Express & Star

Reading 4 Walsall 0 - Report and pictures

Published
Last updated

Walsall missed out on a place in the FA Cup fifth round after falling to a 4-0 defeat to Championship outfit Reading at the Madejski Stadium today.

more

[gallery]

Despite having enjoyed the majority of possession, the Saddlers found themselves two behind at the break.

Hal Robson-Kanu and Matej Vydra scored two goals in the space of three quick-fire minutes.

Sean O'Driscoll's side tried to find a way back into the game after the interval, but they fell further behind.

Danny Williams struck, with goalkeeper Neil Etheridge then stretched off after colliding with the Reading man in the build-up to the goal.

On-loan Watford man Vydra then grabbed a fourth for the Royals to ensure Walsall's 13-year wait to make it past the fourth round rumbles on.

In naming his starting line-up, boss O'Driscoll kept faith with the team that suffered stoppage time heartbreak in the 1-1 draw with Blackpool.

It meant the Saddlers continued in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Rico Henry wide left, Anthony Forde wide right and Romaine Sawyers supporting lone striker Tom Bradshaw.

For Brian McDermott's Royals, Stephen Quinn came into central midfield at the expense of George Evans who was cup-tied after helping the Saddlers into the fourth round.

Walsall began the game looking to make it four wins from four against Championship sides this season.

And it was the Saddlers who threatened first with Sam Mantom's wonderful cross-field ball finding Jason Demetriou wide on the right.

The defender carried the ball to the edge of the box and then cut it back to the on-rushing Anthony Forde who saw a strike well blocked by Jordan Obita.

Reading responded immediately with Aaron Tshibola hitting a stunning drive from 30-yards which nestled on the roof of Neil Etheridge's goal.

The fourth round clash was proving to be a lively affair with Walsall coming a whisker away from breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute.

Bradshaw galloped into the box and expertly cut inside defender Jake Copper to give himself space to shoot.

The forward hit a low effort which deflected off the defender and had a scrambling Ali Al Habsi beaten only for the ball to roll agonisingly past the post.

After the lively opening, the game had become more of a midfield battle as the first half reached its midway point.

And it was impossible to tell which side was a Championship outfit and which was from League One as Walsall enjoyed long spells of possession in and around the Reading box.

Yet despite having largely played the game at their pace, the Saddlers found themselves a goal down in the 37th minute after Reading forced a throw wide on the right.

The ball was delivered to Hal Robson-Kanu in the box with the Welshman rolling Andy Taylor too easily before firing past a helpless Neil Etheridge.

Incredibly, just three minute later, McDermott's side made it 2-0.

[related_posts title="More on Walsall"]

Danny Williams intelligently slipped in Quinn on the left who then played the perfect ball across the six yard-box which Matej Vydra tapped home.

It meant Reading came off at the break having had just two shots on target with O'Driscoll's side enjoying 55 per cent possession.

The second half began in cagey fashion, yet Walsall twice came close to pulling level just before the hour mark.

First, a neat one-two between Forde and Sawyers ended with the St Kitts and Nevis international firing a rasping drive from 25-yards which cannoned off the crossbar.

Then after Henry was fouled on the edge of the box, Taylor sent a free-kick wide of Al Habsi's post.

Minutes later and it was Reading hitting the bar, with Oliver Norwood's effort bouncing back into the box before James O'Connor cleared.

O'Driscoll responded by switching midfield skipper Adam Chambers for striker Jordan Cook as Walsall moved to a traditional 4-4-2.

[comments_cta header="What do you think?" text= "How did you rate the Walsall performance today?" button="Log in and start commenting"]

But it was Reading who threatened next with Williams firing a strike straight at Etheridge from 18-yards.

Walsall were competing all over the pitch but struggling to really test the Reading backline.

But they almost pulled a goal back when Cook rose highest following Forde's deep free-kick into the box but the striker's header sailed over.

The miss proved costly with Reading going straight up the other end and extending their lead.

Vydra played in Williams with the midfielder sprinting all of 30-yards to get into the box and calmly slot the ball past Etheridge.

To make matters worse for the Saddlers, Etheridge collided with Williams as he looked to save the shot and then had to be stretchered off, with Craig MacGillivray his replacement.

Walsall responded with Bradshaw hooking Forde's corner agonisingly over.

Reading went in search of more games as the game drew to close and with a minute left to play, Vydra made it 4-0 when he headed home Chris Gunter's cross from close range.