Reading shook off any FA Cup hangover that may have been lingering from the weekend by beating Derby County 4-1. In a thoroughly eventful match at the Madejski Stadium Shane Long, Jimmy Kebe, Ryan Bertrand and Simon Church scored Reading’s goals. However that was only half the story. The Rams used three goalkeepers, with one being sent off and on top of that Shane Long also missed a penalty.
A second half hat trick from Aston Villa’s Norwegian striker John Carew put paid to Reading’s dreams of a Wembley Semi Final. Reading had raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to a Shane Long brace, but Martin O’Neill’s men showed great strength of character and resilience to storm back with four second half goals. The disappointment around the Madejski Stadium was tangible at the finish of the match, but the pride emanating from the home sections was also felt.
Reading showed no signs of fatigue after their midweek exertions in the West Midlands. Instead Brian McDermott’s men administered an absolute thrashing to Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls, who suffered a 6-0 defeat at the Madejski Stadium last season, did slightly better this time round, only losing 5-0. Two goals each from Jimmy Kebe and Grzegorz Rasiak were accompanied by a goal from Simon Church. The significance of the victory was felt when the Championship league table was viewed, as Reading now sit four points above the drop zone.
An astonishing night in the West Midlands saw Reading march into the Sixth Round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1927 courtesy of a 3-2 victory over West Bromwich Albion. In a dramatic game Brian Howard grabbed a late equaliser to force extra time. Gylfi Sigurdsson then scored a wonderful winner to leave Albion feeling absolutely stunned by Reading’s wonderful fight-back.
The Reading bandwagon that had collected maximum points from its last four league matches was brought to a grinding halt by Ian Holloway’s promotion chasing Blackpool side at Bloomfield Road. A 2-0 win for the Tangerines may have felt harsh on the Reading fans who made the long trip north, but for Blackpool the victory puts them firmly in the race for the Play Offs as they sit a point outside the Championship top six.
Reading completed a fourth straight win at the expense of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park thanks to a Simon Church double and a goal from Jimmy Kebe in a 3-1 over Neil Warnock’s side. Palace who comprehensively tore Reading apart at the Madejski Stadium in December with a 4-2 score line looked a completely different side, but that is only to be expected considering what the Croydon club have been through since the turn of the year.
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