MATCH REPORT: 2004/2005 Season

17 January 2005: FA CUP ROUND THREE REPLAY
SWANSEA CITY 0 READING 1 (After extra time)
goals
Reading: Forster (95 mins).
Swansea City:
-
Half Time: 0-0
Attendance: 7,354

Royals face
Blackpool or Leicester
in Round Four at home.
teams
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Sidwell, Little (Brooker, 110 mins), Hughes, Harper, Forster, Convey (Owusu 62 mins). Subs not used: Savage, Newman, Young
Swansea City: Gueret, Ricketts, Austin, Monk, Iriekpen, Forbes (Maylett, 98 mins), Gurney, Britton, Anderson (Robinson, 76 mins), Connor, Trundle. Subs not used: Murphy, Tate, Pritchard
bookings
Reading: -
Swansea City:
Forbes (85 mins).
Referee: C Penton.
report

Reading faced tough resistance in the third round replay before eventually winning through in extra time thanks to a Nicky Forster goal. In an even contest it was always going to be close and both sides had chances to win the game well before the tie entered extra time at 0-0. Forster probably should have wrapped the game up for Reading before the ninety minutes was up after putting the ball over the crossbar from just a few yards out. Forster failed to take a series of chances before eventually grabbing the decisive goal on ninety five minutes when he stuck home a close range effort after Ingimarsson crossed from the left. Swansea will feel disappointed not to have at least scored after a solid period of pressure in the first half. They put the ball narrowly wide of the target at least once, and when it looked to be heading into the Reading net Sidwell was there to clear off the line. Hahnemann was in excellent from in the Reading goal to keep Reading on level terms at the break. After half time Reading started to look the better side enjoying most of the ball. Owusu came close to putting Reading ahead before Swansea again got a grip on the game. Extra time saw Reading eventually score the decisive goal but Swansea were far from beaten and continued to fight to the end forcing another couple of good saves from Hahnemann. Reading, who progress to round four for the first time since 1998, will face either Leicester City or Blackpool at the Madejski Stadium in the next round.


FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

Considering our recent dip in form & the pretty horrendous conditions most of the game was played in, this was a potential banana skin if ever there was one so it was good to see the team grind out a result & go through. Having said that, they were pretty woeful at times in the 1st half & were very lucky not to be behind. The performance improved in the 2nd half, especially when we reverted to 4-4-2. Whatever success 4-5-yawnnnn..... has brought in the past, I reckon it's fairly much had it's day & should be consigned to the bin even for away matches once & for all. Hopefully a fit again Ferdinand will be there to line up against Ipswich on Saturday, & I hope to God that scoring the winner finally gives Forster some fresh impetus, confidence & the kick up the butt he needs to rediscover his form. If this happens, then it couldn't come at a better time with the league leaders looming large on the horizon.
Caversham Royal

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