degree of optimism. Ranger’s future however is not so secure. A squad of expensive players and a debt of £89 million can be a liability. With Harry at the helm they might be wondering if they are the next Pompey.
John Wells

Like a loveable pet Labrador approaching the end of it's life, Reading's life in the Premiership was finally put to sleep yesterday, with a another performance that typifies this woeful season. Both QPR and Reading proceeding in producing ninety minutes of abject rubbish that wouldn't be fit for division One yet alone the Championship. When you also consider the disgusting combined wages bill for the so called players on the pitch it really does hammer home what's so wrong with the game of football today as we know it. We deserve to go down of that there is no doubt, and in my opinion the fault and blame lies well and truly with John Madejski and his faceless board members who with breath taking naivety refused to invest in the club on two occasions we've been promoted. Yes JM made the club but he's also held the club back and his legacy will be one of double failure at the top level. He's a cloud hanging over the club and needs to go with grace before we move on. Will we be back in the Premiership ? Maybe in a few years but what's of no doubt is that the current crop of players would not get promotion next season , we need a good clear out and to start again. I for one am looking forward to the Championship, a proper football competition where we'll win more games, have more fun and play in a league where anybody can beat anybody. We're maybe a Yo-yo club and funnily enough this relegation doesn't even hurt, we've know it for many months. Roll on next season.
Nick Newbury

Obviously doesn't hurt as much as last time, but still sucks of course. I'm pretty nervous about next season to be honest. Heard a lot of people call/text into Berks saying we'll be back up next year, and even Anton expects this, but the way things are looking at the moment our squad could be stripped to the bare bones. There are players out of contract at the end of the season, players that have contracts and were favorites under Brian who are not getting a look in and obviously we have one or two players we could sell. It's going to be a massive rebuilding process over the summer, and I hope they back Nigel to bring in the players he wants.
BenSmith91

Awful, dull game. The only consolation being that QPR were worse than us and that's quite an achievement given the difference in spend between the two clubs. Adkins to borrow a phrase from the frothy mouthed mob "new improved style" basically consists of us playing a couple more passes in our own half than we did before and looking uncomfortable in doing so. At the other end, that's the end where you should be playing you football rather than what we're doing, the only creativity is coming from the wings which is the same situation as we were in under the previous regime.
sandman

In the end Reading and Queens Park Rangers conspired to put each other out of their misery. On a day when both knew that nothing less than a victory was needed to keep their faint hopes of avoiding relegation alive, all they could manage was the most humdrum of goalless draws. Devoid of ideas and playing without any real sense of urgency, it felt like both sets of players had no desire to prolong the agony...

The atmosphere in the closing moments here was strangely subdued. There were no fans pictured in tears at the final whistle, just an air of resignation among both sets of supporters that the inevitable had happened. A return to the Championship had been on the cards for weeks and this was merely a case of hammering the final nail into the coffin.
The Guardian

Reading and Queens Park Rangers slithered out of the Premier League yesterday, neither apparently able to muster the energy to survive. A victory would have kept one of them hanging on for a while longer, like a condemned criminal on Death Row, but a defeat or a draw spelt doom. They perished in mutual apathy.

The so-called Dead Men’s Derby at the Madejski Stadium lived up to its billing and made for grim viewing. Yet it encapsulated the weaknesses of the teams, the squads and the clubs. All were out of their depth among the elite. At least QPR lasted two seasons, Reading have made a swift return to Championship after just one campaign.

For much of the first half, Reading and QPR demonstrated exactly why they have plummeted over the past months. Where McDermott and Hughes failed, Adkins and Redknapp seem to have followed. It was a mish-mash of an offering, perhaps acceptable for mid-table in the Championship – where they could meet next season – but unpalatable in the Premier League.
The Independent