Bradford City and Reading have played to a goalless draw in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at Valley Parade this afternoon, meaning that the teams will need a replay at the Madejski Stadium.
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Bradford looked the more likely in the opening stages of the match, but Billy Clarke could not get his shot away after being played in by Jon Stead as the Reading defenders crowded him out.
The visitors did not create many opening in the first 20 minutes, but Daniel Williams had a chance to break the deadlock midway through the first half when he attempted to slice the ball in at the near post, but Ben Williams got it clear.
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Pavel Pogrebnyak had the best chance of the first half for the Royals as he unleashed a shot from the edge of the box, beating the keeper, but the post kept it out.
Bradford hit the woodwork themselves before the half-time whistle as Gary Liddle curled a cross into the box, which missed everyone before coming back off the far post.
The League One hosts continued to press at the start of the second half as Filipe Morais found himself open at the back post, but his low strike was claimed by Adam Federici.
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Bradford continued to dictate the play, and came close to finding the opening goal again inside the final 20 minutes when Stead whipped the ball in for James Hanson, but his finish was a fraction wide.
The hosts forced a free kick in a dangerous position shortly after, and Andrew Davies rose highest in the box to try to head it in, but he could only nod it over.
Reading rallied late on as they sought to avoid a replay, with Pogrebnyak leaping up at the far post in a bid to head it in, but Bradford had a defender on the line to deflect it onto the post, while Yakuba could not get the rebound away.
There was a lengthy stoppage in injury time as Reading captain Alex Pearce was injured in a clash of heads, leaving him with a bloodied nose, but neither side could capitalise in the additional minutes.
Sian Cowper
