Source: Daily_Mail
Stoke v West Ham and Man City v Reading LIVE
FA CUP SIXTH ROUNDMan City 1 Reading 0 FT [LNB]Stoke 2 West Ham 1 FT[LNB]FULL TIME: Manchester City 1 Reading 0[LNB]It wasn't pretty but City see off Championship side Reading to set up a mouth-watering FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United. [LNB]City were ponderous for most of this tie but they created a huge number of chances and restricted the plucky visitors to speculative efforts from long distance. [LNB]Richards to the rescue: Read the Eastlands match report here Ear we go: Richards celebrates his winner for City[LNB]93min: Plenty of possession for reading but can't produce anything in the way of an attempt on goal. City run down the clock by bringing on Dedryck Boyata for Shaun Wright-Phillips. [LNB]90mins: Nowt doing for Reading who have four (added) minutes to save their FA Cup campaign.[LNB]87min: Have Reading got what it takes to lay siege on the City goal for the remaining few minutes of this match? With City's ability to stifle the life out of games, I doubt it very much, this looks like the end of the road for the Royals. [LNB]85min: Here he comes... Reading throw on Brian Howard for Tabb - you remember Howard, he's the man who scored Barnsley's winner against Liverpool in FA Cup three years ago. [LNB]84min: Another change for City: Gareth Barry comes on to replace Nigel de Jong. [LNB]83min: Super chance for Reading. Harte's freekick out on the left-hand touchline finds Gunnarsson 15 yards out but he directs his header wide of the post. [LNB]80min: It's going to be difficult for Reading to turn this around from here. they've been surviving on scraps in this second half as City have retained possession with ease. City are 10 just minutes away from a Wembley semi-final against United. [LNB]76min: Substitution for Reading: Simon Church is on for Noel Hunt. [LNB]74min: GOAL! Man City 1 Reading 0 (Micah Richards)[LNB]At last! City finally get everything to click but its a goal of pure simplicity: Richards' bullet-header zings past McCarthy who can only palm it up into the corner of the net.[LNB]70min: Controversy! Mario Balotelli comes on for Patrick Vieira and tries to sneak onto the pitch wearing a snood. Naughty boy! [LNB]66min: Micah Richards heads a cross down into the ground, McCarthy is troubled but tips the ball over the bar for safety. In other news, it looks like Mario Balotelli is about to make an appearance.[LNB]64min: Wright-Phillips skips past Harte and then runs the ball out of play. Sums up the little wingers day. He's been bad, really bad. [LNB]62min: Substitution for Reading: Jobi McAnuff comes off for Hal Robson-Kanu.[LNB]60min: I'm writing variations of the same thing over and over - City have a chance but waste it. This time it's Toure's shot which is palmed away by McCarthy and Tevez can't snaffle up the loose ball. Ho, hum. [LNB] One of those days: Silva rues yet another missed chance[LNB]56min: The longer this game goes on for, the more frustrated the home players and fans are becoming. City waste yet another super chance to break the deadlock: Wright-Phillips booms in on goal, elects to pass square when set to shoot and Tevez makes a complete hash of his shot from the edge of the box. The City faithful aren't best pleased with what they're seeing. [LNB]51min: More encouraging signs for the Royals who forge a couple of half chances which are fired wide by Kebe and Hunt. And the City fans bark their displeasure as Tevez wastes yet another guilt-edge chance, his backheel from a couple of yards out was smothered by McCarthy. [LNB]47min: Ooooh! Almost an own goal a matter of seconds into the second half. City win a corner which Tabb nods goalwards at the near post and the man on the line at the back post has to nod off the line. [LNB]SECOND HALF: Reading re-enter the arena well ahead of their rivals, no changes to either side and we're back off and running...[LNB]HALF TIME: Manchester City 0 Reading 0[LNB]The home side have dominated, but at a ponderous pace. A few sparks of creativity from Silva aside, the hosts have been frustrated for the first 45 minutes. More in a bit...[LNB]45min: We've been graced with two added minutes at the end of this half...[LNB]43min: 'David Silva, he's got an angle,' notes Jon Champion, a split second later the Spaniard shanked a shot at goal so wide it almost went for a throw in. [LNB] Agony: City fans react to Silva's effort which was blocked on the line[LNB]41min: City come over all, well, Arsenal. Why make one pass when 5,623 will do? A number of City players have the chance to shoot but elect to pass, the ensuing procrastination allows Reading defenders to get back in numbers and clear. [LNB]39min: Silky! Silva collects the ball near the left-hand touchline, Ian Harte runs over to clear but the Spaniard delicious little flick flummoxes the former Leeds United defender.[LNB]36min: Waaaaaay! The travelling hoards from Royal Berkshire cheer their delight as Silva horribly miscues a volley, sending the ball trickling slowly over the line for a goal kick. [LNB]32min: Its all City at the moment. Silva is increasingly imposing himself on this game and very nearly teed up Tevez for the opener. his cross from just inside the right hand-side edge of the box was directed just wide of the upright by the Argentinian. But the assistant believe McCarthy made a save and awards the hosts a corner, which amounts to precisely nowt. [LNB]28min: Kolarov heaves his effort a foot or two over the crossbar, much to the Reading fans' delight. [LNB]27min: Now here's a good position for City. Khizanishvilli is penalised for a foul on Tevez, 25 yards from goal... Kolarov stands over it. [LNB]23min: City threaten and again and once more its Wright-Phillips who is the danger man. The winger flies into the box but slaps his shot from an acute angle into the side-netting. [LNB]20min: Vincent Kompany goes in the book for a high challenge on Hunt. [LNB] Royal approval: Lescott's timely interception halts Reading's charge on goal[LNB]19min: Much better from City, who should now lead this match. Wright-Phillips received the ball on the overlap and fired straight at McCarthy, Silva arrived bang on cue but his effort cannoned off the keeper's knee for a corner. [LNB]15min: Stunning through-ball from Silva finds Wright-Phillips bursting into the box, but the diminutive winger has strayed offside. Up t'other end Hunt has headed McAnuff's cross up and over the bar.[LNB]12min: Stat time: The only time Manchester City played Manchester United in an FA Cup semi was in 1926 when they beat them 3-0. They then lost to Bolton 1-0 in the final.[LNB]10min: Hooooraaaaay! The 3,500 travelling fans roar their approval as Kolarov's corner loops over the penalty area and bounces out for a goal kick. [LNB]8min: Hello? Anyone there? This is a rather quiet start to the game, City need to blow the cobwebs away following the midweek defeat in Europe. [LNB]5min: Great run by Jobi McAnuff down the left, he skips into the box and zooms a tidy little cross into the box and Joleon Lescott clears. Encouraging signs for the Royals. [LNB]2min: Tepid start from both sides and there's a brief break as Noel Hunt gets some treatment for a knock, he should be good to come back on. [LNB] Eastland's battle: Carlos Tevez and Jobi McAnuff fight for the ball [LNB]KICK OFF: Here we go, then. One place in the semis up for grabs, will it be City or Reading? [LNB]4.43pm: The City fans hold up coloured cards above their heads to reveal a sign which says: RISING [LNB]4.42pm: Players and officials and all that. By the looks of it, we'll have a rip-snorting game of footer for you in a few ticks. Excellent. [LNB]4.35pm: Injuries to the back four means ESPN pundit Sam Allardyce is backing City today, Robbie Savage reckons the hosts will stroll it, 3-1 is his prediction. Let me know your thoughts on today's cup clash: tom.bellwood@dailymail.co.uk[LNB]4.29pm: Apparently, City have a big surprise planned to welcome the layers on to the pitch. Maybe it will be a huge banner with the words 'Can we have a City v United final, please?' That's what I'd write, anyway. [LNB]4.20pm: Manchester City v Reading team news: Roberto Mancini has recalled Carlos Tevez, Nigel de Jong and Shaun Wright-Phillips, who all started Thursday's disappointing Europa League defeat to Dynamo Kiev on the bench.[LNB]Reading are without former City defender Matthew Mills as they look to emulate their shock win at Everton in the previous round and confirm their place in the last four for the first time since 1927.[LNB]SEMI-FINAL DRAW: [LNB]Manchester City/Reading v Manchester United and Bolton v Stoke - ties to be played April 16/17[LNB]Manchester City have last four incentive: Full news on the FA Cup semi-final draw here4.06pm: Hope Powell and Fabio Capello, no less, will select the balls for the semi-final draw. [LNB]4pm: Stay there, I'll bring you the semi-final draw in a couple of minutes...[LNB]FULL TIME: Stoke 2 West Ham 1 [LNB]The Potters hold on to make it to their first FA Cup semi-final in 39 years! West Ham's frantic efforts to find an equaliser fail, Mike Jones blows his whistle and the Stoke fans go potty. A match full of contentious incidents, the result really could have gone in either direction but its Pulis's men who will be off to Wembley next month. [LNB]Stoke 2 West Ham 1 - read the full match report hereMan City v Reading - teams Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Vieira, Toure Yaya, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Silva. Subs: Taylor, Dzeko, Barry, Jo, Boyata, Balotelli, Razak.Reading: McCarthy, Tabb, Gunnarsson, Khizanishvili, Harte, Kebe, Karacan, Leigertwood, McAnuff, Long, Hunt. Subs: Andersen, Griffin, Antonio, Church, Robson-Kanu, Howard, Taylor.Referee: Lee Probert[LNB]92min: Yellow card for Fuller who's been on for all of 60 seconds after a swinging elbow connects with Wayne Bridge's. West ham have the chance to break, the ball is half cleared and as Higginbotham attempts to head out for a corner, Hines pushes him in the back and Stoke win the free kick. [LNB]90min: Stoke are four (added) minutes away from a Wembley semi-final. [LNB]89min: Substitution: Kenwyne Jones is replaced by Ricardo Fuller. [LNB]88min: Ooooh! An organic cry rings down from the travelling fans as they see Sorensen get his finger tips onto Cole's low shot to turn around the post. The resulting corner is thumped away by Jones. The ball's heading in one direction at the moment - towards the Stoke goal. [LNB]86min: Off the crossbar! My word, that was so close to the equaliser. Hitzslperger's corner finds the Hammers captain Upson who directs his header flush onto the post. [LNB]83min: Whatever the result today, the ref has stamped his name all over this game. A huge penalty shout for the Hammers results in a free kick to Stoke. Tomkins is dragged to the ground by Walters but Jones peeps his whistle and says Walters was the one who was wronged. [LNB]80min: Double change: Dean Whitehead replaces Pennant for Stoke and Zavon Hines replaces Noble for the Hammers. [LNB]78min: Penalty? Keane is incensed as he believes Huth handled in the area. Replays show the ball bounced off his knee. [LNB]76min: Ooooh, was that West Ham's moment? Parker skips round the outside of the box and clips the ball into Keane who fails to connect cleanly with the ball and Sorensen pushes the ball around the post. [LNB]73min: Time is slowly creeping away for West Ham to salvage their Wembley dreams. But its the home side who look the most likely side to score at the moment. Jermaine Pennant has just wasted a wonderful opportunity to seal the tie, his right footed half-volley flew a couple of yards wide of Green's left-hand post. [LNB]68min: Boom! Hitzlsperger tries his luck from distance, but the shot bounces, hops and skips well wide of Sorensen's upright. [LNB]67min: Avram decides to shake things up, he swaps Victor Obinna for Robbie Keane. [LNB]66min: What a fine chance for the Hammers to level. Parker rolls the ball into Obinna who spins and fires a venomous hot across Sorensen who somehow manages to tip over the bar. Cracking save. [LNB]62min: GOAL! Stoke 2 West Ham 1 (Higginbotham)[LNB]Higginbotham's low shot finds a gap in the wall and a tiny deflection off Parker's right boot takes it past Green's reach, off the post and just trickles over the line. [LNB] You beauty! Higginbotham celebrates his goal for Stoke[LNB]60min: Stoke move upfield incrementally as a free kick cannons off the a hand in the wall, Stoke move 10 yards upfield into a wonderful position, just a couple of yards outside the box... Danny Higginbotham stands over it. [LNB]57min: Off the line! A Delap throw is met by Higginbotham who nods back across goal, Green springs from his line but misses the ball. Jones nods goalwards but Carlton Cole is well placed to clear this lines. [LNB]54min: This game is being played at 100mph+ at the moment.The play is flowing from one end to the other but both sides lack the required quality to threaten the goal. [LNB]50min: So, how will that little passage of play effect the result? West ham buoyed by the save and use the boost as a catalyst to win the tie: or will Stoke be forced into further action? Ryan Shawcross goes into the book for a high boot. [LNB]47min: PENALTY SAVED! [LNB]West Ham will feel justice has been done there. Etherington thumped to Green's left but the keeper palmed clear. [LNB]46min: PENALTY TO STOKE![LNB]Etherington skips into the box and looks to have been tripped up by Scott Parker. Replays suggest there was little - if any - contact. The former West Ham man will take the spot kick.[LNB] Penalty! Parker and Noble shout the odds after Jones awarded Stoke a spot kick[LNB]SECOND HALF: Boos greet referee Mike Jones as he enters the arena. No doubt a half-time glimpse at Piquionne's goal has soured the home fans' views. no changes to either side and we're back off and running...[LNB]HALF TIME: Stoke 1 West Ham 1[LNB]The half ends with a goalmouth scramble which West Ham just manage to bundle clear. Only one talking point: Piquionne's blatant hand ball in the build up to the goal. Tony Pulis talks in animated fashion as he heads towards the tunnel, showing Avram Grant the exact spot where the ball hit the goalscorers arm. Its a tense one, more ina bit. [LNB]45min: We'll have just three added minutes...[LNB]43min: Hoooooraaaaaay! The West Ham fans scream their approval as a Delap throw in is headed clear of the box. The game has a totally different complexion since the equaliser, the visitors are having much the better of it now, but Parker will want to forget his attempted lob from 35 yards out which bounces horribly wide. [LNB]39min: The game has now become a dissembled mess. Challenges are flying in from all angles - a fractious passage of play which sees Thomas Hitzlsperger go in the book for a sliding challenge, raking his studs down the back of Huth's achilles. [LNB]35min: And now John Walters has collapsed in the box... Some magic spray seems to fix his ankle problem. [LNB]34min: Stoke restart the game and Piquionne immediately collapses. He is helped off and is replaced by Jonathan Spector. [LNB] Controversy: Piquionne clips the ball past Sorensen seconds after appearing to control the ball with his arm[LNB]33min: Lengthy delays as Piquionne receives some treatment in the goalmouth, he twisted his ankle helping to send the ball over the line. Just seen a few replays of the goal, the Hammers striker very clearly handled the ball, how the assistant didn't spot that? [LNB]31min: GOAL! Stoke 1 West Ham 1 (Frederic Piquionne) [LNB]There'll be an inquest after this one: Piquionne controls Hitzlsperger's dinked pass won his arm, clips it past Sorensen and bundles the ball over the line as Huth attempted to clear. The Stoke fans and players are (quite rightly) enraged. [LNB]27min: No, West ham aren't at the races today. They're being totally overrun in midfield and Wayne Bridge is enduring a torrid time at left-back. Pennant finds Jones in the box from the right but the big forward can't keep his header down. [LNB]22min: Victor Obinna is the first to go in the ref's book for a high challenge on Danny Higginbotham. A touch harsh, both players had their feet up, attempting to control a high bouncing ball. Still all Stoke at the moment, Walters win a corner which is whipped into the box but Green leaps at his back stick to collect the ball. [LNB]18min: Huth is now Stoke's top scorer this season with eight goals in all competitions, stats a fact. [LNB]16min: Stoke are cruising at the moment - they have such control of the midfield the Hammers can barley string more than two passes together. Noble tries his luck from distance but his shot is partially blocked and hobbles through to Sorensen. Turgid stuff for Hammers fans so far.[LNB]11min: GOAL! Stoke 1 West Ham 0 (Robert Huth) [LNB]Easy-as-you-like. Rory Delap throw-in met by an unmarked Huth, to head home from seven yards out. Dreadful defending from West Ham and Stoke have a deserved lead. [LNB] Rob's job: Huth is congratulated after heading Stoke in front[LNB]8min: West Ham win a throw-in, right down by the corner flag, but James Tomkins' delivery is nodded behind for a goal kick by Carlton Cole. Up t'other end Walters has just pumped an effort from the edge of the box high into the massed ranks of West Ham fans behind the goal... much to their merriment. [LNB]5min: It's all Stoke in these early stages, West Ham are struggling to find a way out of their own half. And its Pennant who is causing all the problems. He's given the freedom of the Britannia Stadium by Wayne Bridge, his cross heads towards John Walters whose header is blocked. Pressure building on the Hammers. [LNB]2min: Blistering start to this cup clash and Stoke really should have an early lead. Jermaine Pennant was given waaaay too much room on the right, his cross found former Hammer Matthew Etherington eight yards out but he directed his header too close to Rob Green who palmed away athletically. [LNB]KICK OFF: We're off and running...[LNB]1.57pm: Cracking atmosphere building at the Britannia and credit due to the 4,000 Hammers fans who have travelled up from their east London/Essex heartlands. [LNB]1.52pm: No pressure, but these two sides played out what was arguably the best cup tie ever. Stoke and West Ham's League Cup clash in 1972 had it all, including a stint in goal for one Bobby Moore. But don't let me spoil it for you... here are all the details.[LNB]1.42pm: Hats off to both the managers who are clearly putting great stock in this game, despite their lowly league positions. [LNB]1.37pm: No Demba Ba? [LNB]1.35pm: Here's the team news ahead of the clash between Stoke and West Ham: Tony Pulis has made four changes for the FA Cup quarter-final visit of West Ham.[LNB]He has maintained his policy of playing goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen in the cup instead of Asmir Begovic, with Matt Etherington back in the starting line-up against his former side.[LNB]Stoke v West Ham - teamsStoke: Sorensen, Wilson, Shawcross, Huth, Higginbotham, Pennant, Delap, Whelan, Etherington, Walters, Jones. Subs: Nash, Collins, Fuller, Pugh, Diao, Whitehead, Wilkinson.West Ham: Green, da Costa, Tomkins, Upson, Bridge, Noble, Parker, Hitzlsperger, Piquionne, Cole, Obinna. Subs: Boffin, Gabbidon, Boa Morte, Spector, Hines, Keane, Jacobsen.Referee: Mike Jones[LNB]There is also a recall for Danny Higginbotham and Kenwyne Jones.[LNB]Hammers boss Avram Grant has made just one change from the team which won 3-0 at Upton Park last weekend, with Victor Obinna replacing the absent Demba Ba.[LNB]1.30pm: Afternoon everyone and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of the FA Cup sixth round clashes between Stoke and West Ham, Manchester City and Reading. [LNB]So far Bolton and Manchester United have made it through to the semi-finals following victories on Saturday - and the four sides involved today would love to join them in the Wembley showdowns next month. [LNB][LNB]First up were off to the Potteries as Stoke host three-times winners West Ham United where the hiosts will be hoping to make it into the fourth semi-final in the club's history. [LNB]But they face an in-form Hammers team who were comfortable 3-0 winners in the recent league clash at Upton Park.[LNB][LNB]Team news as soon as I get it and you can ping your thoughts on the day's action in this direction: tom.bellwood@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] Cole's goal: The Hammers were comfortable 3-0 winners over Stoke during the recent league clash [LNB] Leicester boss Eriksson: I wish I'd joined Manchester City two years later...Pulis expects his side to come under the Hammer but Stoke boss eyes WembleyAll the latest Manchester City news, features and opinionAll the latest Stoke news, features and opinionAll the latest West Ham news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Tony Pulis, Danny Higginbotham, Thomas Sorensen, Bobby Moore, Matthew Etherington, John Walters, Wayne Bridge, James Tomkins, Carlton Cole, Robert Huth, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Ryan Shawcross, Robbie Keane, Dean Whitehead, Fabio Capello, Hope Powell, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Carlos Tevez, Roberto Mancini, Robbie Savage, Sam Allardyce, Joleon Lescott, Vincent Kompany, Ian Harte, David Silva, Patrick Vieira, Mario Balotelli, Gareth Barry Places: London, Manchester, Liverpool, Europe
