Match Report: 2010/2011 Season

13 March 2011: FA CUP QUARTER FINAL
MANCHESTER CITY 1 READING 0
goals
Reading: -
Man City: Richards (74 mins).
Half Time: 0-0.

Attendance: 41,150

CHAMPIONSHIP8 Mar 2011
Pos Team P Pts GD
7 Burnley 34 56 +12
8 READING 36 54 +17
9 Hull 36 52 +3
teams
Reading: A. McCarthy, I. Harte, Z. Khizanishvili, J. McAnuff (H. Robson-Kanu, 62), M. Leigertwood, J. Tabb (B. Howard, 86), J. Kebe, J. Karacan, B. Gunnarsson, N. Hunt (S. Church, 76), S. Long. Subs not used: M. Andersen, M. Antonio, A. Griffin, J. Taylor.
Man City: J. Hart, V. Kompany, M. Richards, A. Kolarov, J. Lescott, S. Wright-Phillips (D. Boyata, 89), Y. Toure, J. de Jong (G. Barry, 83), P. Vieira (M. Balotelli, 70), D. Silva, C. Tevez. Subs not used: S. Taylor, Jo, A. Razak, E. Dzeko.
bookings
Reading: Long.
Man City: Kompany, Richards.
Ref: Lee Probert
report
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FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

Unfortunately was in the home end in the North stand opposite the Reading fans. Heard you loud and clear before and during the game. You did the team proud. The City fans in the North stand were dead quiet throughout until they scored. When they did score it was horrible. My 8 year old who is now a veteran of two quarter-finals couldn't hide how he felt and instantly bowed his head and struggled to hold back the tears. There were one or two strange glances towards us as they were all doing some kind of celebatory jig but sod it. As for the game if thats the best City could do against a makeshift back 5 then they really should take a look at themselves.

We looked the better side to start with. Both McAnuff and Kebe looked dangerous but their final ball was nearly always poor. Jobi's performance deteriorated thereafter. After that they took control but didn't create that much and I honestly thought we could hold out for a draw. I actually thought McCarthy was going to save the header so was hacked off when it ended up in the net. I don't know who was at fault but with a makeshift defence what can any of us expect. I thought Gunnar marshalled Tevez really well and Kish made a number of timely interceptions. Not sure if Kish was at fault for the goal.

McCarthy was our MOTM. He really does look the part and is a brave lad. We are very blessed in the keeper department. We never really troubled Joe Hart. Hunt was anonymous and was too deep on the odd occasions Long won the ball in the air. Long had one decent chance in the second-half but hit a tame shot straight at Hart. Kebe had the beating of the City defence but his final pass was often poor. We certainly didn't crumble and came out of the game with credit. Now its back to the League. Again the results have gone in our favour. We can now make the top 6.
Pearcey

Managed to last in the home end without getting a kicking. Thought we dealt with City really well, and for what its worth they will win oxf*rd all this year. Unbelievable tactics to come out with two holding mids against a Championship team at home; I suppose they weren't to know we had such a ramshackle back 4 (who all did brilliantly) The counter-side of this is unfortunately we didnt quite create enough to be all that much of a bother. Thought that we did really well in centre midfield with Ledge and Tabb winning a lot and generally looking on top of City in the middle of the park, and Kebe and Mcanuff both did fairly well, shame to see Mcanuff go off because i thought Richards really struggled with him Another good game for McCarthy. Pretty devestating to go out to a set-piece.
Royal Tezza

Bit gutted as I thought we'd weathered the storm, then they go and get a goal from a set piece (that I think bryn could have avoided giving - but he was immense, so not going to criticise). Result probably the right one - we didn't offer enough up front, but we defended well other than the goal and take credit for the result. Mom liegertwood, khiz, McCarthy or bryn. Long was marked out of the game. Some great touches from kebe. No dishonour in today's result
The Prisioner

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QUOTES FROM THE PRESS

Roberto Mancini's side were frustrated for long periods at Eastlands, but also did enough to keep Reading's outstanding keeper Alex McCarthy busy as he produced a succession of fine saves and crucial blocks. Reading's chances were few and far between, and even though they were unable to produce the heroics that shocked Everton at Goodison Park in the last round, they still emerged with great credit in defeat. ... David Silva was the inspiration behind City's win, but Carlos Tevez was also heavily involved and his presence as captain will add another layer of intrigue to the meeting with former club United after he left Old Trafford in such contentious circumstances. Tevez took his place in City's attack, with Mancini keeping plenty back in reserve on the bench in the shape of Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli, who had presumably recovered from the allergic reaction he had to the pitch during the Europa League loss in Kiev. Reading had a glimpse of an opportunity early on when Noel Hunt headed over but soon the traffic was travelling all one way as City exerted pressure without ever creating serious panic in the Royals rearguard.

Reading keeper McCarthy, outstanding in the win at Everton, soon distinguished himself again with a double stop to deny Yaya Toure and Silva. He thwarted another effort from the Spaniard when Silva, the first half's outstanding performer, showed a delicate touch in the area before firing too close to McCarthy. Silva was once more the creator to send Toure racing clear but McCarthy was equal to the task as the giant midfield man bore down on goal.

Having survived until the interval, Reading almost let their good work go to waste in the opening moments of the second half. Shane Long deflected Aleksandar Kolarov's corner towards his own goal and was relieved to see Jay Tabb standing sentry at the far post to head off the line. Silva was again the driving force behind City's best moves. He evaded the Reading defence with another jinking run into the box to find Tevez but the Argentine's clever flick was blocked by McCarthy. Another Kolarov corner caused problems as Richards won a header but his downward effort bounced at a comfortable height for McCarthy to turn over the top. Reading, so resolute at the back, broke clear to give City a rare anxious moment after 67 minutes. Jimmy Kebe easily outstripped Toure but Long's shot carried little pace or power and the virtually unemployed Joe Hart saved with ease. City's breakthrough finally came with 16 minutes remaining. Silva's corner, won by Balotelli after his introduction from the bench, was inviting but it still took a fine header from the incoming Richards to end the stalemate. Reading pushed forward in an attempt to force a replay but in vain, leaving Eastlands to relish that Wembley meeting with United.

BBC Sport