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 Brynjar 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 onto 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 in midfield.

Hammers defender Matthew Upson almost got his head to the lofted free-kick and had he done so, Hahnemann would have been horribly out of position.

Scott Parker kept the pressure on as he broke into the box and picked out Ashton, who could only hook a difficult pass onto the roof of the Reading net.

West Ham took the lead three minutes before the interval after Solano pounced to beat Convey's challenge with a delicate touch before lifting the ball over Hahnemman.

West Ham had carved the opening well as Parker linked with full-back Neill on a diagonal run across the box. Although Carlton Cole lost his footing after receiving the lay-off, the ball fell to Solano and two deft touches later it was in the back of the net.

Shortly after the interval Ingimarsson made a hash of a long clearance from Green and the ball fell to Ashton but Sonko did well to recover and he blocked the shot.

Reading were making themselves a nuisance, switching into a 4-3-3 formation when in possession and Kitson managed to knock the ball down for Hunt, whose long-range strike skewed wide.

Parker did escape into the Reading box but was guilty of ignoring Cole and Ashton, who were both unmarked and in prime position, when he drilled a near-post shot straight at Hahnemann.

Reading continued to stretch West Ham and their enterprise paid off just before the hour when Kitson turned onto a through-ball from Shorey and fired past Green to draw the Royals level.

Upson's clearing header fell to Shorey outside the West Ham box and the England full-back worked space cleverly before lifting his pass through to Kitson.

West Ham was were spurred into action and Ljungberg latched onto a through-ball from Parker but his low drive was deflected one-handed over the bar by Hahnemann.

But West Ham lacked invention, particularly after Solano was replaced.

As the clock ticked down Parker wasted a golden chance after working space inside the box when his weak shot was easily held by Hahnemann.

Ashton rose well to meet a near-post corner but saw his header rebound off the post as Reading held on for the draw.