Yohan Cabaye's penalty and a close-range Fraizer Campbell strike proved enough for Crystal Palace to earn a 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Reading.
Both goals were scored inside the final four minutes at the Madejski Stadium, following what had been a tight and cagey affair up until that point in proceedings.
Reading had a big chance of their own prior to falling behind, but Ola John was denied by Wayne Hennessey just moments before the key breakthrough came at the other end.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the FA Cup sixth-round tie between Reading and Crystal Palace at the Madejski Stadium. These sides may currently be competing in different divisions, but the hosts' decent form here - coupled with Palace's overall alarming loss of form - makes this an intriguing fixture for the neutral.
It has now been 10 Premier League games without a win for the Eagles, though all three of their victories this calendar year so far have come in this competition. So can the Royals pull of an upset and reach Wembley for a second year in succession? Before taking a look at their chances in a little more depth, let's first turn attention to some team news.
TEAM NEWS!
READING XI: Al-Habsi, Gunter, Obita, McShane, Cooper, Hector, Norwood, Quinn, Robson-Kanu, John, Cox
CRYSTAL PALACE XI: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Bolasie, Jedinak, Cabaye, Ledley, Zaha; Adebayor
Starting with the home team, then, and manager Brian McDermott has made just the one alteration to his side from the fifth-round win over West Bromwich Albion here. Ola John is the man to come back into the fold, taking the place of Deniss Rakels. Eight-goal forward Matej Vydra had been touch-and-go all week, but he is deemed fit enough for a place among the substitutes this evening.
Paul McShane and Hal Robson-Kanu, two key players in this Royals side, have both overcome injury problems of their own and take their place in the starting lineup for this crucial cup tie. There is no place in the squad for George Evans and Yann Kermorgant, though, both of whom are cup-tied as per the terms of their Reading contracts.
There was a bit of debate over who would feature in goals for the visitors this evening, but Wales international keeper Wayne Hennessey has been given the nod after missing last weekend's defeat to Liverpool. Alex McCarthy made a real howler in that one and therefore drops back down to the bench, while Julian Speroni must once more settle for a place in the stands.
Jason Puncheon has missed the Eagles' last six games through injury, but he is among the travelling party this evening and will likely play some part from the bench. An in-form Connor Wickham and fellow forward Marouane Chamakh will play no part whatsoever, though, as they both recover from recent injuries picked up that will likely see them miss the next couple of matches.
Other than the swapping of Hennessey for McCarthy, it is as you were in terms of last time out for Palace. All 10 outfield players who started that disappointing defeat at the hands of Liverpool are chosen once more at the Madejski Stadium. That means another start for recent acquisition Emmanuel Adebayor, who has scored one goal in seven appearances for the Eagles since signing on the dotted line.
Just the one change for Crystal Palace this evening, as Wayne Hennessey comes back into the side in place of Alex McCarthy. Reading make eight changes from their last league outing, where a lot of key names were rested, but it is just the one alteration from their last FA Cup outing as Ola John comes in for Deniss Rakels.
So tonight provides Reading with a chance to book their place at Wembley for a second season running following last year's memorable run. It was a run that came to a somewhat disappointing end, you may remember, as Adam Federici's howler saw Arsenal progress through to the final. This is actually the sixth time the Royals have reached the last eight in their history - four of those occasions coming since 2010.
It is fair to say, then, that Reading have a love affair with this famous competition in recent rimes. This year's run has already seen them claim the scalp of one Premier League side, as West Bromwich Albion fell to a 3-1 defeat here last month in a game that ended with Chris Brunt being struck by a coin. That incident may have taken the shine off what was an impressive victory, but the Royals have another chance here to see their name up in lights as Palace make the trip to Berkshire.
Prior to seeing off West Brom by two goals, Reading had to overcome Huddersfield at the second time of asking and Walsall in a more straightforward manner. All three of those wins came here at the Madejski Stadium, taking their impressive run to nine outings without defeat on home soil since the turn of the year. It might not be a fortress in the truest sense of the word just yet, but this is certainly a tough venue for any side to visit at this moment in time.
DID YOU KNOW? Sticking with the Royals' home form, their last defeat at the Madejski Stadium in the FA Cup came in 2012, with five teams falling to defeat here in succession since then. Nine teams have also tried, and failed, to pick up a win in this part of Berkshire in 2016, so to say Palace are in for a difficult time of things here tonight would be an understatement.
Reading had gone six games without defeat overall up until Tuesday night, when a much-changed side eventually succumbed to Huddersfield Town in a rather disappointing manner. The defeat certainly did the Royals' hopes of a late playoff surge no good, meaning that all of their eggs are very much now in one basked. They are now 12 points off the top six, while the gap on the relegation zone is nine points - middle of the road in every sense of the term.
McDermott's men face Brighton, Cardiff, Bolton and Forest over the next month, but even the most optimistic of supporters would not back the Royals to seriously compete for a playoff berth between now and the end of the season. Instead, it is left to the manager to gear his side up for next season, where a push for the top six will surely be the overall ambition.
The Royals are certainly no strangers to the Premier League, having been there just a short time ago, but a campaign of disappointment under Steve Clarke - which had looked so bright at one stage - is now petering out badly under McDermott. The 54-year-old rejoined the club at the end of last year, but his life in management may never have been possible if not for opposite number Alan Pardew.
It was a long time ago now, of course, but Pardew spent four years at the Madejski Stadium before moving on in 2003. The Palace boss was asked what time of reception he expects to receive on his return due to the manner in which he departed the club, responding that he would simply leave all that for the supporters to decide. A chance meeting with McDermott paved the way for the now-Reading boss to start his career in coaching, and the rest, as they say, is history.
A lot has been made of Palace's form heading into this match, but it is no great surprise when look at the sheer size of their collapse since Christmas time. Talk of landing a European berth in December has now been swapped with a real risk of being dragged right into relegation trouble. The gap on those on the bottom is currently eight points but, with momentum completely against them, the Eagles must remain cautious over the next couple of months.
In fact, Palace's only victories this calendar year have come in the FA Cup. Southampton (1-0) and Stoke City (2-1) provided difficult paths to navigate in the first two rounds, before a daunting trip to White Hart Lane a few weeks back. Spurs, hitting the peak of their form at the time, would fall to a 1-0 defeat in North London to spark rare scenes of joy for the travelling supporters.
Martin Kelly blasted the winner in that one - a rare goalscoring source and an equally as rare triumph for the Eagles. A run of 12 games without a win in the top flight really is staggering, particularly when you see the way they collapsed so easily against Liverpool last time out. Maybe motivation has been an issue for Pardew, who is known for these streaky runs of form - whether good or bad - but that does not seem to matter too much in this competition.
From fifth to 15th and now just eight points above the drop zone, Palace are left focusing solely on the FA Cup. That is assuming the current bottom three in the Premier League do not wake up anytime soon, or else this could very well be a Championship fixture once more come next August. With fixtures against Leicester City and West Ham United to come over the next fortnight, Pardew is now desperately trying to find some sort of foothold to push on.
It has been a disappointing season for Crystal Palace and Alan Pardew, following what was an extremely bright opening third to the campaign. A run of 12 games without a win in the Premier League has left the Eagles solely focused on success in the FA Cup - a competition that has provided the club with their only three victories of 2016.
In terms of Palace's FA Cup pedigree, this is the first time they have reached the quarter-final stage since 1995, when they went on to suffer defeat to Manchester United in the final four. A good omen heading into tonight's game, though - they have won five of their last six away games in this competition, including each of the last four.
Palace's fortunes reflect that of their manager, in fact, as Pardew has reached this round for just the second time in 16 years. Seven times during that 16-year run the ex-Newcastle and West Ham boss has lost to lower-league opposition, which largely highlights just why Magpies supporters grew so frustrated during his time in the North East. This is a chance for the silver-haired gaffer to start putting things right.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Palace have won all three of the previous FA Cup meetings between these two sides, the last of which came in the 1952-53 season. Prior to that, the Eagles also tasted victory in 1930-31 after two replays, while also getting the job done at the first time of asking the following season. In terms of the league encounters, 24 goals have been scored in the last five fixtures.
Usually in this competition, it is at this point in proceedings that both managers talk about a draw being the worst case scenario ahead of a packed fixture schedule, but that could not really be further from the truth in this case. Reading and Palace pretty much have all attention on this competition now - as highlighted by the Royals' eight changes from a weakened midweek team - and if history is anything to go by we could be in for another stalemate tonight. Six of the last 11 league fixtures between the two sides have ended all square.
How big a part could both sides' benches play this evening? Palace certainly boast more experience that their opponents in that department, as a fit-again Jason Puncheon takes his place alongside the likes of Jordon Mutch, Fraizer Campbell and hero of the last round Martin Kelly. Matej Vydra provides the hosts' biggest attacking threat.
BENCH WATCH!
READING SUBS: Bond, Vydra, McCleary, Rakels, Ferdinand, Piazon, Williams
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: McCarthy, Kelly, Puncheon, Mutch, Sako, Campbell, Gayle
Kickoff is now a little over five minutes away, so let us check out the thoughts from both camps heading into this sixth-round contest.
Brian McDermott: "I've been lucky enough to be in the quarter-finals three times with Reading and we got to the last four last time. It's a competition we love and we are reveling in it. It's a full house at the Madejski, what's not to love? We have players who can make things happen, we are really looking forward to it. It's going to be a good night."
Alan Pardew: "We are having a bit of a tricky spell at the moment so it would be nice to get some glory in this. We have played brilliantly in the FA Cup, and we have had a bit of luck which we have not had in the league. Reading will play above themselves tonight, so we will have to play above ourselves."
The message from Pardew is that his players must 'play above themselves' if they are to match an up-for-it Reading. Form really does go out of the window tonight, as Palace's run in this competition has been very impressive. Three Premier League teams faced, including Spurs away, and three victories secured at the first time of asking. Will Pardew be able to navigate his side past lower-league opposition this evening?
PREDICTION! A tough one to call this, despite many of the pre-match stats pointing towards an upset. It is difficult to look past Palace's record in this year's FA Cup, though, which shows that they are a different beast in this competition altogether compared to the Premier League this year. Six draws in the last 11 league meetings also points towards a draw, but I am going with a 2-1 away win.
KICKOFF! The 2008 FA Cup final referee, Mike Dean, gets proceedings underway at the Madejski Stadium. A packed ground watching on tonight, for what should be a decent game of football.
Bolasie looking to get at the opposition right from the off, but to no avail on this occasion. Rhythm of the match set early on, as the more established visitors take control of possession.
Good battle in midfield between Quinn and Cabaye, which is certainly one to keep an eye on. Reading seeing far more of the ball over the past couple of minutes, forcing their opponents back a little more. Good atmosphere, but little action in either attacking third.
Bolasie playing very high up the field at the moment, pretty much alongside Adebayor. Palace having to remain patient in an attempt to get the ball into advanced positions, as this opening sixth-round tie takes time to truly get going.
Ola John is given his first chance to run down the left, getting in a decent enough cross which just about finds its way to Cox. The Reading man is brought down under minimal contact inside the box, with Mike Dean waving away the weak penalty appeals.
First real piece of defending for Reading, as Bolasie's dangerous cross into the box is casually turned behind for a corner. Cabaye swings it in and Al-Habsi does not really deal with it, but Adebayor saw his on-target header blocked aside.
That Cabaye corner, which Adebayor got on the end of via a couple of deflections, is just about as good as things have got for either side. John has seen a fair bit of the ball of late, but he was over elaborate on the latest occasion and missed out on a chance to cross.
The opening 15 minutes of the match have been as evenly matched as expected. Two teams just weighing each other up, which has not provided the greatest of spectacles thus far. Plenty of time for that to change, of course.
Ledley looks favourite to get on the end of a cross into the box, but Gunter does well to head the ball to safety. Two Wales internationals going head-to-head quite literally there, with the Royals man coming out on top. Palace just turning the screw a little now.
Plenty of crosses coming into the Palace box now down the right, with Souare enjoying himself a little more. Adebayor needs to gamble in order to get on the end of the ball, as Al-Habsi is looking comfortable enough at the moment. Reading struggling to really clear their lines over the past few minutes.
Reading look to break after a Palace corner is cleared, but Palace are quickly back in place to deal with the danger. The opening 15 minutes were very evenly matched, though it is the visitors who have been dominating possession since them.
A quiet opening quarter to this match, then, which remains goalless 23 minutes in. Still yet to see a single shot of any note at either end of the field, but it is Palace who are now the side just about on top.
Palace get bodies forward very quickly, in a move that culminates with Zaha seeing a shot on goal blocked behind. Reading have to be careful - they are struggling to push out of their own half which is simply inviting pressure on themselves.
SAVE! Robson-Kanu is a real threat in this Reading midfield, but it has taken him just short of half-an-hour to really get forward and provide a cross into the box. It is deflected behind for a corner, which Hector gets on the end of. His attempt was tricking towards goal, but Hennessey was there to collect with ease.
SAVE! Well it has taken a third of the game, but Al-Habsi has been forced into his first save of the match. It came at the end of a Cabaye free kick, which the Frenchman curled towards goal from 30 yards out. A decent attempt, and a fairly routine stop to push it behind.
From the corner, the ball finds its way to Bolasie who fires into the side-netting. A nice feel to the game now, as both sides take it in turns to attack. First goal really will be vital in this one.
YELLOW CARD! Michael Hector is the first player to enter the referee's book for a cynical challenge in the middle of the field. Palace quickly get forward and Bolasie again shoots into the side-netting - cue a brief cheer from the away stand as they simply saw the net rustle.
Delaney in real trouble as Cox gets the better of him and charges forward. It is three-on-three at one stage, but Reading get the counter completely wrong when a ball out wide is overhit out of play. A really good opening, that, which the hosts failed to capitalise on.
CHANCE! Biggest chance of the match so far by quite some distance, but Adebayor is thwarted by Al-Habsi. The Togo international was played through beautifully by Jedinak, only to pick out the Reading keeper with his over-elaborate attempt at the near post.
Cox is picked out in some space around 30 yards from goal, but his shot is completely scuffed and ends up well wide of the target. Fair to say the second quarter of this match has been considerably better than the first.
Half a chance for Ola John, who has two in three matches prior to tonight, but his shot takes a little touch on its way into the side-netting. McShane a threat from the corner which Palace just about clear away. Strong end to the half from the Royals.
CHANCE! Yet another chance for John, who capitalises on a Hennessey howler. The Welshman let a cross squirm through his hands, but John could not tuck the ball into an empty net when the angle was against him. By no means a sitter, though he could have kept his composure a little better there.
CHANCE! Great improvisation from Cabaye, who hooks a shot narrowly over the bar. From the next attack, Bolasie's blaster is kept out well by Al-Habsi down low, with Ledley side-footing the rebound over from five yards out. Both teams seeing chances pass them by at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: READING 0-0 CRYSTAL PALACE
So a goalless first half at the Madejski Stadium, then, but a tie that certainly burst into life in the final 20 minutes or so. Not a single shot of note in the opening quarter of the contest, as both sides looked to weigh each other up, but chances aplenty thereon in.
Adebayor came closest to making a breakthrough in the even opening 25 minutes, seeing his header blocked on its way through to goal. Michael Hector got the first attempt on goal, though, as he met a corner into the box which Hennessey had to get down to collect in a rather straightforward manner. Moments later up the other end, Cabaye's free kick was pushed aside by Al-Habsi.
The first big chance fell Adebayor's way around 35 minutes in, as he was played through by Jedinak only to see his shot kept out by the Reading stopped from close range. John then failed to tap the ball into an empty net with three minutes left to play of the half, with the angle admittedly against him, before Bolasie saw his shot kept out by Al-Habsi late on.
BENCH WATCH!
READING SUBS: Bond, Vydra, McCleary, Rakels, Ferdinand, Piazon, Williams
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: McCarthy, Kelly, Puncheon, Mutch, Sako, Campbell, Gayle
Will we see a breakthrough in the second half at the Madejski Stadium? The way the opening 45 minutes ended suggests that we quite possibly will. Both teams have had a couple of chances each, but at the moment it remains 0-0 at the break.
RESTART! We are back underway in Berkshire, with neither side making a change at the break. Subs around the hour mark could play a key part in the way this one pans out.
Confusion in the Reading box, as a Cabaye free kick dropped into a dangerous position but McShane was reluctant to boot it away. He instead waited for Al-Habsi to rush out and collect, proving the right choice in the end as no Palace player was around.
Fairly sloppy start to this second half, which the Eagles have just about edged so far. Reading perhaps looking to keep things tight before pouncing when chances come their way, in a similar manner to what we witnessed in the opening 45 minutes.
Souare wins his side a corner down the left, which Cabaye stands over as ever. It is another dangerous cross, defended well by McShane at the expense of another corner. This latest set-piece delivery is nodded well clear by Cooper.
Reading, much like in the opening quarter of the game, struggling to find any real rhythm at the moment. Not exactly all Palace's way, though, and this one is largely still in the balance with 36 minutes remaining on the clock.
OFF THE LINE! Superb stop from Al-Habsi to deny Palace a breakthrough goal. Jedinak met the ball well with his head, sending it goalwards, but the Oman stopper was across to push to safety. From the corner, Dann's attempt was kept off the line by Norwood. Palace really turning the screw now.
YELLOW CARDS! A two-minute stoppage in play to take the sting out of Palace's momentum. Things boiled over as Gunter and Zaha appeared to come together, leading to both men seeing a yellow. Mike Dean doing well there to keep things under control.
READING SUB! Simon Cox makes way for Matej Vydra, who will provide a real attacking threat up top for the hosts. Injury has restricted him to just 30 minutes, but the competition's top scorer is now on.
YELLOW CARD! Bolasie now booked for a challenge on Obita, marking the third yellow card in the same number of minutes. The sting appeared to have been taken out of the game, which is just threatening to boil over again.
CHANCE! No chance to breath for Reading at the moment, as Bolasie and Zaha struggle to get a shot away, before Adebayor saw his shot deflect over the bar. Jedinak's sweet volley then blocked aside, but that opening goal appears to be right on the horizon.
Reading get up the other end and force Hennessey into another routine stop, this time through Quinn's shot after some impressive Vydra build-up play. The substitute looking bright since coming on a short while ago.
SAVE! One for the cameras, maybe, as Al-Habsi get across to his left to push aside Cabaye's latest free-kick attempt. Jake Cooper was shown a yellow card for bringing down Zaha in the build-up to that latest Palace chance.
Crystal Palace have been the side very much on top since the restart, coming close on a few occasions thus far, but Reading also showing that they have the ability to win this game. A tense final 20 minutes awaits at the Madejski Stadium, as Ola John blasts one high over the bar.
Reading getting bodies forward no in an attempt to win this game. McDermott perhaps sensing that it is now or never, really, with a replay at Selhurst Park likely to prove a far tougher test on the face of it.
Bolasie completely overhits his cross into the box, with only Adebayor to aim for. Palace players starting to look a little tired now, having dominated things for large parts of this half. Surprised Pardew has yet to roll the dice.
READING SUB! Danny Williams is on for Oliver Norwood, with the match now entering its final 20 minutes. McDermott again showing that he intends to win this game tonight, rather that settling for a replay.
CHANCE! Reading's best opportunity for quite some time; John meeting a back-post delivery but seeing his header kept out by a scrambling Hennessey. Huge stop from the Welshman to potentially save an upset here.
CRYSTAL PALACE SUB! Joe Ledley's evening comes to an end, with Bakary Sako on in his place. Both managers going attacking, then, setting up a thrilling conclusion to this tense affair.
Palace being given plenty of opportunities to cross the ball into the box, but from both sides they get the delivery wrong and allow Reading to breath once more. Bolasie's shot ends well over the bar from inside the box, showing that this one is perhaps getting away from the Eagles. A replay awaits.
Obita shoves Zaha over right on the edge of the box, but Sako's drilled attempt on goal is denied at the first hurdle by the wall. Pardew still has a couple of changes to make, with plenty of fresh attacking legs no doubt desperate to make themselves a hero.
PENALTY TO PALACE!
Cooper puts his arm on Bolasie's chest, as the winger looks to charge down a ball over the top. It goes from bad to worse for the Reading man, who is shown a straight red card.
GOAL! READING 0-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (YOHAN CABAYE, PEN)
Cabaye's spot kick is so very nearly kept out by Al-Habsi, but his hand to the ball is not enough to stop it finding the bottom corner. Palace lead with four minutes to go.
OFF THE BAR! Palace fans making all the noise now, and they almost had a second to cheer as Bolasie's curled shot came cannoning back off the crossbar.
SUBS! Bolasie is off to make way for Campbell, while the hosts bring on Rakels for Obita. Jedinak the latest player to see yellow, meanwhile, for a challenge in midfield. Four minutes of added time to come.
Reading throwing all they have at their opponents now, but they are struggling to make any real openings. Palace set up to hit their opponents on the break.
GOAL! READING 0-2 CRYSTAL PALACE (FRAIZER CAMPBELL)
At the second time of asking substitute Campbell is alert to smash the ball home right on the line, ensuring that Palace will be going to Wembley next month.
FULL TIME: READING 0-2 CRYSTAL PALACE
So Palace certainly left it late at the Madejski Stadium, but it is they who will line up in the final four of the FA Cup. Reading fought so valiantly and, while at times they did ride their luck a little, it appeared as though they had done enough to at least earn a replay. It was not to be, though, and we now know one of our semi-finalists.
We have three more FA Cup ties to come over the weekend here on Sports Mole, so be sure to join us for each of them. Before signing off on this evening's commentary, there is time to point you in the direction of our on-the-whistle report.Thanks for joining!
