Reading 1 Albion 0

Shane Long's first-half goal put Albion out of the FA Cup as Jonas Olsson was sent off just 15 minutes into his Baggies comeback.

Long raced onto a Noel Hunt flick-on four minutes before half-time and finished low past goalkeeper Boaz Myhill to score the only goal of a drab third-round tie for Championship Reading, who dumped the Baggies from the Cup for the second successive season.

Albion were poor and their day got worse, first when striker Ishmael Miller limped off on 52 minutes with yet another injury and then when half-time substitute Olsson was dismissed on the hour-mark for two bookable offences.

The red card will land the defender with a one-game suspension that wipes out his proposed Premier League comeback against Blackpool next week after two months out with an Achilles injury.

Albion had the better of a quiet first half but they could not force a goal in the opening half-hour with all of their chances falling to Miller, who replaced Peter Odemwingie as their lone striker.

The powerful forward failed to get a shot on target in the third minute after outmuscling Matthew Mills and was penalised harshly three minutes later for a foul on Ian Harte, as he chased a pass from Giles Barnes.

Harte then whipped a 25-yard free-kick narrow off target before Myhill made a fine save to push Long's header over the crossbar.

Miller then had a goal chalked off for a foul after knocking goalkeeper Adam Federici off the ball to collect a Chris Brunt cross.

The lively striker then dragged a left-footed effort just wide after smart play from Graham Dorrans.

Long later bundled a shot over the bar, after a mix-up between Myhill and Paul Scharner.

But Reading would not be denied four minutes from the interval, as some half-hearted Baggies defending handed them their opening goal.

Paul Scharner lost out in the air to Noel Hunt and his flick on found Long, who drifted easily away from Gianni Zuiverloon and slotted home from a tight angle.

The second-half failed to ignite, although James Morrison should have drawn Albion level four minutes after the restart.

Morrison arrived at the far post to meet a right-wing cross from Giles Barnes but headed wide.

And the midfielder nearly conjured up an excellent equaliser five minutes later after cutting in from the left and trying an audacious chip that beat Federici but hit the top of the bar.

But Albion's task became even harder when Olsson, who had been booked just two minutes into his comeback for a late challenge on Long, barged over the same player just outside the box to earn a second yellow card.