Royals Face United Replay

The Royals host the Red Devils of Manchester for the second time this season in tonight’s FA Cup replay at the Madejski Stadium. Manager Steve Coppell will revert to his ‘cup team’ with several changes from the side that played at Middlesbrough.

Michael Duberry is one enforced absentee as he is cup tied along with record signing Greg Halford, but Andre Bikey will return after serving a one-match ban.

Adam Federici will take over in goal, with Ulises De La Cruz likely to feature in the back four.

Brynjar Gunnarsson, Seol Ki-Hyeon and John Oster will hope to start in midfield, but Bobby Convey is not an option after being ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee problem.

In attack, Coppell is spoiled for choice with Kevin Doyle, Dave Kitson, Leroy Lita and Shane Long all fit and available.

Coppell must decide whether to stick with the 5-4-1 formation employed at Old Trafford or revert to his normally favoured 4-4-2.

Ibrahima Sonko, Peter Mate, John Halls and Aaron Brown are long-term injury absentees, while Graham Stack, Alex Pearce, Scott Golbourne, Jonathan Hayes and Curtis Osano are out on loan.

With Saturday’s early morning Premiership trip to Liverpool looming, Alex Ferguson will also make changes to his starting line-up.

Ferguson has said that the older members of his squad will be rested, probably meaning no place for Ryan GIggs, Gary Neville, Henrik Larsson or Paul Scholes, while Nemanja Vidic is nursing an injury and is rated doubtful.

He still has plenty of quality to call upon, though, with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Louis Saha, Kieran RIchardson and Park Ji-Sung among his attacking options.

Edwin van der Sar could also be rested, with Tomasz Kuszczak ready to step in as he did at Old Trafford ten days ago.

Alan Smith could return to the fold as he finally hopes to shake off the effects of a broken leg suffered in the FA Cup at Liverpool last year.

Vital Quotes: Carlos Queiroz

United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz says Reading are a special team.

He said, ‘In the first game, Reading did it for 90 minutes. In every area of the pitch, their players knew what to do and how to do it.

‘The quality of that performance was not something that just drops out of the sky. It only happens when you have good players, a good manager and a well-prepared team.

‘During that game, I had a feeling Reading had something special.’

He continued, ‘If we start play against Reading with Liverpool and Chelsea on our minds, it will create a big weight for us to carry.

‘Suddenly, you might see 25 players in front of you. You might see a midfield where Steve Sidwell is playing with Steven Gerrard. The players cannot afford to let that happen.

‘They must create a blank wall in their minds and remain focussed on Reading and nothing else.’

Reading Team News:

Reading (from): Federici, De La Cruz, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Sodje, Gunnarsson, Shorey, Oster, Seol, Sidwell, Harper, Little, Kitson, Long, Lita, Doyle, Hahnemann, Murty.

Player to watch: Adam Federici

The big Australian had a blinder in the first tie, and was rightfully awarded the ‘player of the round’ for his excellent display. The stopper, who is pushing Marcus Hahnemann for a first team start, will have to be on form again if we are to provail.

Manchester United Team News:

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Heaton, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre, O’Shea, Evra, Heinze, Ronaldo, Park, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Richardson, Larsson, Saha, Rooney, Solskjaer, Smith.

Player to watch: Wayne Rooney

The young England striker was suspended for the first tie at Old Trafford, and will be hoping to be the difference between what were two even teams in Manchester earlier this month. Rooney set up United’s first goal against Fulham, and will be looking to be influencial again this evening.

Ref Watch:

Howard Webb (Yorkshire) will take charge at the Madejski after finding himself in the middle of a stormy Carling Cup Final between Arsenal and Chelsea on Sunday.

In a game that had a very bad tempered finish, Webb was placed in a virtually impossible situation and had little choice but to send off Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure and John Obi Mikel.

It will be Webb’s third Reading game this season, having taken charge of both victories over Manchester City.

Match Prediction:

I have an unusually funny-feeling about tonight’s replay, and am hoping we can cause a major cup upset and progress to the quarter finals and a tie against Middlesbrough or West Brom. Saying this, United are firm favourites so it’ll be an interesting spectacle. 1-0 to the mighty Royals!