Reading
Federici
Kelly Mariappa Morrison
Shorey
McCleary Leigertwood Karacan
Robson-Kanu
Hunt Le Fondre
Sheffield United
Long
McMahon Maguire Higginbotham Westlake
Blackman McDonald Doyle
Murphy
Porter Kitson
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| The Mad Stad |
With giant killings here, there
and everywhere on F.A Cup 4th round weekend, Readings comprehensive
4-0 win over Sheffield United was
something of an anomaly. The ice and snow had passed through Reading earlier in
the week and as a result the fans were treated to a slightly warmer walk to the
ground, things soon got heated in the stadium as after early possession Nicky
Shorey found Hal Robson-Kanu out wide on the left and his pinpoint cross was
met by the head of Noel Hunt who beat Darryl Westlake in the air to put the
Royals One up after five minutes.
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| The Away End |
Despite being two divisions lower, it was the
visitors who were controlling the game after the goal. The trickery of Nick
Blackman was causing Reading’s back four all sorts of problems, he beat Shorey
down the left and fizzed a ball across the goal line somehow evading everyone.
On the other flank new signing Jamie Murphy was linking up well with former R’s
man Dave Kitson and the two combined in the 35th minute only for
Federici to deny Murphy. It looked like it would only be a matter of when
rather than if Sheffield United would equalise but as is the case often in
football the opposite occurred, after good work from Garath McCleary down the
right, Mikele Leigertwood picked up the ball and to cries of ‘shoot’ he duly
obliged finding the top corner via a deflection off Kevin McDonald to send Brian
McDermott’s men in 2-0 up at the break.
 |
| Kick Off |
Sheffield United came out for the
second half all guns blazing with both Blackman and Murphy causing the Reading
fullbacks problems, in spite of their early pressure United found themselves
three down after Garath McCleary knocked the ball past Westlake and eluded the
pressure of Higginbotham and Doyle to cross for Hunt to scuff home and bag his
second of the game. If that wasn’t bad enough it got even worse for the Blades
as McCleary capped a fine display with a fantastic effort four minutes later. Nicky
Shorey brought the ball out from defence and found Adam Le Fondre who in turn
spread the ball out to McCleary who after an astute piece of skill found the
bottom corner.
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| Second Half |
It was 4-0 and basically game over with over half an hour to go,
so the Reading fans set on taunting the Blades fans with cries of, “Four nil on
your big day out’ this to a team who had been in the Premier League with the
Royals during the 2005/2006 season. In all fairness to Sheffield United they
didn’t throw the towel in, both McMahon and Doyle had chances cleared off the
line and substitute Ryan Flynn missed an absolute sitter late on.
 |
| Full Time |
In the end it
was a professional display from the R’s with manager Brian McDermott conceding
afterwards, "I don't think we did particularly well in the first half. We just
weren't ourselves. I got a bit agitated, which is unusual for me, but we were
much more clinical and efficient after, so we deserved to go through”. The
Blades gaffer Danny Wilson said, "I think the score line was a bit
flattering but they have taken their chances, we had as many chances but just
didn't convert them." The draw for the fifth round was made on Sunday and
saw the Royals paired with Manchester United, who having not won the competition
since 2004 are determined to claim it again this season.
