FA Cup Replay: Reading 0 Tottenham 1
Robbie Keane scored the only goal of the game at the Madejski Stadium to put Tottenham into the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Reading.
The Republic of Ireland striker is now one away from a century of goals for Spurs, after his 15th strike of the season set up a mouth-watering tie at Manchester United a week on Sunday.
Reading almost forced extra-time in the replay when Stephen Hunt came off the bench and smacked a volley against the crossbar, but Steve Coppell's men can now focus on the league.
The clash was never going to be a 6-4 or the 2-2 in the previous matches between the clubs - there was plenty of attacking but the game missed the cutting edge of Dimitar Berbatov, who had flu.
England boss Fabio Capello was in the stands and he was able to cast his eye over an eager Jermain Defoe, a versatile Nicky Shorey who was played in central midfield and Jermaine Jenas returning from suspension.
• Coppell backs Ramos for Cup glory
Paul Robinson was not in the squad, though, as his wife gave birth to a boy on the eve of the game. He was unlikely to have been in the starting XI anyway after losing his place to Radek Cerny.
With Coppell's focus on the Barclays Premier League, it was a chance for him to look at his fringe players again, although he still kept five players in the starting XI from the weekend.
His players clearly cared about the competition - unlike Dave Kitson, who was not in the squad - but lacked the penetration of Hunt until he came off the bench.
Berbatov had scored six goals in the previous thrillers, and both teams adopted attacking approaches again.
Jenas made an early burst after robbing Kalifa Cisse of the ball but his cross was just ahead of Keane.
Chris Gunter, making his Spurs debut, also had a dangerous cross cleared and Defoe headed over from the resulting corner after Younes Kaboul flicked on to him.
Keane grabbed the opener in the 15th minute, stabbing home from close range after Kaboul met Jenas' corner and Adam Federici tipped onto the bar.
Reading had their moments going forward, with Leroy Lita at the heart of their attacks.
He had a glimpse of goal early on but his finish looped to safety - and he was also booked for diving, although it looked harsh as he merely fell as he attempted to get his shot away.
Robinson's replacement, Cerny, did not get the right contact on a punch seven minutes before the break - but Lita blazed over the crossbar. He also glanced a header wide from Shane Long's cross.
At the other end, Keane had a tame penalty appeal turned down by Mike Riley when Ulises de la Cruz blocked his cross, straight after the full-back had gifted the promising opportunity with a mess of a clearance.
Pascal Chimbonda then had Federici backtracking with a sliced cross - but there was no repeat of the type of blunder which put Robinson in the spotlight during the drawn match at White Hart Lane.
Federici was also down smartly to save at his near post just before the break when Defoe met Kevin-Prince Boateng's cross with a first-time volley.
Trying his utmost to impress, Defoe also wriggled through the Reading defence on the stroke of half-time but could not get a shot away.
Coppell tried to get back in the game by bringing on Simon Cox for Alex Pearce, with Shorey moving into central midfield and looking to spread the play to Long in attack.
Shorey shot wide after 56 minutes when Long tamed a cross from Rosenior and laid the ball back.
At the other end, Defoe was off target with an impish chip from the edge of the area - it was his last action as he was taken off just after the hour mark for Aaron Lennon.
Reading brought on their own winger, with Hunt replacing Shorey - and the substitute was teed up for a volley by Ivar Ingimarsson with seven minutes remaining but the Sunderland target's effort crashed off the crossbar.
Steed Malbranque had a volley tipped onto the bar in stoppage-time.
Coppell backs Ramos for Cup glory
Juande Ramos has established himself as the king of the knockout competitions in Europe - and Steve Coppell believes the FA Cup is within his grasp at Tottenham.
'Of course they can win it,' said the Reading boss. 'They are capable of winning six games to win the cup. You look at the players they have got and they shouldn't be where they are in the league.
'I call them part of the top five in the country in the last couple of years. It hasn't quite worked for them this year but they are a very good team.'
Ramos knows it is against the odds that his unbeaten run in cups will continue - he has won back-to-back UEFA Cups and the domestic knockout trophy in Spain - but is targeting more glory.
'We're going to try,' said Ramos. 'The next game is very difficult and we know how tough it will be. They are clear favourites.'
Ramos's men were ahead in the 15th minute when Keane stabbed in after Younes Kaboul's header was tipped on to the crossbar by Adam Federici.
The Spaniard said: 'The most important things is to get through to the next round, we have not conceded a goal and it was quite an effort to overcome Reading.
'I'm very happy with the performance. The conditions were not good with the rain and we only had three days rest from the match against Chelsea at the weekend.'
Despite victory, Ramos is concerned that cup ties will distract his side from their league revival.
'This is my biggest concern,' he said. 'We are making a big effort to win in the cups and we have injured players and suspensions as a result.'
Coppell picked five players from the weekend clash at Aston Villa and insisted the cup still has its magic, despite clubs going into matches under strength.
'Winning can give you a lift and help self-esteem,' he said. 'Who cares if you are not going to win the cup in the end? Victories in the competition against bigger teams is what the magic of the cup is.'
The Republic of Ireland striker is now one away from a century of goals for Spurs, after his 15th strike of the season set up a mouth-watering tie at Manchester United a week on Sunday.
Reading almost forced extra-time in the replay when Stephen Hunt came off the bench and smacked a volley against the crossbar, but Steve Coppell's men can now focus on the league.
The clash was never going to be a 6-4 or the 2-2 in the previous matches between the clubs - there was plenty of attacking but the game missed the cutting edge of Dimitar Berbatov, who had flu.
England boss Fabio Capello was in the stands and he was able to cast his eye over an eager Jermain Defoe, a versatile Nicky Shorey who was played in central midfield and Jermaine Jenas returning from suspension.
• Coppell backs Ramos for Cup glory
Paul Robinson was not in the squad, though, as his wife gave birth to a boy on the eve of the game. He was unlikely to have been in the starting XI anyway after losing his place to Radek Cerny.
With Coppell's focus on the Barclays Premier League, it was a chance for him to look at his fringe players again, although he still kept five players in the starting XI from the weekend.
His players clearly cared about the competition - unlike Dave Kitson, who was not in the squad - but lacked the penetration of Hunt until he came off the bench.
Berbatov had scored six goals in the previous thrillers, and both teams adopted attacking approaches again.
Jenas made an early burst after robbing Kalifa Cisse of the ball but his cross was just ahead of Keane.
Chris Gunter, making his Spurs debut, also had a dangerous cross cleared and Defoe headed over from the resulting corner after Younes Kaboul flicked on to him.
Keane grabbed the opener in the 15th minute, stabbing home from close range after Kaboul met Jenas' corner and Adam Federici tipped onto the bar.
Reading had their moments going forward, with Leroy Lita at the heart of their attacks.
He had a glimpse of goal early on but his finish looped to safety - and he was also booked for diving, although it looked harsh as he merely fell as he attempted to get his shot away.
Robinson's replacement, Cerny, did not get the right contact on a punch seven minutes before the break - but Lita blazed over the crossbar. He also glanced a header wide from Shane Long's cross.
At the other end, Keane had a tame penalty appeal turned down by Mike Riley when Ulises de la Cruz blocked his cross, straight after the full-back had gifted the promising opportunity with a mess of a clearance.
Pascal Chimbonda then had Federici backtracking with a sliced cross - but there was no repeat of the type of blunder which put Robinson in the spotlight during the drawn match at White Hart Lane.
Federici was also down smartly to save at his near post just before the break when Defoe met Kevin-Prince Boateng's cross with a first-time volley.
Trying his utmost to impress, Defoe also wriggled through the Reading defence on the stroke of half-time but could not get a shot away.
Coppell tried to get back in the game by bringing on Simon Cox for Alex Pearce, with Shorey moving into central midfield and looking to spread the play to Long in attack.
Shorey shot wide after 56 minutes when Long tamed a cross from Rosenior and laid the ball back.
At the other end, Defoe was off target with an impish chip from the edge of the area - it was his last action as he was taken off just after the hour mark for Aaron Lennon.
Reading brought on their own winger, with Hunt replacing Shorey - and the substitute was teed up for a volley by Ivar Ingimarsson with seven minutes remaining but the Sunderland target's effort crashed off the crossbar.
Steed Malbranque had a volley tipped onto the bar in stoppage-time.
Coppell backs Ramos for Cup glory
Juande Ramos has established himself as the king of the knockout competitions in Europe - and Steve Coppell believes the FA Cup is within his grasp at Tottenham.
'Of course they can win it,' said the Reading boss. 'They are capable of winning six games to win the cup. You look at the players they have got and they shouldn't be where they are in the league.
'I call them part of the top five in the country in the last couple of years. It hasn't quite worked for them this year but they are a very good team.'
Ramos knows it is against the odds that his unbeaten run in cups will continue - he has won back-to-back UEFA Cups and the domestic knockout trophy in Spain - but is targeting more glory.
'We're going to try,' said Ramos. 'The next game is very difficult and we know how tough it will be. They are clear favourites.'
Ramos's men were ahead in the 15th minute when Keane stabbed in after Younes Kaboul's header was tipped on to the crossbar by Adam Federici.
The Spaniard said: 'The most important things is to get through to the next round, we have not conceded a goal and it was quite an effort to overcome Reading.
'I'm very happy with the performance. The conditions were not good with the rain and we only had three days rest from the match against Chelsea at the weekend.'
Despite victory, Ramos is concerned that cup ties will distract his side from their league revival.
'This is my biggest concern,' he said. 'We are making a big effort to win in the cups and we have injured players and suspensions as a result.'
Coppell picked five players from the weekend clash at Aston Villa and insisted the cup still has its magic, despite clubs going into matches under strength.
'Winning can give you a lift and help self-esteem,' he said. 'Who cares if you are not going to win the cup in the end? Victories in the competition against bigger teams is what the magic of the cup is.'
posted by dgarden at 10:21 am
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