Reading vs Sheffield United F.A. Cup 4th Round

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

The Mad Stad

With giant killings here, there and everywhere on F.A Cup 4^th 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.

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 35^th 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. 

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.