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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: Madejski Stadium
  • Attendance: 24135
  • Referee: Bennett, S

Live Commentary

90 mins

United made slightly heavy weather of that win, missing chances in a second half they dominated

90 mins

Final whistle goes

90 mins

Ronaldo finally scores! Breakaway, no mistake this time

90 mins

United will kick themselves if they concede - they have had numerous chances to kill Reading off. Four minutes to be added

89 mins

Reading nearly equalise! Shorey finds James Harper, who cuts inside Vidic but fires just wide. Close

87 mins

United have numbers in attack from that Reading corner. Ronaldo shoots at Hahnemann. Should have scored!

86 mins

Nicky Shorey forces a corner off Wes Brown. Eventually breaks to Marek Matejovsky who loses out

85 mins

Michael Carrick is found by Nani but he screws his shot wide. He should have made sure of the points there

84 mins

Reading are trying to create some pressure but United look comfortable

83 mins

Shane Long comes on for Leroy Lita

82 mins

Ronaldo shoots over again. He hasn't quite found his range today

80 mins

Reading's first change. Marek Matejovsky is on for Bobby Convey

78 mins

United's pressure brings a goal!! Wayne Rooney expertly flicked in Tevez's pass with his back to goal

76 mins

A rare spell of possession for the home side but Stephen Hunt wastes it

74 mins

Corner for Reading as Lita and Kitson cause problems. Ferdinand heads clear

71 mins

Ronaldo stands over a free-kick 30 yards out. Fiercely struck, straight at the wall

70 mins

Attacking change for United; Nani replaces Owen Hargreaves. Giggs moves inside to partner Carrick

68 mins

Bobby Convey is also in the book for an altercation with the United defender

68 mins

Rio Ferdinand is booked

66 mins

Ronaldo is playing in a more advanced role and shoots wide when he should have tested Hahnemann

64 mins

United are well on top as Reading continue to play a high line. Kitson shoots straight at Van der Sar to remind the visitors that they are a threat

63 mins

A typical fast break from United ends with Rooney shooting inside the area. Deflected behind for a corner. Cleared again

61 mins

Rooney shoots again and Hahnemann fumbles, cleared by Cisse for a corner before Tevez can pounce. Headed clear

60 mins

Wayne Rooney shoots off-target from 30 yards. United are stepping up the pressure

58 mins

Good skill from Rio Ferdinand who finds Ronaldo 10 yards out. He shoots over and should have done better

56 mins

Indecision from Hahnemann nearly costs Reading but Wes Brown's cross beats everyone

55 mins

United are showing more urgency and have taken charge of possession

52 mins

United go straight up the other end and call Hahnemann into action again. The keeper bravely clears as Ronaldo threatens

51 mins

Harper and Convey combine to find Leroy Lita who should have done better but lets the ball run away from him

49 mins

Nearly a goal for United! Kalifa Cisse clears off the line after Hahnemann punched Giggs' corner into his own player

49 mins

United break and force a corner as Bobby Convey loses his bearings and clears behind

47 mins

Reading are starting the second half as they finished the first. Succession of throw-ins deep in United territory, but no chances created

45 mins

Reading start the second half. No home team changes

45 mins

Sir Alex Ferguson has introduced Ryan Giggs at half time. Ji-Sung Park makes way

45 mins

Reading gave as good as they got in that first half. More of the same will surely bring goals. Players are out

45 mins

An entertaining first half comes to an end

45 mins

Reading force another corner as one minute of added time is announced. Ivar Ingimarsson makes no contact with a diving header and the ball runs through the back post area

43 mins

Slight hold-up as Kitson is helped off. He is fit to carry on

40 mins

The pace has not let up at the Madejski as we approach half time

38 mins

Michael Carrick makes a surprise appearance in the Reading box but hits Kalifa Cisse with his shot. Cisse has been the star of Reading's rearguard so far

36 mins

Another corner for Reading, taken short but Nicky Shorey and Stephen Hunt can't create a shooting chance

34 mins

Excellent spell for Reading who force a couple of corners after Kitson nearly finds Lita with a header across goal. The Red Devils are relieved to clear

32 mins

Outrageous effort from Kitson, who lobs Van der Sar after a poor clearance by the United keeper. The ball would have reached the net but Rio Ferdinand intercepts

30 mins

The hosts are certainly using attack as the best form of defence, stretching the United back line with fast breaks in the United style

27 mins

United have a free kick on the edge of Reading's area, with Ronaldo used as a decoy. Owen Hargreaves takes it and brings a fine save from Hahnemann. Corner cleared by Dave Kitson

25 mins

Reading are improving and raid the United area. Van der Sar struggles to clear from under his bar and Kalifa Cisse has his shot deflected for a corner. Cleared easily.

22 mins

Kevin Doyle bursts into the United box but Van der Sar collects his deflected cross ahead of the lurking James Harper

20 mins

Tevez releases an offside Rooney who finds the net; an earlier pass would have brought a goal

18 mins

The visitors are starting to boss proceedings, enjoying two thirds of possession so far

16 mins

Wayne Rooney nearly latches onto a long kick from Van der Sar but he can't control it. A massive gap in the home defence there.

14 mins

Carlos Tevez forces a neat near post save from Marcus Hahnemann. Out for a corner - headed over by Nemanja Vidic. How long will this remain goalless?

12 mins

Another opening for Ronaldo, who bursts through the middle but fires over

10 mins

A high tempo beginning to this game. Both teams are giving it a go and United do not look as stable as usual at the back

9 mins

Reading's first threat comes from a goalmouth scramble; Dave Kitson has a shot blocked and Lita can't turn it home

7 mins

Ronaldo wriggles free down the right but his cross is cut out by Kalifa Cisse. The home side will need to get closer to the United star man.

5 mins

Ronaldo breaks and shoots just wide - he scored three times in two games against Reading last term

3 mins

Bright start by United - plenty of ball for their wide men

0 mins

Referee Steve Bennett gets the game underway

0 mins

Fabio Capello is back at the Madejski Stadium. He might see some goals: this clash pits the best attack against the joint worst defence

0 mins

The Royals held United 0-0 on the first day of the season and also drew in the corresponding fixture last season, 1-1. They have lost their last three in the League; United have won five of their last six

0 mins

United team: Van der Sar, Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Carrick, Park, Rooney, Tevez

0 mins

Reading team: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Cisse, Hunt, Harper, Convey, Lita, Doyle, Kitson

0 mins

Wes Brown, Ji Sung Park and Owen Hargreaves come in for John O'Shea, Ryan Giggs and Anderson

0 mins

Steve Coppell has made a tactical change, playing three up front. Leroy Lita gets a start alongside Kevin Doyle and Dave Kitson

Match Report

Reading return to Premier League action on Saturday with the visit of Manchester United to the Madejski Stadium.

Steve Coppell's side were involved in FA Cup action in midweek when they exited the competition at the third round stage following a 1-0 replay defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.

But rather than be daunted by the visit of the champions, the Royals can point to an impressive recent record against Sir Alex Ferguson's side as reason to be optimistic.

On the opening day of the season, Reading defied the odds to hold the Red Devils to a goalless draw at Old Trafford, while 1-1 league and FA Cup draws last season provide further evidence that the Berkshire club are capable of competing with the best.

However, this season - their second in the top-flight - has proved more problematic for Coppell, whose side are currently 13th in the league table.

The Royals are currently in the midst of a five-game winless run stretching back to December 22 and were soundly beaten 3-1 at Aston Villa last weekend.

Their problems haven't been helped by the absence to the Africa Cup of Nations of Andre Bikey, Emerse Fae and Ibrahima Sonko, while defensive linchpin Michael Duberry is still idelined with a knee injury.

Three clean sheets all season - with the last one coming against beleaguered Derby County in early October - also suggests defensive frailties which United will be keen to exploit.

United were 6-0 winners over a hapless Newcastle United side last weekend with free-scoring winger Cristiano Ronaldo netting his first hat-trick for the club.

The result put United back on top of the Premier League table on goal difference over Arsenal and left Sir Alex Ferguson purring with delight.

"The second-half display was marvellous, absolutely fantastic and could not be faulted," he enthused.

Following their surprise 2-1 defeat to West Ham last month, the champions have now won their last three games in all competitions and further good news has arrived with the injury situation at the club clearing.

Only Paul Scholes, Mikael Silvestre and Ben Foster remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Owen Hargreaves has shaken off the bug which forced him to miss last weekend's match.

However, injury-plagued striker Louis Saha is rumoured to be set for another spell on the treatment table with a fresh knee ligament problem which could force Ferguson into the January transfer window circus.

Reading

Manchester United

Corners

8 6

Fouls

11 8

Goal attempts

9 21

Shots off target

3 12

Offsides

2 4

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