Reading have been the better side during a subdued opening 45 minutes against Newcastle United at the Madejski Stadium.
It took until the 23rd minute for either side to register a shot on target, with Steve Harper making a comfortable save from Noel Hunt's tame header.
Pavel Pogrebnyak then forced the Magpies goalkeeper into an impressive diving stop with another header on the half-hour.
Late in the half, James Perch made an superb last-ditch tackle to deny Pogrebnyak, who was in on goal.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Arsenal | 34 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 82 | 26 | 56 | 77 |
| 2 | Manchester CityMan City | 33 | 23 | 7 | 3 | 80 | 32 | 48 | 76 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 34 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 75 | 34 | 41 | 74 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 34 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 71 | 50 | 21 | 66 |
| 5 | Tottenham HotspurSpurs | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 65 | 49 | 16 | 60 |
| 6 | Manchester UnitedMan Utd | 33 | 16 | 5 | 12 | 51 | 50 | 1 | 53 |
| 7 | Newcastle UnitedNewcastle | 33 | 15 | 5 | 13 | 69 | 54 | 15 | 50 |
| 8 | West Ham UnitedWest Ham | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 54 | 63 | -9 | 48 |
| 9 | Chelsea | 32 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 61 | 57 | 4 | 47 |
| 10 | Bournemouth | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 49 | 60 | -11 | 45 |
| 11 | Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton | 33 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 52 | 54 | -2 | 44 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton WanderersWolves | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 46 | 54 | -8 | 43 |
| 13 | Fulham | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 50 | 54 | -4 | 42 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 44 | 56 | -12 | 39 |
| 15 | Brentford | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 52 | 59 | -7 | 35 |
| 16 | Everton | 34 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 36 | 48 | -12 | 33 |
| 17 | Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 42 | 60 | -18 | 26 |
| 18 | Luton TownLuton | 34 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 47 | 75 | -28 | 25 |
| 19 | Burnley | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 37 | 69 | -32 | 23 |
| 20 | Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd | 34 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 33 | 92 | -59 | 16 |
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