Cardiff and Reading played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final at the Madejski Stadium and they will conclude the tie at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night. The Berkshire stalemate means that it is now winner-takes-all in Wales, so who might come through to reach the Wembley final?

Cardiff look to have everything in place to become a Premier League side but sometimes getting out of the Championship is harder than staying in the top-flight, as the Bluebirds know only too well having have flirted with promotion in recent times (Cardiff 4/6 to qualify for final).

They blew the chance of automatic promotion by taking just one point from their final two games of the regular season and now must lift themselves or face the prospect of another season in the second tier of English football.

There was a tense atmosphere in the first leg but, despite the attacking talent on show for both sides, chances were at a premium and they both came up blank.

Craig Bellamy’s hamstring injury deprived the Welsh outfit of their best player and it is touch-and-go as to whether he will be available for the second leg, with boss Dave Jones set to make a late decision on the former Liverpool man.

There is not doubt that the Cardiff fans will make it an intimidating atmosphere for the Royals in the Welsh capital, but Brian McDermott’s side have been flying of late and they ended the season as the strongest side in the division with an incredible run of victories in April and May.

But they looked a little tense in the home leg and playing away from the Madejski might help them relax and display the free-flowing football that has brought them rewards of late.

Reading won eight and drew 10 games on their travels this term and so they will not be overawed by the prospect of playing Cardiff on their own patch, in what is likely to be another tight affair (Reading 19/10 to beat Cardiff).

One goal might settle it and, as ever, the first goal will be key, with McDermott’s men more than capable of hanging on to a lead if they can manage to find the back of the net before the Bluebirds.

An early goal will doubtless enliven proceedings and force both sets of players to venture further forward and it would be the best thing for the neutral to see two talented teams going at each other, rather than the cagey affair last Friday.

Cardiff lost out to Blackpool in the play-off final 12 months ago and Jones has already made it clear that the failure to beat Ian Holloway’s men still keeps him awake at night.

His desire to reach the promised land is as great as ever but he will need to inspire his charges for one final push as they have looked lacklustre in the past couple of weeks.

The game could be a classic with an early goal but if it gets to 0-0 at half-time then we could be in for a long evening, with the prospect of penalties a distinct possibility with so much at stake.

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Cardiff’s nervy end to the season saw them slip to fourth place in the Championship table to set up a play-off semi-final clash with Reading. The two sides face each other at the Madejski Stadium on Friday evening and so we will take a look at which club might head back to Wales with an advantage (Cardiff & Reading 5/6 to qualify for final).

Cardiff looked the most likely club to join Queens Park Rangers in gaining automatic promotion to the Premier League, with just one defeat in their first 10 Championship games.

But they faltered when it mattered most, with a 3-0 defeat to Middlesbrough and a 1-1 draw with Burnley opening the door for Norwich to finish in second place in the table.

To add insult to injury their Welsh rivals Swansea sneaked into third place on goal difference, meaning that Dave Jones’ side bagged a semi-final with Reading and not, as seemed likely, with Nottingham Forest (Cardiff 11/5 – match prices 1st leg).

Jones is to be commended for the way that he has rallied his troops this term after the disappointment of 12 months ago and he will look to use that experience to spur on his men over their two encounters with the Royals and, he hopes, in the final.

Keeper Tom Heaton has recovered from a groin strain and should play, while Mark Hudson is tipped to shake off a knee injury to face Brian McDermott’s men.

Cardiff appear to have everything in place for a tilt at the Premier League and, with players of the quality of Craig Bellamy, Jay Bothroyd and Jason Koumas in the ranks, they will be a tough nut to crack for Reading over two legs.

But the Berkshire side were the form team over the last 10 games of the campaign, with seven victories and two draws and just a solitary defeat to Sheffield United.

They put together a run of eight consecutive league victories to propel themselves into the play-off zone and maintained their form to finish with 77 points – just three behind Swansea and Cardiff.

Momentum in any sport is key to success and therefore Reading should not be underestimated as they clearly have the bit between their teeth going into the post-season.

Goals should not be a problem for the Royals as they managed to bag 77 during the season, with only Leeds and Norwich scoring more in the Championship, but they welcome a Cardiff side who have not been beaten on their travels since losing at Crystal Palace on March 8.

Reading drew 17 games during the season and were solid away from home, with just five defeats on the road, and so they will be confident of protecting a lead should they manage to pierce the Bluebirds’ rearguard on Friday evening (Reading 13/5 to be promoted).

On-loan midfielder Mikele Leigertwood has been passed fit after recovering from an ankle problem and looks set to play in what could be a tight affair with so much at stake for both clubs.

Reading have experienced life in the top flight and are desperate for another taste of the action, while Cardiff have been the nearly men for a few years.

McDermott’s charges have been scoring goals for fun but it would be no surprise if this first leg was settled by a solitary strike, with everything to play for back in the Welsh capital on May 17.

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