Reading's recent miserable form continued as they dropped out of the FA Cup in the third round replay tonight at Third Division Plymouth Argyle. However, perhaps the Royals got as close as they could to going through after the first half departure of Smith for his second bookable offence. It was the same old story though as Reading clung onto 0-0 until two minutes before the end when the home side eventually got the inevitable winner from close range. With us being out of the two cups that matter, we're left only with a battle against relegation to look forward to for the rest of the season as the potential money spinning FA Cup run end before it really got started. Although Reading may have displayed some battling qualities during the second half, and will consider themselves unlucky to have let in the late goal to get booted out of the cup, Plymouth were always more likely to win it.

Parkinson and Polston were both back for the Royals after their recent suspension, and the team had a more usual look about it with Primus and Polston in the middle of defence, and Parkinson, Smith and Caskey in midfield. With Scott recovered from injury he started alongside Williams with Brayson left again in wait on the Reading bench. Reading had a reasonable opening first half hour despite never really looking like scoring. But it all went wrong before the first half had ended. Smith picked up two yellow cards in the space of two minutes - with just five minutes of the half remaining. The second was more than stupid. After flying in with a late challenge he legged it after the bloke and shoved him to the ground. The referee had no choice.

Reading clung on to the end of the half despite a couple of Plymouth attacks, and the home side winning a couple of corners. Plymouth had had the best, and only real attempt, of the first half. Having broken down the left they cut inside Polston and shot, Howie blocked it, and as it came out the header was narrowly high and wide. The second half, with Reading down to ten men away from home was going to be a struggle. Plymouth were sure to come at Reading and make their advantage count - thankfully we had Primus in the middle to win everything pumped forward and so delay the inevitable.

Reading might have actually snatched it after Scott hit the bar in the second half but Scott looked knackered and we rarely looked like putting one in. With ten men it was a case of trying to keep Plymouth out - going forward only gave the home side the greater chance to grab one on the break. Brayson came on for Scott with about ten minutes to go and didn't get a chance to create anything. Instead, with two minutes on the clock, it was Plymouth who grabbed the winner after creating a couple of decent chances to take the lead. They won a free-kick just outside the Reading box. The free-kick wasn't properly cleared and was driven home from six yards out. Plymouth 1 Reading 0, and it was all over.

On paper it's another unacceptable result. A defeat when we thought we should win it before kick-off. And a defeat against a lower division side. To make matters worse we should have won this game at home without taking it to a replay. Still not good enough. However it was hardly a suprise result given recent events. Plymouth were the better side on the night. The rest of the season is not going to be pretty.