Reading FC used off-field issue to their advantage against Birmingham City: View | OneFootball

The Royals need some signings through the door, but their lack of transfer activity paid dividends for them on Saturday.

Reading secured an excellent 1-1 draw against Birmingham City on Saturday.

The Royals came into this game as underdogs, as the only EFL team not to make a signing so far during the summer transfer window.

Their ownership situation has caused this, with signings unlikely to be made before a takeover is complete.

With this, the relegated Blues had the perfect chance to make a good start to life in League One, but they were unable to take this opportunity.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan opened the scoring just before the interval, before Alfie May rescued a point for the Midlands side.

Birmingham will be upset not to have won, considering the players they had on the field.

The Royals, meanwhile, will be satisfied with their point and will be hoping to build on that when they face Wigan Athletic this weekend.

With the Berkshire side unable to make any signings so far this summer, nine players who started against Blackpool on the final day of last season were in the starting lineup against Birmingham.

The only two players who didn't feature were Clinton Mola and Femi Azeez, with the former leaving the club to join Bristol Rovers and the latter out injured.

Michael Craig started at right-back in place of Mola, and having played there against Hull City, the former Tottenham man was comfortable in that role at St Andrew's.

Mamadi Camara was the man to replace Azeez - and he also did a very good job in the Midlands - adapting to his role well and following Ruben Selles' tactical instructions to a T.

With the Royals' squad having a whole pre-season with a new manager and no signings coming in, this allowed them to put in an excellent performance at Birmingham.

Even with new signings, the visitors could have performed well, but the fact the players know each other inside out would have helped the team on Saturday.

They definitely used this familiarity to their advantage, picking up a brilliant point and only being denied a win due to a controversial penalty decision.

The fact captain Andy Yiadom and key wide man Azeez were out of action wasn't ideal, but other players who know Selles' system were able to come in and put in good performances.

However, some new signings will definitely be needed between now and the end of the window if the Royals want to maximise their chances of enjoying a successful season.

Future injuries and suspensions will damage the team unless the club can improve its squad depth in the coming weeks.

Even though the Royals did well last weekend, it's clear that they need to recruit some additions in the coming weeks.

The goalkeeping area doesn't require strengthening, but the left-back and centre-back departments do, particularly the former.

Matty Carson, Nesta Guinness-Walker and Mola all left the club this summer, so there's definitely a need to add more depth in this area.

If a left-back is recruited, that could allow Jeriel Dorsett to be an option in central defence if required, which would be ideal.

The central midfield area, meanwhile, may not be an area that desperately needs looking at if Jack Senga can step up to the plate, although another attacking midfield option could be useful.

The wing and striker departments are two positions that do need to be looked at though, even with Camara stepping up to the plate well at St Andrew's.

They may have plenty of players who can contribute in the final third, but injuries could come into play during the season and they need as many attacking assets as possible.