News and Views
Reading Earn Replay At Bradford
07 March 2015
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading will be in the draw for the FA Cup semi-finals after earning a replay against Bradford City at Valley Parade. The game ended 0-0 in a close gritty battle that will suit Reading more than Bradford. The Royals appeared to set out to get a draw with a defensive line-up that saw just Pogrebnyak up front by himself. Chances were limited for both sides with the post coming to the rescue at both ends and the goalkeepers having few saves to make.
The replay is scheduled for the evening of Monday 16 March at the Madesjki Stadium. Reading have been playing every Saturday and Tuesday anyway thanks to our FA Cup run and the extra game will follow a home game against Brighton this Tuesday and an away trip to Watford on Saturday. It's the same for both sides however, but Reading manager Steve Clarke was quick to criticise the choice of date:
"But I just feel that the FA have let their own competition down a bit by making both teams play away from home on a Saturday and then having to get back physically prepared and ready to go on a Monday night. That's not to say that we won't be ready, because we will be. But you would think the FA, in their showpiece competition, would show a little bit more common sense."
Aston Villa beat West Brom in Saturday's other FA Cup quarter final and will go into the draw for the semi-finals alongside Reading and Bradford. The draw will take place on Monday night at 9:45pm, live on BBC1, at Old Trafford after Manchester United's game against Arsenal.
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