Manchester United v Reading Live Commentary & Result, 28/01/2023, FA Cup

Until the next time, thank you for joining us - and have a great weekend!

Next however, another rendezvous with Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup awaits. Reading meanwhile return to the Championship, where the battle to for a congested playoff race continues.

The whispers were very quiet after his first few games in charge, but they've built to a roar now. Erik ten Hag might just be about to do what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the false dawn of 2021 could not deliver, and end the trophy drought for the Red Devils. But there is a long way to Wembley here.

A Casemiro double and an extra for Fred makes it an FA Cup fourth round victory to remember for Manchester United against lower-league opposition. They march into the last-16 and remain in all competitions; full-time at Old Trafford, it finishes Manchester United 3-1 Reading.

90' + 4' FULL-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 3-1 READING

90' + 2' United seem content to play the rest of this one out down the wings. Reading want a second, to really flatter to deceive, but they look unlikely to get it.

90' There's going to be four added minutes at least in this one.

88' A pair of corners offer a late chance for United to add further gloss but they find no way through for a fourth. The clutch of young stars who are enjoying their run-out now would surely love to find a big finish.

86' Reading will depart with their tails between their legs after this one, of course, but for that first half, they managed to frustrate United with their resilience. They will need that back in the Championship.

84' United are unbeaten in their last 14 home games in the FA Cup. In fact, they have lost just one of their last 39 home games against sides from outside the top-flight too, a 1-0 defeat to Leeds United in 2010.

82' One surely in the mix will be Casemiro though. The impact the Brazilian has had since his arrival from Real Madrid has been terrific. United have still looked pacy since he departed the pitch, but their opponent is a Reading side with a man down.

80' So, what can Erik ten Hag take from this? His side have another game on Wednesday, to settle their EFL Cup chances in the semi-final second leg. It will be interesting to see if he rests any major stars.

T. Malacia

Yellow Card

78' A Reading break down the right wing requires an industrial response from Malacia, who is duly booked for his troubles.

S. Long

Lucas João

76' Long completes the raft of Reading changes as he takes the spot of Lucas Joao.

M. Craig

J. Hendrick

75' Reading also introduce Craig in place of Hendrick.

D. Bouzanis

J. Lumley

75' In something of a surprise change, Reading replace their goalkeeper now and bring on Bouzanis for Lumley.

K. Mainoo

Casemiro

73' The hosts also introduce Mainoo for Casemiro, with an ovation for the double goalscorer.

A. Elanga

W. Weghorst

73' Despite that goal, United make more changes, with Elanga on for Weghorst.

T. Ince

Assist

72' Ince can't quite believe he's found his man there, unmarked. It is a serious lapse at the back for United, though questions could be asked if Maguire was held back in trying to get there in time.

A. Mbengue

Goal

72' GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 3-1 READING! Oh, that is a poor one to concede for the hosts. The Royals have a surprise corner, and Ince skims it in where Mbengue nods home a free header.

70' Garnacho should put a chance away too! The replacements are having a whale of a time at Old Trafford. There may be another goal in this one.

A. Mbengue

J. Hoilett

69' Mbengue is on for Hoilett in Reading's latest change too.

F. Pellistri

Bruno Fernandes

68' The hosts also bring on Pellistri for Fernandes.

A. Garnacho

M. Rashford

68' With victory almost certainly secure now, United make the changes too, with Garnacho on for Rashford.

Bruno Fernandes

Assist

66' That is terrific vision from Fernandes, who plays a training ground move to unlock Reading once again. United are loving this now.

Fred

Goal

66' GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 3-0 READING! It's a party for the Brazilian contingent at Old Trafford, as Fred bags a goal of his own too. The hosts play a short corner, Fernandes lays it flat to the midfielder, and he flicks a back-heel in at the near-post. Sublime!

65' Things have gone from bad to worse for Reading now, as they drop to 10 men! Casemiro is cleaned out by Carroll and it is a second yellow for the forward, who heads straight down the tunnel. It is not the former England international's finest moment.

T. Fornah

M. Loum

62' Fornah replaces Loum now for Reading's first change of the game. This might be beyond them now.

A. Carroll

Yellow Card

60' Carroll put a cruncher on Eriksen shortly before the opener and now his latest challenge is too much for the referee, who shows him a yellow card.

Fred

Assist

58' Fred has barely been on the pitch a few minutes and he's already made an impact. That will delight Ten Hag, who is looking a bit perkier with those quick goals.

Casemiro

Goal

58' GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 READING! It's a Casemiro double! After a free-kick aimed for Maguire is defended out, Fred lays a short ball to the midfielder who slices a gorgeous shot through the air and in at the far post. What a delight!

Fred

C. Eriksen

57' United back up that goal with their first change of the game, bringing on Fred for Eriksen.

56' Now Old Trafford is rocking. The response is a roar from the crowd, and the players look delighted to have found the breakthrough. Can they build on it?

Antony

Assist

54' Eriksen held up the play with Lindelof in midfield before hanging the ball out to Antony there. It is a simple but sublime ball from the Brazilian to set up his international team-mate.

Casemiro

Goal

54' GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 READING! They won't be chalking that one off! Casemiro opens up the account for the day, latching onto Antony's superb throughball before a scoop finish beats the keeper. The hosts hit the front.

52' A spot of surprise Reading pressure down the right flank catches everyone off-guard, including the visitors themselves. Carroll can't do anything with the ball and throws his arms up in frustration.

50' With attention given, the game resumes. Hoilett has his nose almost comically plugged to stop the flow, but it seems unlikely he will remain for long. Ten Hag is shaking his head.

48' Early concerns for the Royals here, with play brought to a halt for Hoilett to be given medical attention. The defender took a flailing elbow from Weghorst to the face and has been bloodied.

46' We're back underway at Old Trafford. Can Manchester United find a way to break through in this match or will Reading continue to frustrate them?

Erik ten Hag will have some words for his side. They managed 15 shots there, but just two were on target. There is work to be done.

Marcus Rashford thought he had put the hosts over the line with a first-half finish at Old Trafford, only for VAR to deny him. But only one side have been on top so far, and it's not the Royals. At half-time, it is Manchester United 0-0 Reading.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 READING

45' An almighty let-off for United now! Malacia miscues a collection in his own box and Reading pounce immediately, only to be unable to find a clean shot. Two added minutes to come.

43' Eriksen puts a wayward header in. United just can't quite get over the edge here.

41' The hosts want a penalty, but VAR will deny them again here. Casemiro goes down in the box, and there is contact, but the referee is unmoved by the appeals from the hosts.

39' He hasn't been called upon to impress defensively so far, but Maguire has been controlling the tempo intelligently for United. He will take that as a positive.

37' That was a tight call, and United know it. Erik ten Hag is less than impressed down on the sidelines, remonstrating with the fourth official. The game continues.

35' United think they're ahead - but no, VAR chalks it off! Rashford crashes a finish home at the left post after Weghorst heads a deflected shot across the face of goal, but the latter is deemed to be offside after a check. It deflates the party mood suddenly struck up at Old Trafford.

33' An absolute blockbuster move from United ends in nothing on the scoresheet, but it is a marvel of a run from Antony. He carves up Reading down the right, and pulls a superb ball in that Fernandes takes wide.

31' A frozen moment for Lumley sees him almost poached of possession inside his box. He makes no mistake with the next ball that comes near him after Eriksen left him spooked.

29' Reading have lost seven of their last eight FA Cup matches against Premier League opponents, with the other a 3-1 home win against West Brom in February 2016.

27' Fernandes! The Portugal international just curls this latest effort wide and high to the right from inside the lip of the box. He's not too far off the mark with that one.

25' Conversely, Reading are offering very little in breakaway offensive threat. Save those early flashes, they have been firmly stuck on the back foot. Patience will be a virtue in this one.

23' There's a little bit of everything from United so far. Long balls, short crosses, flat deliveries from all angles, you name it. But the breakthrough is yet to come halfway through the first half.

21' Reading are really feeling the heat now. Some last-gasp defence denies Weghorst after United pour en-masse into the box. The sense of a looming goal feels palpable in the damp Mancunian air.

19' It's been one-way traffic on the ball so far. Reading have seen just shy of 18 per cent of possession so far in this match.

17' Antony! A lovely break from the hosts rakes Reading over the coals, but the Brazilian cannot finish the move, just curling his launched effort wide to the left.

14' A double chance for the hosts! Rashford lashes a free-kick through that's parried and then Eriksen sees his follow-up knocked away too. Delightful work from United, and solid nerves from Reading.

12' United are looking to be the sixth Premier League team into the fifth round so far, joining Manchester City, Leeds United, Leicester City, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur. Will they make it an easy job?

10' United will know they have the time to be leisurely here, but only to a point. Reading are hold their shape well enough to force them into some relatively static back-four action so far.

8' Eriksen! That is not far away at all from the Denmark international, who bobs his free-kick over the defensive wall and just turns it around the far post.

6' Rashford is hacked down clumsily on the edge of the opposition box. This is prime set-piece territory for the plethora of players who enjoy them at United.

4' Now a Reading free-kick presents the chance to cause consternation. Instead, United block and fly down the far end, where Weghorst sees his attempt to pull a flat shot off deflected away.

2' An early break from the Royals down the left sets pulses racing for the Red Devils in defence. They recover to see off Ince though, shutting down the former Blackpool man.

1' We are underway in this FA Cup fourth round tie between Manchester United and Reading!

The teams have emerged at Old Trafford and we are moments away from kick-off.

If there is one man staking a lot on this game, it will be Maguire for the hosts though. The centre-back has struggled with injury, but even after a stellar World Cup campaign, he is effectively fifth in the pecking order under Ten Hag. He must impress today.

In fact, Reading have won just one of their 22 matches against United in all competitions and have lost their last six in a row. Their only win was in a second replay during that very FA Cup tournament generations ago.

This will be the 10th meeting between the Red Devils and the Royals in the FA Cup, and it is fair to say history is on the side of the former. United have only lost one prior meeting in this competition, almost a century ago in the 1927-28 season.

Substitutes: Tyrese Fornah, Dean Bouzanis, Amadou Mbengue, Shane Long, Michael Craig, Nesta Guinness-Walker, Femi Azeez, Yakou Meite, Scott Dann.

READING (5-3-2): Joe Lumley; Junior Hoilett, Andy Yiadom, Thomas Holmes, Tom McIntyre, Abdul Rahman Baba; Jeff Hendrick, Mamadou Loum, Tom Ince; Lucas Joao, Andy Carroll.

Substitutes: Fred, Lisandro Martinez, Brandon Williams, Anthony Elanga, Tom Heaton, Facundo Pellistri, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Raphael Varane.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia; Casemiro, Christian Eriksen; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Wout Weghorst.

There's just one change from Manchester United, who will likely rest a few in their EFL Cup semi-final second leg after their big win in the opener there. Captain Harry Maguire returns to the side. Reading meanwhile make two swaps, and bring in Andy Carroll.

But to stay in the mix, they'll have to avoid the magic of the cup, or more accurately one of those infamous giant-killings this tournament is well-known for. Reading are struggling at the wrong end of the second tier, but they could still spring a shock.

Caught in the middle of an EFL Cup semi-final sandwich, the Red Devils are back on the hunt to end their silverware drought. Where better to lay down another marker for their progress under Erik ten Hag than in the game's oldest competition?

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the FA Cup fourth round, as Premier League heavyweights Manchester United welcome Championship outfit Reading to face them at Old Trafford!

Manchester United v Reading Live Commentary, 28/01/2023

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