30 January 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading made it through to the fifth round of the FA Cup with what was, in the end, a very comfortable victory over their League One opposition. However, early on in the match there was little sign on the goals to come as both sides cancelled each other out and Reading continually squandered possession. Walsall probably had hopes before the match of pulling off a minor shock but it was Reading's cup form that eventually shone through and Walsall never looked like they could get back in the game after falling behind.
Reading were without all of their new signings from the past couple of weeks but fielded a strong side, and welcomed Tshibola back into the starting eleven. Tshibola had a decent long range attempt just over the crossbar before being forced to leave the field after just 10 minutes to be replaced by Hector. Chances were limited and had little to do apart from sheild the goal from one effort that rolled just past his post. The early change may have put Reading out of their stride and the next 25 mintues were spent watching Reading play a series of misplaced passes all over the pitch as they struggled to piece any moves together. Hector and Norwood both produced long diagonal balls into precisely nowhere.
And that was how Reading's first goal eventually arrived - from nowhere with 37 minutes played. A throw on from the right found Hal Robson-Kanu inside the Walsall area. Robson-Kanu looked to have an impossible angle - however he passed the defender, took a step inwards and fired the ball into the roof of the net for an well taken goal that underlines his excellent recent form for Reading.
Reading were 2-0 up just three minutes later. The second goal certainly didn't come from nowhere and was a really well worked effort that deserved the goal. Williams did all the hard work on the edge of the area before putting the ball in front of an advancing Stephen Quinn. Quinn's low cross found two players in the middle and Vydra had the simple task by sliding it home for his fifth FA Cup goal of the season.
The game felt won at half time and that was how it was to pan out. Walsall nearly crept back into the game with a shot that grazed the top of Al Habsi's crossbar. An Oliver Norwood free-kick hit the crossbar at the other end. On 75 minutes the tie was settled with a great solo goal from Danny Williams. Williams picked up the ball on the half way line before going on a blazing run past the visitors defence and calming putting the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 3-0. The Walsall keeper was flattened by his own defender and the Saddlers were forced to substitute their goalkeeper before the game could continue.
The icing on the cake game with 89 minutes on the clock when Matej Vydra made up for a shocking miss earlier when he put the ball wide with just the goalkeeper to beat. However, this time his header into the back of the net from Robson-Kanu's cross from the right was emphatic. Both Vydra and Reading are finding their form in the FA Cup. Vydra made it six cup goal and Reading made it yet another fifth round appearance. Walsall had provided decent opposition but a much tougher test is likely to await in round five.
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