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Reading Vs West Bromwich Albion FA Cup Fifth Round Preview

Brian McDermott will be looking for his Reading side to continue their good run of form as they play West Brom in their fifth round FA Cup tie.

The Royals, unbeaten in three games, have had a very successful cup run this season and will fancy their chances at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Beating Burnley at home in the last round and Liverpool in the one before that, McDermott will believe his side will be able to make it to the sixth round for the first time since the semi final cup run of 1927.

Speaking to Readingfc.co.uk, McDermott said: “We’re really looking forward to it. We should have a good crowd, a special atmosphere and a special day.

“The FA Cup is a great competition and everyone has memories of it. We were talking about Bob Stokoe, Alan Sunderland, fantastic memories. Now we have our own memories, beating Liverpool at Anfield with Shane Long scoring, then beating Burnley and we want more of it.

“It’s a good game for us because it’s at home. We’re pleased to have our fans behind us. I don’t like to talk about giant killings because we are Reading, we are a big club.”

West Brom will not be easy to walk over however, as they are currently top of the Coca-Cola Championship, unbeaten in seven and have won four games on the trot in all competitions.

The Baggies will be seeking a 12th away game without defeat, having not lost on the road since their league trip to Barnsley on 29 September.

Having beaten Newcastle in the previous round will help Roberto Di Matteo’s men gain confidence for the task ahead:

In an interview with wba.co.uk Di Matteo, who twice won the competition with Chelsea, said: “It’s a great competition the FA Cup in England

“We’ve tried our best in previous games and that’s what we’ll do on Saturday – we’ll try to get through to the next round.

Both sides will be looking for a win and a chance of playing one of the bigger teams left in the competition at the Quarterfinal stage.

Team News

Matt Mills is available for Reading after serving a suspension and should replace cup-tied Zurab Khizanishvili. Gylfi Sigurdsson and Marek Matejovsky are close to a return but Royals’ boss Brian McDermott must do without Noel Hunt, Chris Armstrong and Julian Kelly.

West Brom will have to make changes from the side that went top of the table after beating Scunthorpe – with Mark Nouble cup-tied. Jerome Thomas is suspended while Marek Cech and Ishmael Miller are injured.

Form Guide (All competitions)

Reading: WWWLW

Last Match: vs Plymouth Argyle (h) 2-1

Last Win: vs Plymouth Argyle (h) 2-1

West Brom: WWWWD

Last Match: vs Scunthorpe United (h) 2-0

Last Win: vs Scunthorpe United (h) 2-0

FA Cup History:

Reading: Semi Finalists in 1927

Lost the most FA Cup ties out of any other team currently in the Football League.

West Brom: Winners in 1888, 1892, 1931, 1954 and 1968

Runners-up in 1886, 1887, 1895, 1912 and 1935

Head-to-Head

These clubs have already met in the league at the Hawthorns this season, when the home side won 3-1.

Reading have won their last three home league and cup meetings with the Baggies, and have not lost in six on their own patch since Albion’s 2-0 second level league victory in January 1995.

This is the third time they have been paired together in the FA Cup, and honours are even at one win a piece. The most recent was Reading’s success, after extra time, in a third round replay at the Madejski in 2006

Superb strikes ditch Reading as Burnley march on

Burnley will face Sheffield United in a Roses clash at Wembley for a place in the Premier League after beating Reading 2-0 in the second leg of their semi-final, going through 3-0 on aggregate.

Two stunning goals from Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson early in the second half saw the Clarets through after a nervy and tight first 45 minutes.

Reading had started the brighter side and the visitors had to rely on goalkeeper Brian Jensen to keep them in the game, palming Shane Long’s fierce shot away to safety and generally handling the ball well.

The Clarets were restricted to the odd chance on the break. Twice Reading’s stopper Marcus Hahnemann saved Clarke Carlisle headers from corners comfortably and Wade Elliott’s deflected volley was the only other bright spot for Burnley in a testing opening.

Referee Mike Riley then had a big call to make as Jensen lumbered off his line and out of his area to handle the ball. But Riley deemed it accidental, correctly so, and Jensen saved Dan Harding’s resulting drilled free-kick.

Burnley looked to see out the early stages of the second period but went one better, taking the lead just a few minutes in. Paterson was given far too much room to cut inside from the right touchline, amble forward twenty yards, and smash home a glorious left-foot drive inside Hahnemann’s far post from well outside the penalty area.

Reading manager Steve Coppell, who seemed to offer his resignation in a post-match interview, reacted by throwing on three substitutes, Glen Little, Dave Kitson and Stephen Hunt, but as the team struggled to settle Burnley put the tie to bed.

Jensen booted the ball long to Thompson, who held off Duberry to bring the ball down after it bounced awkwardly. The Scot then looked up and flicked the ball instinctively towards the goal, where Hahnemann was just too far off his line to stop it crashing in off the underside of the bar.

After that hammer blow Burnley’s progression was never in doubt, and they will fancy their chances in the winner takes all game on Bank Holiday Monday at the national stadium having beaten Kevin Blackwell’s Blades twice already this campaign.

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