Reading made it through to the sixth round of the FA Cup by beating 10-man Derby County 2-1 at the iPro Stadium this afternoon.
Stephen Warnock was sent off in the first half for picking up two yellow cards on what was his first game for the Rams.
After the break, Hal Robson-Kanu made his side's numerical advantage count when he curled a strike into the far corner.
However, Derby equalised soon after when Jesse Lingard's shot took a deflection off Darren Bent and found the net.
With eight minutes left to play, Yakubu scored the winner as he raced through and placed an effort into the bottom corner to seal Reading's place in the last eight.
Read how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Good afternoon everyone! We had plenty of huge shocks in the last round of the FA Cup and it has really opened up the tournament for the underdogs. With a quarter-final place up for grabs, which Championship side out of Derby County and Reading will edge closer to a Wembley appearance?
Derby must be regarded as the favourites for today's match and they had won four on the bounce before drawing against Bournemouth in midweek. They actually came from behind twice to hold the Cherries and it has kept them firmly in the chase for the title.
MATCHDAY: The #iProStadium is all set for #DCFCvRFC this afternoon! #FACupAdventure #FACup #dcfcfans pic.twitter.com/MpbZgH58Iy
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) February 14, 2015
Meanwhile, Reading warmed up for this tie by falling to a home defeat against Leeds. It has been a pretty mixed season for the Royals, but their only other defeat since Christmas was against Fulham and they did manage to win on the road against Cardiff in the fourth round.
We'll take a closer look at each side as we approach kick off, but first let me bring you team news, which was revealed just a few moments ago at Pride Park.
DERBY XI: Roos, Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Warnock; Mascarell, Hendrick, Bryson; Lingard, Dawkins, Bent
READINGXI: Federici, Kelly, Obita, Pearce, Hector, Chalobah, Williams, Robson-Kanu, Mackie, Pogrebnyak, Cox
DERBY SUBS: Mitchell, Forsyth, Buxton, Ward, Hughes, Thomas, Thorne
READING SUBS: Andersen, Cooper, Akpan, Norwood, Taylor, Blackman, Yakubu
TEAM NEWS: So, that's how each of our teams lines up today. Derby have handed Jesse Lingard and Stephen Warnock their debuts, while George Thorne is back in the squad following a knee injury. However, they are without top scorer Chris Martin, so Darren Bent will be looking to continue his fine goalscoring run in the cup.
As for the visitors, Simon Cox and Jamie Mackie are back in the starting lineup where they will join Pavel Pogrebnyak in the attack. Hal Robson-Kanu is also restored to the first XI, but recent signing Yakubu once again has to make do with a place on the bench.
well, things really couldn't be going too much better at the moment for Derby. With 14 games left of the Championship season they are third in the table and sit just a point behind the leaders Middlesbrough, who are the only team in better form than they are.
MATCHDAY: Here's a look inside the #DCFC dressing room ahead of #DCFCvRFC this afternoon #FACupAdventure #FACup pic.twitter.com/5mqmfQV89g
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) February 14, 2015
They have bounced back impressively from the disappointment of their play-off final defeat to Queens Park Rangers last season and a return to the Premier League for the first time in eight seasons is firmly in their plans. They will need a major improvement from their last spell in the top flight, having won just a single game and setting a number of unwanted records.
Although the league is the main priority for Steve McClaren, there is no reason why the cup can't juggle a successful cup campaign. The draw has been relatively kind to them so far, as they faced Conference Premier outfit Southport in the third round, before League One Chesterfield last time out. They haven't had it all their own way though, as only a stoppage-time penalty from Chris Martin saw them beat Southport.
Fans of Derby shouldn't be getting too carried away, with their team usually falling at this stage of the cup. The last time that they made it any further was in 1999 when Arsenal beat them 1-0 in the sixth round.
Making the trip to Pride Park this afternoon are a Reading side who are mid-table in the Championship and only really have the FA Cup to play for. With 37 points on the board you suspect that they won't be going down, but they are 15 points away from the top six, so a play-off place is highly unlikely.
PHOTO: The Pog gears up for his ideal #valentinesday pic.twitter.com/s1eTQiIROm
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) February 14, 2015
As I mentioned earlier, they were beaten by Leeds in their last match on Tuesday evening. It brought to an end a run of back-to-backs wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves and was their second loss since the turn of the year. Inconsistency seems to be a real problem and Steve Clarke will be hoping that his side can find some momentum in the remaining months of this season, before mounting a promotion charge in the next campaign.
While Derby have played all their ties at home in this season's FA Cup, the Royals have had now been drawn away from the Madejski for a third-successive match. They started their campaign with a 1-0 win at Huddersfield, before coming from behind to beat Cardiff 2-1 in the fourth round.
It's fair to say that neither of these teams have the greatest record in the cup. Derby's sole victory came in 1946 courtesy of a 4-1 win over Charlton, while Reading have only made it as far as the semi-final and even that happened in 1927. The Royals have had some memorable results in recent years and they did make it to the last-eight in 2010 and 2011.
Reading must be getting sick of the sight of Derby having already faced them twice this season. In the fourth round of the League Cup in September the Rams came out on top with a 2-0 victory, before they were eventually knocked out by finalists Chelsea. They met again two months later in the Championship, where once again McClaren's side triumphed, this time winning 3-0.
Aside from those two defeats, it's actually Reading who have the better head to head record between the teams. They have won 20 of their 36 meetings, losing on just 10 occasions. The Royals had gone seven games unbeaten in their previous clashes before this season's meetings so they will be hoping that they can find that sort of form this afternoon.
PREDICTION: With the start of the match not too far away it's time for a prediction. Derby have been in great form recently and will be expected by many to book their place in the quarter-finals. It may not be as easy as people think, as Reading can have a real go today without too much pressure. Despite the shock results that we saw in the last round, I think that the hosts will have enough quality to win the tie and I am tipping them to claim a 3-1 win this afternoon.
With five minutes to go until kick off let me remind you that we will have live coverage from every FA Cup match this weekend. There's even another game taking place right now, as Blackburn take on Stoke. You can find commentary of that right here.
The players have just made their way out of the tunnel and we are now just a few moments away from the start of the match!
KICKOFF! We are underway at Pride Park!
CHANCE! With less than a minute on the clock Derby are very nearly ahead. A wonderful team moves ends with Bent flicking the ball through to Bryson on the edge of the box, before the midfielder sees his low effort palmed away by Federici.
SHOT! The hosts continue their bright start to the match as a corner is not cleared and falls kindly to Dawkins. He then shifts it onto his left foot and fires in a low drive, but once again the keeper is there to block the strike.
It really has been a superb opening to the game for Derby, who are seeing plenty of the ball. Some of their football has been brilliant, with a number of one-touch passes and neat build ups spread throughout the team.
Not much has changed in the pattern of the game over the past couple of minutes, with Derby still in complete control. Reading just can't get a touch on the ball and the only thing that is missing for the home side has been a goal.
Reading finally get into the match and they cause some danger when a long ball finds Cox at the back post. The striker then works some space and fires in a strike, but his effort deflects up and over the bar, with the resulting corner going to waste.
CHANCE! Derby are once again so close to taking the lead. They win a free kick around 25 yards out that Mascarell steps up to take. The man on loan from Real Madrid then whips in a low ball aiming for the far corner, but his effort drifts narrowly wide with Keogh sliding in and unable to get a finishing touch.
YELLOW CARD! Warnock is shown a card on his debut for the hosts following a late challenge on Robson-Kanu just outside the box. It's given the visitors a free kick in a great position, but they will have to wait to take it, as Hector is receiving treatment for a knock he has picked up.
CHANCE! The visitors very nearly take the lead here. The resulting free kick is taken by Chalobah and worked brilliantly to Cox, but he ends up striking his effort against the outside of the post with Roos closing down the angle.
We may not have see any goals, but there has been some high quality play from each side. Reading have shown that they can be a danger following their slow start, while Derby continue to pass the ball extremely well.
Derby haven't quite found their finishing touch yet despite their positive play. They create yet another chance when Dawkins cuts in from the right and finds Hendrick just outside the box. The Irishamn then looks to fire a drive into the top corner, but he gets it all wrong and hits the strike well wide of the target.
YELLOW CARD! Williams is the first Reading player to be shown a card for a foul on Bryson. That came just moments after Mackie and Pogrebnyak had decent efforts blocked for the visitors.
It's just getting a little bit scrappy at the moment, despite a number of positive moments from both teams. I would also not be surprised to see the first goal come from a set piece, with both teams giving away free kicks in good areas rather easily.
CHANCES! Federici has certainly had some work to do today and he makes two more good stops. Firstly, he is alert to beat away a long-range drive from Lingard and moments later he saves again from Bent's clever strike on the turn.
SHOT! Cox has probably been Reading's biggest threat and once more he has a good chance to score. The opening comes as Pogrebnyak wins a header that falls to him at the back post. He then opts to shoot on the volley, but he gets underneath the ball and hammers it well over the top.
We still await the opening goal, but Derby have come mightily close from a couple of corners. The first is touched just wide of the near post with Dawkins closing in, before the next delivery goes right across the face of goal and out of play.
RED CARD! What a moment this could be in the tie. Warnock goes in with a high and late challenge on Mackie following a heavy touch and picks up his second yellow card of the afternoon. That is not the sort of debut that he was hoping for.
YELLOW CARD! The cards are really starting to pile up now and Obita is the next player to go into the book for a rather soft foul on Christie.
PENALTY APPEAL! It really is all going on here at Pride Park. Reading should have a spot kick as Mackie sees his effort saved, before Williams fires in the follow up and it hits the hand of Keogh. The referee was well placed to make the call, but instead he just gives Reading a corner.
SUBSTITUTION: Derby are going to make a change here as Forsyth comes on to replace Mascarell.
We are going to have four minutes added on to what has been a very eventful first half.
Things look like they have settled down a bit as we enter the final moments of the half. Steve McClaren will just want to see his team head into the break without conceding so that he can reorganize his team in the dressing room.
HALF-TIME: Derby County 0-0 Reading
It's half time and despite the score being goalless it has been anything but boring at Pride Park. A goal is all that has been missing, but you get the feeling that there is plenty more twists and turns to come after the break!
It's no surprise to see that Derby are on top in the possession stats, having seen 73% of the ball. The hosts have also had nine shots on goal, while Reading have had 10 attempts, although only one of those has found the target.
Photos from the first half #FACup pic.twitter.com/YeufZ4Zd05
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) February 14, 2015
Of course the key moment of the first half was the red card shown to Derby's Stephen Warnock. The full back was making his debut for the club and he had to go after picking up a second yellow for fouling Mackie. I just hope that it doesn't ruin what has been a very watchable game up to this point.
Red card for Warnock as Mackie lies on the ground following the challenge pic.twitter.com/x6Ou8c0ZzK
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) February 14, 2015
Reading take the kick off and get the match back underway!
The 10 men of Derby have made a good start to this half and they are enjoying the majority of the possession. It is not apparent that they are the team with a player less, but they will surely be put under more pressure as the match wears on.
SHOT! Even with their numerical disadvantage, the Rams are playing the better football. They work a great opening when Lingard sets up Hendrick on the edge of the box, but as he goes to shoot he slips and sees his effort blocked.
GOAL! Derby County 0-1 Reading (Hal Robson-Kanu)
Reading have not threatened too much since the break, but they take the lead with a special goal. Some fine play from Kelly releases Cox down the right and he pulls the ball across the box to Robson-Kanu, who then works a yard of space before curling a great effort into the far corner of the net. There was no chance for Roos and Derby have it all to do now.
That goal really has taken the sting out of Derby and you just wonder if they will be able to get back into this game. It's very much in Reading's hands and Steve Clarke will be desperate for his players to not let slip a place in the last eight.
GOAL! Derby County 1-1 Reading (Darren Bent)
This is a great response from Derby to falling behind. It's a very fortunate goal as Lingard meets Forsyth's low cross from the left and looks to place a shot into the bottom corner. However, his effort appears to be going wide before it hits Bent and deflects into the back of the net.
SHOT! Pogrebnyak looks to immediately restore his side's lead when he is picked out on the edge of the box by Kelly, before turning and firing in a low drive. It was well struck, but there was not quite enough on it to beat the keeper, who gets down and claims the ball.
CHANCE! Reading have another chance as Cox is the man who collects the ball on the edge of the box with acres of space. He then swivels on the ball and fires in a strike, but it whistles inches wide of the far post.
SUBSTITUTION: Derby are going to make their second change, with Ward replacing Dawkins.
CHANCE! What a huge chance Reading have just had to retake the lead! Pogrebnyak wins a header at the back post, but sees his point-blank effort kept out by Roos. The rebound then drops to Mackie, but somehow the striker fires it wide from just a few yards out. Will they be made to pay for that miss?
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: Reading make their first changes of the afternoon, with Blackman and Yakubu coming on for Pogrebnyak and Mackie.
SAVE! Both keepers have made some great saves today and down the other end of the pitch it's the Reading keeper who prevents a goal. It's Ward with the chance, as he bursts into the box to latch onto Lingard's pass, but his effort across goal is palmed away by Federici.
This game is so finely poised and I really have no idea which way it is going to go. Derby have dealt brilliantly with 10 men, while Reading have created some glorious chances that they haven't been able to convert.
YELLOW CARD! Kelly is shown a card for hauling down Lingard as the Manchester United loanee charged towards the box.
From the resulting free kick that Lingard had just won, Ward stepped up and looked to curl a strike into the corner, but he slipped as he made contact with the ball and it ends up heading well wide.
SUBSTITUTION: It's a final change for the visitors, as Akpan comes on for Chalobah.
YELLOW CARD! Bryson is shown a card for the hosts for fouling Akpan.
GOAL! Derby County 1-2 Reading (Yakubu)
With eight minutes left to play Reading are back in the lead and it's the substitute who has scored. Robson-Kanu threads a wonderful ball through to Yakubu, who then shows great composure to guide a low shot into the bottom corner. Will that turn out to be the winning goal or can Derby force a replay?
Derby are pushing hard for a response, but so far Reading are dealing with everything that is being thrown at them. There could also be plenty of space for them to exploit on the counter, with a huge amount of gaps down the flanks.
It's just gone a bit flat for Derby at the moment and Reading will be hoping that they have done enough this time to make it through. It will be interesting to see how much stoppage time we get, after a number of fouls throughout the half.
We are going to have five minutes of stoppage time. That should come as a welcome boost to the home fans.
Yakubu is using all of his years of experience to hold the ball up and waste some precious seconds by the corner flag. If Reading can keep it here for the next three minutes then a place in the next round is theirs.
FULL-TIME: Derby County 1-2 Reading
The final whistle blows and it's Reading who are heading through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup! It was a brilliant match and Yakubu's clinical strike right at the end has sealed the win for his side.
Sadly that's all we've got time for after an enthralling cup tie. If you want more action then you are in luck, as our live coverage of Crystal Palace and Liverpool's clash is underway now. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
