Reading moved into the FA Cup semi-finals on Monday with a comfortable 3-0 win over Bradford City in their quarter-final replay at the Madejski Stadium.
Two goals in the opening nine minutes set the home side on their way as Hal Robson-Kanu and Garath McCleary both found the net to stun the visitors.
Bradford's night got worse on 62 minutes when Filipe Morais was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Nathaniel Chalobah, before Jamie Mackie scored late on to set up a last-four showdown with holders Arsenal.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how all of the action unfolded between the two teams.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this evening's FA Cup quarter-final replay between Reading and Bradford City at the Madejski Stadium. This is a huge night for both clubs, with Arsenal awaiting the winner in the semi-finals. Without further ado, let's bring you the team news.
READING: Federici; Gunter, Obita, Pearce, Hector; Williams, Chalobah, McCleary, Robson-Kanu, Mackie; Pogrebnyak
READING SUBS: Andersen, Cooper, Norwood, Karacan, Blackman, Yakubu, Cox
After seeing his side slump to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Watford in the Championship two days ago, Reading manager Steve Clarke has made a whopping 11 changes for tonight's encounter. Federici, Pearce, Chalobah, Robson-Kanu and Pogrebnyak are among those who return to the starting lineup, while Yakubu, Cox and Norwood are on the bench.
BRADFORD: Williams; Darby, McArdle, Sheehan, Meredith; Liddle, Morais, Halliday, Knott; Hanson, Stead
BRADFORD SUBS: Urwin, Dolan, Clarke, Zoko, Yeates, MacKenzie, Routis
Bradford boss Phil Parkinson hasn't gone the full monty like his Reading counterpart, but he has made six changes following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Notts County in League One. Williams, Sheehan, Morais, Halliday, Knott and Hanson are all recalled for the visitors.
Bradford's record in cup competitions in recent seasons is quite remarkable. The Bantams have knocked out 13 higher-ranked sides since 2011, including that incredible 4-2 win at Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round earlier this season. Can they make it 14 tonight?
Reading can quite boast the same sort of giant-killing heroics as this evening's opponents, but the Royals will certainly be eyeing a place in the last four of the competition. The last time that they made it through to the semis was way back in 1927.
2 - Reading haven't reached the FA Cup semi-finals since 1927, while Bradford haven't since 1911. Poised.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 16, 2015
The players are starting to emerge in the tunnel at the Madejski Stadium as we edge towards kickoff. What must the players be thinking? History is just 90 minutes away, or will we see extra time and penalties? Reading might not fancy a shootout because Bradford have won their last nine in a row in all competitions - an English record.
Here come the teams!
KICKOFF! The players are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done and it will be Bradford to get this FA Cup quarter-final replay underway. Tonight's referee is Mike Jones. Here we go!
It's been a fast-paced start to the game, with both sides showing plenty of energy during the opening few minutes. The first crack at goals sees McCleary launch a speculative effort high and wide of the Bradford goal.
GOAL! READING 1-0 BRADFORD (ROBSON-KANU)
Reading build up some early pressure and make it count with the opening goal of the game from Hal Robson-Kanu! Mackie does well to win his side a corner down the left, and the set piece is nodded in by Robson-Kanu, who gets in front of his marker to connect with the ball. It was a deft header that nestled in the far corner.
CHANCE! Bradford look to his back instantly and they almost do through Hanson. Stead floats a cross in from the right side, but his strike partner can only nod straight at Federici. That was a good opening for the visitors.
GOAL! READING 2-0 BRADFORD (MCCLEARY)
What a start for Reading as they double their lead, but it's a cruel goal to concede from a Bradford perspective. McCleary cuts inside from the right before having a crack at goal, only for his effort to deflect off Halliday and loop over the head of Williams.
Bradford boss Phil Parkinson is down on the touchline trying to calm his players. They're not looking all that shell-shocked, but they wouldn't have envisaged this happening during the opening 10 minutes or so. It's suddenly looking like a long way back for them.
Reading have got Bradford exactly where they want them at the moment. The Royals are passing the ball around with plenty of confidence, attacking their opponents whenever they can. Bradford are needing to be extremely focused at the back as they clear a corner from the right.
20 - Bradford have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 20 FA Cup ties away from home (since 1997). Sunk.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 16, 2015
CHANCE! Reading come close to increasing their lead as Williams shoots from all of 30 yards, but his namesake in the Bradford goal does and good job in keeping his eye on the ball and batting it away. That one was moving through the air.
Bradford are having no luck whatsoever when they try to get forward. The Reading defence is looking very solid indeed, with Pearce leading by example at the back. The visitors are resorting to a few long balls already, which are being mopped up with ease.
Pogrebnyak is putting himself about a bit up front for Reading, and referee Mike Jones is forced to have words with the striker after he has a bit of a tussle with Liddle. You get the feeling that's not the last time Pogrebnyak will be ruffling a few Bradford feathers. Meanwhile, Reading are still firmly on top. While the visitors are still struggling to get a grip on this game, the hosts are showing plenty of invention in attack.
The Bradford fans aren't looking too impressed in the away end right now, though a goal for their side would completely change the complexion of this game. True, it's hard to see where that goal might come from, but the Bantams can draw lots of inspiration from their run so far in this season's competition. Hey, if they can come from behind to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge...
YELLOW CARD! The first booking of the game goes to Bradford's Knott for dissent after he takes exception to Mike Jones's decision to give Reading a free kick following a Bradford corner.
YELLOW CARD! Now it's the hosts who are in trouble with Mike Jones as Williams gets his name into the book for arguing with the linesman. Petulance shown by both sides during the last couple of minutes.
YELLOW CARD! This match is getting a bit heated now as Bradford defender Sheehan gets booked for clattering into the back of Mackie, who is lucky to avoid punishment for his aggressive reaction. It looked as if the Reading man may have taken a cheeky swing at his opponent there.
Bradford have certainly shown a bit more bite in the last few minutes. They're starting to look a bit more dangerous in attack, as demonstrated by Morais's cross that's eventually cleared by the hosts. Phil Parkinson will be pleased by the reaction of his players after conceding those two early goals.
It's a real tussle for supremacy in this game now. Reading are taking a more physical approach to quell this resurgence from Bradford. How the visitors would love to get a goal before the break.
Half an opening for Reading as Robson-Kanu tries to thread a pass through to Mackie, but there's just too much on it and Williams is off his line quickly to collect. The Bradford goalkeeper had to race to the edge of his area there, or else Mackie would have had a golden chance to score.
CHANCE! That was a far better opportunity for Reading as a corner comes back out to McCleary, who cuts onto his left foot before firing well over the crossbar. That had shades of Reading's second goal, with McCleary working himself some space to shoot.
Reading are seeing the majority of the ball as we head towards stoppage time in the first half. They've been excellent in midfield so far, winning almost all of the battles taking place. The likes of Chalobah and Williams have been dominant.
There will be TWO MINUTES of added time...
CHANCE! Bradford's best opening of the match so far sees Knott get in some space down the left before hitting a threatening cross into the middle, but Federici shows good reflexes to get down and snuff out the danger.
HALF TIME: READING 2-0 BRADFORD
The half-time whistle goes, bringing the curtain down on an excellent opening 45 minutes for the hosts. They have one foot in the semi-finals thanks to two quick-fire goals from Robson-Kanu and McCleary. Meanwhile, Bradford really haven't managed to get going.
The home side's first goal was really well taken from Robson-Kanu, who got in front of his marker to direct a corner into the back of the net with his head. There was a bit more luck about their second as McCleary's strike took a huge deflection on its way through, though the Royals won't mind that one bit.
PHOTO: The Royals celebrate after @gmccleary12 fires in our second goal of the evening pic.twitter.com/HupnGQHz9A
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) March 16, 2015
Where do Bradford go from here? They will be bitterly disappointed to find themselves 2-0 down at the break, but an early goal in the second half could change everything. Their 4-2 win over Chelsea in the fourth round seems like a long time ago now, though a bit more of the fighting spirit that they showed in that match could reignite their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
What could Reading manager Steve Clarke be telling his players? You can bet your bottom dollar that the Scot will be ordering his side to keep the pressure on Bradford, though do they stick or twist? Another goal would surely put the game to bed, though they will be wary of attacking too much and letting Bradford back in.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The teams are back out and it will be Reading to kick us off. No changes from either manager during the interval.
It's been a low-key start to the second period, though it's Bradford who are seeing most of the ball. The Bantams are trying to build up a bit of possession following their disappointing showing in the opening half.
Great pressing from Reading. The visitors win a throw high up the pitch, but the home side chases them down until they are forced to go back to their goalkeeper. Meredith then goes into the book for chopping down McCleary.
Mike Jones wants a word with Gary Liddle of Bradford after he shoves Obita to the ground. There's been a fair bit of needle between the sides this evening, with a few little incidents threatening to boil over.
BRADFORD SUBS: The Bantams make their first changes of the night as Stead and Halliday replaced by Yeates and Clarke. There's been little in the way of action during the last few minutes, with the match becoming more and more cagey.
The Bradford players are becoming increasingly frustrated because referee Mike Jones is awarding the hosts a lot of free kicks at the moment. Every decision seems to be going Reading's way, which will no doubt please manager Steve Clarke as we head into the final half an hour of this game. Bradford need something quick if they want to keep alive their hopes of making it through to the quarter-finals.
RED CARD! MORAIS (BRADFORD)
Bradford's night goes from bad to worse as Filipe Morais is shown a straight red card for a horrible challenge on Chalobah. The midfielder digs his foot into Chalobah's midrift as both men tussled for possession. He was absolutely nowhere near the ball.
The away fans aren't doing themselves any favours as a few of them throw water bottles down onto the pitch. Mike Jones goes to pick them up and put them away from the field of play. They're obviously frustrated with what's going on, but that's not the way to express it.
Phil Parkinson and Steve Clarke are now exchanging a few words down on the touchline. It looks as if Parkinson has taken issue with a challenge from Chalobah a couple of minutes ago that went unpunished. This match is in danger of boiling right over, both on and off the pitch.
GOAL! READING 3-0 BRADFORD (MACKIE)
And that should be that! Jamie Mackie puts Reading 3-0 up and it's a lovely goal to do so. Chalobah wins possession on the edge of the box before slipping Mackie in down the right. The midfielder then hits a low drive past Williams and into the bottom corner. Clinical stuff from the hosts.
Reading are looking rampant now against the 10 men of Bradford. It would not be a surprise if they add to their tally before the end of the game. We all know that the FA Cup is capable of producing shocks, but this really has looked like a Championship side against a League One side this evening.
BRADFORD SUB: The visitors make their final change as Knott is replaced by Dolan. Just over 15 minutes to go at the Madejski Stadium.
A bit of a break in play now as a man without a shirt runs around the pitch before being taken away by stewards.
WHOOSH! Bradford win themselves a rare corner out on the left, which Reading fail to clear. However, Liddle's volley from the edge of the penalty area goes well over the crossbar.
The tempo of the game has been slowed right down by Reading, who are knocking the ball about as if they were in training. Bradford are trying to regain possession and salvage some pride, but this one is over. The hosts create half an opening as Mackie's tame header is saved by Williams. Meanwhile, the home fans are jubilantly singing that they're on their way to Wembley.
READING SUB: A change of personnel for the hosts now as Robson-Kanu is replaced by Blackman.
READING SUB: Another change for the home side sees McCleary come off in place of Norwood. The winger has been excellent this evening. He's give Bradford an absolutely torrid time with his pace and skill.
Both teams played just two days ago, but it's the Bradford players who are looking the more shattered as the clock ticks towards the 90-minute mark. They can't get anywhere near Reading at the moment. The Royals' extra quality has been too much for the visitors tonight.
READING SUB: And now a final change for Reading as Yakubu enters the action, taking the place of Pogrebnyak.
There will be THREE MINUTES of added time...
FULL TIME: READING 3-0 BRADFORD
There it is! Reading reach their first FA Cup semi-final since 1927 thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win over Bradford. The Royals were deserved winners in the end, but Bradford can leave the Madejski Stadium with their heads held high following an incredible run in this season's competition. Reading's reward for beating the Bantams is a last-four clash with holders Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.
That's all from our live text coverage of tonight's game, but don't forget that you can keep up to date with all of the reaction from both teams right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company, we hope to see you again very soon. Goodbye!
