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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup between the in-form Premier League side Manchester United and the plucky underdogs from the Championship, Reading.
• Team news
• United boss ErikTen Hag has put out near enough his strongest team. Harry Maguire comes in for Lisandro Martinez in the only change from Wednesday’s win.
• Ince Jr starts for the visitors, Reading and so does the famous big man and former Liverpool goal-getter, Andrew Thomas Carroll.
• That’s all from me – thanks for reading!
• A Brazilian show at Old Trafford
Full-time! Manchester United 3-1 Reading After the walking-pace formalities of the final few minutes, the referee blows up and United are in the fifth round. A third-gear win in the end, with Antony and Casemiro a class above everyone else. Reading defended stoutly but offered too little going forward and were virtual spectators once Carroll got himself a well-deserved red card.
• As United break at pace, Garnacho looks up and finds Anthony unmarked in the box, but the Brazilian falls over at the vital moment and skews an easy finish badly wide.
• Andy Carroll was a terrific striker in his prime, according to no one.
Just got a text asking why I reference Liverpool when mentioning Carroll. Kenny Dalglish didn't spend £35m for him to be called former West Ham striker.
• Time for some more Casemiro stuff. What a signing he's been for United.
• Double sub for United: Weghorst and Casemiro make way for Elanga and Mainoo.
• Goal! Manchester United 3-1 Reading (Mbengue 72) Not-quite-game-on! Reading pull one back when Ince swings in a corner from the right and Mbengue, fresh off the bench, meets it unmarked to nod home from four yards out.
• Goal! Manchester United 3-0 Reading And that’s that. United make it three as Fernandes takes a short corner and fires a low cross into Fred, who sends it home with a backflick.
• Red card for Andy Carroll! Minutes after his first booking, Carroll gets himself an equally empty-headed second, launching himself into a sliding tackle on Casemiro from miles away. Oh dear.
• Former Liverpool striker, Carroll gets a somewhat customary yellow card, racing across the pitch to clatter into Malacia, who, mind you, is probably half his size.
• Goal! Manchester United 2-0 Reading (Casemiro 58) United double their lead instantly when Fred (who has just come on for Eriksen) lays the ball off to Casemiro 30 yards out and the Brazilian takes his chances with a first-time curler. The ball takers a flick of Holmes’s head and lands flush in the bottom corner.
• Goal! Manchester United 1-0 Reading (Casemiro 55) United take the lead at long last and unsurprisingly it’s Antony who unlocks the Reading defence. He kills a crossfield pass dead, cuts in from the right and slips in Casemiro, who has made a run into the box beyond the United frontline. The midfielder holds Loum’s challenge and scoops the ball over Lumley.
• Momentary excitement for the Reading fans as the bearded Carroll unleashes a perfectly struck and seemingly goalbound long-ranger, but it’s blocked.
• The importance of Bruno and Casemiro this season, underlined by this tweet.
• Second half and we’re back. Reading get the half started and hoof it straight out of play.
• There are some cool names out there today but the coolest name on the team sheets tonight is that of Reading substitute Nesta Guinness-Walker. I wonder if we get to see him play tonight.
• Half-time: Manchester United 0-0 Reading Not exactly a thriller but not bad either, United with plenty of half-chances and a disallowed goal, Reading with the best opening of the half. Stay tuned!
• Huge chance for Reading! Loum charges forward down the left and swings in a cross which clears both United centre-backs and sails towards Malacia, who decides to control the ball on his chest inside his own box. Hoilett pounces, robs the full-back, and stabs the ball towards goal, but De Gea gets down in a flash to tip it away.
• Rashford heads the ball home after some good work by Weghorst but the goal is chalked off after a VAR check rules it out for an offside against Weghorst in the buildup.
• Just as I typed that, Antony picks up the ball in the right-back zone and sprints the length of the pitch and cuts inside but rather than going for goal he slides in Bruno, whose shot is dragged just wide of the far post.
• A bit of hilarious transfer window banter between friends. Speaking of Antony, he's been lively so far.
• Wout Weghorst has looked sharp on his home debut. The early signs or vibes as the kids call it these days, have been really positive.
• United put together a rapid attack, with Bruno, Antony and Eriksen moving the ball forward sharply. It ends up at the feet of the Brazilian, who cuts in from the right and goes for the curler into the far corner. The ball flashes just wide.
• Casemiro has improved the United team remarkably. You know you're doing good work when you receive unreserved praise from Roy Keane of all people.
• After a nifty backheel from Casemiro, Weghorst draws a late sliding tackle from Holmes about 30 yards out. Rashford blams it goalwards with venom, Lumley dives to save, and Eriksen’s follow-up is blocked by the sprawling Loum.
• This fixture has been a bit one-sided over the years
• Antony finds Wan Bissaka inside the box with a smart nutmegged pass and the right-back’s low cross is just behind Weghorst, whose back flick doesn’t quite come off. Reading clear the resulting corner.
• Kick off!!! - United kick off and quickly get a feel for the ball, the midfield and back four knocking about for a long while before a loose Casemiro pass gives Reading the chance to counter. Bruno busts a gut to make it back and sweep up.
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