Ten-man Reading hit back to claim a battling 1-1 draw with West Ham United at Upton Park.

The Royals may still be without an away win all season - but a point was the least they deserved for their bold approach to the game after Gunnarsson was sent off.

The Icelandic midfielder was shown a straight red card after 28 minutes for a dangerous two-footed lunge on Hayden Mullins.

West Ham took advantage with a strike from Nolberto Solano just before half-time but they could not shake off a Reading side short on numbers but not on work rate or determination.

Dave Kitson scored the equaliser after turning on to a neat through-ball from Nicky Shorey, a reported January target for West Ham, to beat Robert Green.

West Ham threw everything forward in the closing minutes and Dean Ashton saw his header hit the post but they could not break down a resilient Reading defence.

In stark contrast to recent games at Upton Park, where West Ham have struggled to break their opponents down, it was a bright encounter full of chances for both sides.

Ashton slipped the ball to Mullins who charged towards the edge of the Reading box, where he tested Marcus Hahnemann with a low drive.

Solano then curled a dangerous free-kick just wide of Hahnemann's near post after Ashton had been fouled by Reading centre-back Ivar Ingimarsson.

Kevin Doyle had kept Green alert with an early snap-shot from 20 yards and should have done better with a header after he was picked out in the box by Kitson.

Centre-back Ibrahima Sonko was forced into a near-post clearance but when the West Ham corner fell to Lucas Neill at the far post he drilled his shot high over the bar. Spector was beaten again on the edge of the West Ham box as Doyle rose to get his head to a long-ball from Hahnemann.

The flick-on fell to Kitson who linked again with Doyle to set up Bobby Convey, whose strike from six yards out was well blocked by Green at point-blank range.

Spector may have been under pressure at the back but he did spark a quick West Ham move with a drilled ball down the middle to Freddie Ljungberg.

George McCartney pushed forward and his cross was headed back across the area by Cole but Ashton had just crept offside.

Reading were then reduced to 10 men after Gunnarsson was given his marching orders for a nasty challenge on Mullins as both midfielders hunted a loose ball.

Team Talk / Eurosport