Manchester United 2-0 Reading: FA Cup third round – as it happened

Reading gave it a good go, but United were too clinical as the hosts reached the fourth round without too much drama

2.50pm GMT

All that’s left is to point you in the direction of our match report. Jamie Jackson was at Old Trafford, and here’s his take. Thanks for reading, and hope to see you later for Blackpool-Arsenal.

Related: Romelu Lukaku sinks Reading to give Solskjær fifth Manchester United win

2.38pm GMT

And now Solskjaer - the first manager in United history to win his first five games - speaks! Was the result better than the performance, asks Matt Smith of BT Sport? “Yeah I think you’re right there. Two-nil, a clean sheet again, and I have to say they made it tough for us. And probably I made it tough for us, because you know when you make nine changes, it’s never easy for a team that’s never played together. So I’m delighted we’re in he next round. We learned a lot. We know we need some fitness work, and to work on relations. But I’ve put a team together that’s never played together. We knew they were going to come and play, and they made us work hard. When we had possession we were too wasteful, and we know we have things to improve on. If we repeat that performance at Wembley, we won’t have a clean sheet or any points.”

2.32pm GMT

There were some other 12.30pm kick-offs in the FA Cup third round today. Here are the results.

Bournemouth 1-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
Burnley 1-0 Barnsley
Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Luton Town
Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Stoke City
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Wigan Athletic
West Ham United 2-0 Birmingham City

2.30pm GMT

That’s five wins out of five for Solskjaer. Five shiny bronze centimes for the thoughts of Jose Mourinho. United jet off for some warm-weather training in Dubai, in order to prepare for their trip to Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday. Reading meanwhile take succour from a gusty performance, dusting themselves down for the visit of Nottingham Forest next Saturday.

2.25pm GMT

Enough time for Jaakkola to fingertip a long-range Pereira effort around the post, and it’s a routine win for United. The hosts did what they had to do, and they sail comfortably into the fourth round. Championship strugglers Reading played extremely well, but ultimately were too blunt up front to bother Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second string.

2.22pm GMT

90 min: A komik kut at the end, as Rashford, one-on-one with Jaakkola, tries to round the keeper on the right ... then stands on the ball and skitters hysterically out of play for a goal kick. He laughs heartily at his mistake, yet another sign that United are playing with renewed joie de vivre.

2.20pm GMT

89 min: Reading pile forward in a desperate attempt to get back into the game. Suddenly Pereira spots Lukaku alone on the halfway line. His long pass forward momentarily looks to set the striker free, but Jaakkola is out quickly to sweep the ball away from danger.

2.18pm GMT

88 min: Reading have had 13 attempts at goal today; United just the seven. Reading still on 60% possession. But it’s the small things that matter at this level, and the hosts have snaffled their chances when they’ve come.

2.17pm GMT

86 min: Swift finds space out on the right and curls a cross into the area. Romero is out to claim. The visitors are keeping on, right until the end.

2.15pm GMT

84 min: Chong strokes a pass wide right for Dalot, whose looping cross eludes Pereira, diving in for a header, six yards out. There was a slight nudge on Lukaku as the ball came over, and the referee consults VAR, but it’s not enough for a penalty.

2.13pm GMT

82 min: Barrow zips down the left and nearly gets past Fellaini in the United box. Nearly, but not quite. Goal kick.

2.12pm GMT

81 min: Barrow slips Richards into space down the left. Richards crosses long. Meite, coming in from the right at a tight angle, slams a wild shot deep into the stands from close range. He was offside anyway. But Reading, to their immense credit, haven’t given up.

2.11pm GMT

80 min: Swift sends Aluko skittering down the right. Meite is free in acres in the middle, but Aluko can’t find the space to loop the ball across, and runs it out of play.

2.09pm GMT

78 min: Good work by Rinomhota down the right, nipping past Jones with ease, the United defender charging out recklessly. But his cross is well cleared by Dalot with Reading forwards waiting to pounce.

2.08pm GMT

77 min: To a chorus of pantomime boos, Chong is booked for a light but cynical clip on Richards.

2.07pm GMT

76 min: Reading make their final change, swapping Harriott for Meite.

2.06pm GMT

75 min: Reading press United back in their final third, Aluko, Barrow and Rinomhota stroking it around, probing hither and yon. But they can’t find the killer pass.

2.04pm GMT

73 min: Reading are still on 61% possession for the match. They’re going out, but they’ve given a great account of themselves this afternoon, a performance that’s sure to give them a boost in their Championship relegation battle.

2.03pm GMT

72 min: Barrow bowls down the left, then slips a pass inside for Aluko, who clips a first-time shot towards the bottom left from the edge of the box. Romero tips round for a corner. From the set piece, Yiadom’s shot hits McTominay on the shoulder. Reading want a penalty, but they’re never getting it. Another corner instead, which comes to nothing.

2.01pm GMT

70 min: Aluko drives at United but the door is slammed shut. United break upfield, Lukaku slipping a ball wide right to Chong, who is fast but can’t get on the end of that. The Old Trafford faithful certainly are excited by the promise of Chong, a huge roar going up as he’s in hot pursuit.

1.59pm GMT

68 min: Young hoicks a free kick into the Reading box from the left. Lukaku can’t get a header on target. Then another wave, as Rashford bursts into the area from the left, but he’s crowded out. Finally a third go, as Young dribbles in from the left and slips a ball inside for Fellaini, who tries to back-flick into the net from close range. No Lee Sharpe he.

1.57pm GMT

66 min: Nothing going on, so BT Sport show footage of Sanchez sitting in Solskjaer’s seat in the dugout, and being told to move in short order.

1.54pm GMT

64 min: Sanchez departs with a frown, as Rashford comes on in his stead.

1.54pm GMT

63 min: Typical timing: Sanchez has pulled up, and has indicated that he needs to come off.

1.53pm GMT

61 min: Reading make their second change, swapping McCleary for Barrow. Meanwhile United make a double substitution: Mata and Fred are replaced by Fellaini and the 19-year-old winger Tahith Chong.

1.50pm GMT

59 min: McCleary makes good ground down the left with some ball-on-string entertainment. He flicks a pass down the channel to release Loader into the box, but the Reading forward has foolishly wandered offside. A needless mistake with United once again looking vulnerable in defence.

1.48pm GMT

57 min: A bit of a lull. United don’t really need to move up the gears, so this is where we are.

1.47pm GMT

55 min: Now it’s Reading’s turn to escape. A long ball down the United left. Lukaku cushions a header down for Sanchez, who can’t get a shot away. Yiadom should clear, but he allows Lukaku to barge him off the ball, to the left of goal. Lukaku sets up Mata, whose first-time swipe hits Moore.

1.45pm GMT

53 min: Aluko jinks his way across the front of the United box, right to left. Then he suddenly checks and plays a cute straight pass to Harriott, who is free on the penalty spot! He has to score, but batters straight at Romero. United escape.

1.43pm GMT

52 min: Dalot and Mata play a long-distance one-two down the right. Dalot dinks one into the centre but Lukaku is on the back foot. Mata tries a cross from the left but it’s too deep. The first signs of United flickering to life in this second half, though.

1.41pm GMT

50 min: Kelly takes a shot from the best part of 40 yards. Full marks for ambition.

1.39pm GMT

49 min: Darmian clatters into the back of Loader, who was in the process of turning him down the inside-left channel, 25 yards from goal. A free kick in a dangerous area. Swift takes, sending one over the wall and dipping towards the bottom right. Romero reads it well and snaffles the catch.

1.38pm GMT

47 min: Harriott dribbles down the middle of the park and flicks a pass to his left for Loader. It doesn’t quite come off, but United were once again light at the back there.

1.37pm GMT

46 min: McClearly and Loader work the ball down the right. The ball’s teed up for Swift, who blazes over from distance. Reading have obviously come out swinging, with nothing to lose. A fair chance, one way or the other, that this won’t end 2-0.

1.36pm GMT

The second half is underway. United get the ball rolling again. Reading have made a change, with the injured Ilori replaced by the forward-thinking Aluko. Rinomhota moves to right back, with Yiadom moving into the centre of defence.

1.22pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. This is delightful. Please don’t get too lost in nostalgic reverie, and remember to come back for the second half.

Related: Memory Lane: the FA Cup third round – in pictures

1.21pm GMT

Reading have been excellent. But United have been clinical. The hosts have one foot in the fourth round.

1.20pm GMT

Just as Reading were threatening to equalise, United break upfield. Sanchez threads a pass down the inside left to release Lukaku, who rounds Jaakkola on the outside and rolls home.

1.19pm GMT

45 min +3: Harriott has a whack this time from his beat out on the right. It’s blocked. But then Yiadom spins Jones with the greatest of ease, down the inside right. He slams a shot towards the top right; it’s parried round the post for a corner that comes to nothing.

1.18pm GMT

45 min +2: Swift has been Reading’s chief creative force, and here he sends a stunning crossfield pass to Harriott out on the right. Not for the first time, there’s a lot of space out there. Not for the first time, Harriott doesn’t do anything with the opportunity.

1.15pm GMT

45 min: There will be five added minutes, a combination of the Ilori injury and the VAR exercise.

1.14pm GMT

44 min: Swift robs Pereira, 35 yards out, and feeds Harriott down the right. Harriott opens his body and looks to pass the ball into the bottom right, but his shot is weak and easily snaffled by Romero.

1.13pm GMT

43 min: Young hauls down Harriott in the middle of the park. For some reason the referee gives Sanchez a lecture instead. This half is petering out.

1.11pm GMT

41 min: Yiadom bursts past Sanchez down the right. There’s not much in it, but the referee blows for a United free kick. Just as well for the hosts, because Yiadom was yomping into the area. Yiadom loses the place completely, throwing semaphore shapes in disgust. He suddenly remembers he’s on a booking and calms down quicksmart.

1.10pm GMT

40 min: Space for McCleary down on the right. He hooks into the box for Loader, but Darmian and Jones crowd out the Reading striker.

1.09pm GMT

37 min: Fred looks industrious and impressive. He sends Lukaku trotting into the Reading half with a quick forward thrust. Lukaku feeds Sanchez on his left. Sanchez dribbles into the box with great purpose, but he’s shepherded away from danger by Ilori, and Jaakkola then hacks away from danger while down on his knees.

1.06pm GMT

35 min: United’s defence is all over the shop, offering up plenty of chances. But Reading aren’t taking them. Twice in the space of a minute, there’s oodles of room for Harriott, then Loader, down the inside-right channel. But both young Reading forwards hesitate when they should drive forward to trouble Romero.

1.04pm GMT

34 min: Reading are still on 61% possession. But what’s possession nowadays? United seem happy to let them ping it around and play on the break.

1.04pm GMT

33 min: Yiadom is quite correctly booked for a wild and late lunge on Fred. He took out the United midfielder’s standing leg with gusto. Clumsy more than anything else, but still.

1.02pm GMT

32 min: Reading aren’t taking this lying down. Harriott has a whack from a position wide on the right. It’s not a million miles from the top-left corner.

1.01pm GMT

30 min: A glorious chance missed at both ends! First Lukaku barrels his way down the middle. He should tear clear, but with Moore on his shoulder, lets the ball clank between his feet. Momentum gone. He finally digs it out for a shot, but Jaakkola parries well. Then Harriott is sent scampering into acres down the right. With United’s entire defence inexplicably AWOL, he slips a ball inside for Loader, who should shoot when one on one with Romero. But instead he tries to round the keeper on the right. Romero stands up well to block for a corner, which leads to nought.

12.59pm GMT

28 min: Sanchez twists and shimmies in the Reading box, but can’t get a shot away because Richards is sticking to him like glue. Ilori, moving well again, sends a long clearance towards Harriott, who briefly threatens to race clear. But Darmian is across to cover well.

12.57pm GMT

27 min: Young tears down the left and sends a low cross-cum-shot into the arms of Jaakkola. The goal has lit a fire under United. They’re playing with much more speed and purpose now.

12.56pm GMT

25 min: Sanchez attempts to cross from the left. The ball clanks into Yiadom’s arm, just inside the box. United want another penalty kick, but they’re not getting one. Yiadom was standing right in front of Sanchez, and he had little chance of getting his arm out of the way. Also, on second viewing, he wasn’t in the box. We move on.

12.54pm GMT

24 min: It took two minutes and five seconds, but that was the correct decision. A shame for Reading, though, who had otherwise started very well.

12.53pm GMT

Mata slots the ball into the bottom right, Jaakkola given no chance!

12.52pm GMT

22 min: And it’s a penalty to United, Mata having been barged over by Richards as he played the ball forward to Fred! Mata will get up and take it himself.

12.51pm GMT

20 min: United score! But the flag goes up! Young hoicks the ball into the Reading area from the left. Fred hooks it down near the penalty spot. Mata plays the dropping ball back to Fred, who sweeps home. But Mata’s touch looks to have caught Fred offside. We’re going to VAR.

12.49pm GMT

18 min: Reading respond very impressively. First Swift looks to have sent Loader clear down the middle with a defence splitter from inside his own half, but the Reading striker went too soon and the flag goes up for offside. Then a left-wing cross from Harriott finds its way to Yiadom, haring into the United area from the right. Yiadom is in acres - where’s Young? - and could take a touch before shooting. But he suffers a rush of blood to the head, and blooters a first-time effort wide and high. That goes down as a good chance spurned.

12.47pm GMT

16 min: Finally, United spring into life. Fred, McTominay and Lukaku play it upfield at speed, some glorious one-touch passing. Sanchez picks up possession 25 yards out, drops a shoulder as he shifts the ball to his right, and sends a dipping screamer, intended for the top left, inches over the bar. So close!

12.45pm GMT

15 min: Ilori’s back up, but padding around gingerly at the moment.

12.44pm GMT

13 min: Ilori has come off second best in a 50-50 challenge for a high ball with Lukaku. He’s landed awkwardly on his hip from a height. On the Reading bench, erstwhile United defender John O’Shea wonders whether he’ll get a fairytale run-out at his alma mater, at the ripe age of 37.

12.42pm GMT

11 min: Reading have enjoyed 62% of possession so far. United have looked a little sleepy so far, not long out of bed.

12.41pm GMT

10 min: McTominay’s back up and about. Reading spend some time probing down the left. Swift then switches play to Harriott, who briefly threatens to turn Pereira down the inside-right channel. Pereira recovers well and United try to break upfield, but Sanchez’s attempt to release Lukaku is wayward.

12.39pm GMT

8 min: United finally get a little rhythm going. Fred at the centre of some pretty triangles. Suddenly Sanchez attempts to turn Harriott down the inside left. He’s fouled, and it’s a chance to clip a free kick into a loaded box. Young wedges the set piece into the mixer. Jones wins a header. Moore wins another to clear. McTominay goes down having hurt his noggin. He’s down getting the magic sponge.

12.36pm GMT

6 min: Loader and Swift try to one-two their way down the middle of the park. A couple of passes stick, the one intended to split United’s defence doesn’t. But full marks for ambition.

12.35pm GMT

4 min: Reading continue to knock the ball around in a carefree style, albeit mainly in their own half. They’ve decided to try to enjoy themselves, by the looks of it, just as their manager suggested. United haven’t got going yet.

12.32pm GMT

2 min: It’s not been all Reading, exactly, but the visitors have been pinging it around in a confident manner. Everyone’s had a touch. Perhaps they’ve been a little too confident, because for a second it looks as though Kelly is going to gift possession to a buzzing Fred on the edge of his own box. But he plays away from danger.

12.30pm GMT

And we’re off! Reading get the ball rolling, and they’ll be kicking towards the Stretford End in this first half.

12.29pm GMT

The teams are out! A fantastic atmosphere at Old Trafford, as the sound of the Stone Roses pings around the place. This is the one. It’s almost as though a huge weight was recently lifted. United are in their famous red, white and black, while Reading sport their traditional blue and white. We’ll be off in a minute. “After the Reading manager’s interview just now, it feels completely surreal to me to have someone named José talking about Manchester United with any kind of enthusiasm or interest.” Adam Kline-Schoder with today’s top zinger, ladies and gentlemen. He’s here all week. Try the pickled egg in a sausage and black pudding coating rolled in breadcrumbs.

12.24pm GMT

Solskjaer speaks ... and smiles. He’s loving this life. “It’s been a hectic couple of weeks, but it’s been fantastic. It’s great to be in a competition that you can win, it’s a trophy we can go for. Most of these players have started a game in the last four games anyway. Romelu and Alexis, it’s about time to start them. I give young Scott a chance, he’s played enough games. It should be an opportunity for everyone to put themselves in the frame for Tottenham. Changing so many players might be a risk, but we have a couple of injuries and some tired legs, so this is how it has to be. I’m going to enjoy it as long as I’m here. If you don’t enjoy working at Man United, you’re not gonna enjoy working in football! I’m not thinking about job prospects, but trophies. This is probably our biggest chance of a trophy. I have told the lads how nice it is to run out at Wembley for a final.”

12.19pm GMT

For the record, the Reading gig is the well-travelled Gomes’ sixth job in the last two-and-a-half years. And his tenth in a 13-year managerial career. He makes Roy Hodgson look like Guy Roux. Altogether now: ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯ There’s a voice, keeps on callin’ me ... ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯

12.11pm GMT

The new Reading manager Jose Manuel Gomes speaks! “It’s a big game, the football party of the English federation. It’s an honour to be part of this game. We must enjoy it, we must show to our supporters that we are able to play good football and get good results in the league. Today is a day to enjoy, and you never know what can happen. United are a strong team with fantastic players. We will try to play positive, offensive football. Why not? I cannot change this because we play against Manchester United, and we will try to give a good picture of what we can do.”

12.00pm GMT

Pre-match patter.

Related: Solskjær hopes Manchester United’s form echoes that of ‘Sir Alex’s team’

11.56am GMT

Corrections and clarifications dept. “Hi Scott,” begins Christian Palmer. “It’s not going to make any difference to today’s result, but Reading made it to the semis in 2015. Here’s your minute-by-minute report. Don’t worry, my memory is failing me too.” Oh dear. Thank you. Sorry. Yes, I am getting old. I remember when the Madejski was all fields.

11.49am GMT

Only two United players remain from the starting XI named for the win at Newcastle on Wednesday. Phil Jones and Juan Mata keep their places. Otherwise it’s all change, with Sergio Romero replacing David de Gea in goal, Matteo Darmian playing in the centre of defence, and the lesser-spotted Alexis Sanchez starting up front.

Reading make four changes to the team thrashed at home by Swansea last weekend. Liam Moore, Liam Kelly, Callum Harriott and Danny Loader replace Sone Aluko, Yakou Meite, Modou Barrow and - returning to his old stomping ground, the Old Trafford benches - John O’Shea.

11.35am GMT

Manchester United: Romero, Dalot, Darmian, Jones, Young, Fred, McTominay, Andreas Pereira, Mata, Lukaku, Sanchez.
Subs: Lindelof, Rashford, Martial, Grant, Fellaini, Garner, Chong.

Reading: Jaakkola, Yiadom, Tiago Ilori, Moore, Richards, Kelly, Rinomhota, McCleary, Swift, Harriott, Loader.
Subs: Gunter, O’Shea, Aluko, Barrow, Meite, Walker, East.

9.05pm GMT

Manchester United and Reading have history in the FA Cup. A long tradition stretches all the way back to 1912, when Billy Meredith and Sandy Turnbull starred in a 3-0 win for United at Old Trafford. A last-minute goal settled a three-game marathon in Reading’s favour in 1927; the Biscuitmen made it all the way to the semis

, the last time they got so far
. United beat Reading in successive seasons in 1937 and 1938. Colin Webster and Dennis Violett shone for the Busby Babes in a 4-1 rout in 1955.

In more modern times ... the United of Cantona and Giggs won 3-0 at Elm Park during their successful run of 1996; Gabriel Heinze, Louis Saha and a certain Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put them three up in six minutes (!) at the Madejski in 2007; Nani and Javier Hernandez were the heroes in 2013; Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford wrapped up a 4-0 win this time two years ago.

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