Blackman Goal Put Royals In Round Four

03 January 2015
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading recorded two consecutive victories for the first time since September 2014 as a second half Nick Blackman goal was enough to secure a 1-0 victory at Huddersfield in the third round of the FA Cup. Steve Clarke made it clear he was keen on progressing in the cup this season as he fielded a strong side making limited changes to the side that had secured a 2-1 win over Norwich in the league the week before.

Andersen was tried out in goal in place of Adam Federici but the home side failed to test him as they recorded exactly zero attempts on target in the entire game. The closest Huddersfield came was a header that flew safely over Andersen's crossbar. Mackie and Guthrie were also given starts as Clarke slightly shuffled the side around. Mackie was replaced by Blackman at the break after Clarke replaced him for safety reasons with the player on a yellow card. Dominic Samuel made only his second appearance in a Reading shirt, and his first since his debut in December 2012, as he played the last thirteen minutes of the match coming on for Danny Guthrie.

The game was always expected to be low-key, and so it proved, as a scrappy game between two sides in the bottom half of the Championship failed to create many moments of excitement. Nick Blackman's goal came in the 69th minute after Hal Robson-Kanu supplied the pass that saw Blackman finish with a low effort into the side of the net. It was the only short on target in the entire match. Huddersfield finished the game with ten men after a late sending off but both sides seemed content to play out an uneventful fixture.

• Huddersfield 0 Reading 1