Following on from Reading’s dramatic victory over Plymouth Argyle, the fifth round of the FA Cup arrived at the Madejski Stadium with Reading hosting promotion chasing West Bromwich Albion. However the late drama belonged to the away side, as Baggies’ Joe Mattock scored a late equaliser to provide a dramatic finish to a wonderfully entertaining cup-tie that contained four goals and two red cards.
Reading celebrated their third successive league victory with a 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle thanks to an injury time penalty kick from Shane Long. Ice cool Long picked up his second goal of the game having given Reading the lead in the 51st minute. With four goals in the last three games, the Irish striker looks to have caught fire at precisely the right time as Reading bid to pull away from the Championship drop zone.
In a week when Brian McDermott was handed the permanent position of Reading manager it seemed somewhat ironic that McDermott’s first game without the word caretaker in his job title should be against Barnsley. The last time the two clubs met in late August, Reading triumphed 3-1 at Oakwell with mass demonstrations by Barnsley fans taking place after the match leading to the subsequent removal of Simon Davey from the Barnsley manager’s chair.
Reading’s leading goal scorer Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a late winner to send Reading marching into the last sixteen of the FA Cup. Yet again the Royals took a Premier League scalp as Burnley was sent packing from the Madejski Stadium. Reading’s caretaker manager Brian McDermott would have done his prospects of a permanent appointment no harm at all, as Reading make it into the Fifth Round of the FA Cup for only the sixth time in 85 years.
The afterglow from Reading’s magnificent victory at Anfield lasted precisely three days. Following the glorious 2-1 victory over Liverpool in Wednesday night’s FA Cup third round replay, Reading was pulled firmly back down to Earth by the Championship’s form side Nottingham Forest. The 2-1 victory for the home side left the Royals feeling empty at not being able to capitalise further on their FA Cup exploits. However Forest will readily admit that they owe their victory in no small part to their goalkeeper, Lee Camp, who put in an inspired display.
Reading's upcoming Coca-Cola Championship fixture against Newcastle United has been postponed. The game was originally set for 3pm this coming Saturday 9th January, but there is no prospect of a significant improvement in conditions between now and the weekend, so the club, along with the Football League, have taken the decision on the grounds of safety.
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