Always issues but will have strong squad, Sancho could play – Ten Hag
Manchester United hope to continue their strong cup form as they host Reading at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fourth round tonight. Erik ten Hag seems determined to put the Red Devils in the best possible position to win a trophy this season. United took a commanding lead in their Carabao Cup semi-final with a 3-0 first leg win against Nottingham Forest and will want to advance in the FA Cup by defeating Reading tonight.
Reading are currently 14th in the Championship and are managed by Paul Ince, who featured nearly 300 times for Manchester United shirt during his playing career. Ince won this competition twice while a Manchester United player and is nearing the end of his first 12 months in charge of the Royals and will be hopeful of causing a cup shock.
Reading could call upon a fit-again Andy Carroll as they attempt cause trouble for the hosts but Man Utd may be boosted by the return of Jadon Sancho. The England winger has not featured for the club since October but is back training with the first team and could get a run out against the Championship club.
Follow all the action from Old Trafford as Man Utd take on Reading in the FA Cup – updates will follow Preston vs Tottenham, with breaking team news included:
Man Utd 0-0 Reading
52 mins: Junior Hoilett has been down for a while and is receiving treatment from the Reading medical staff. This has been going on for a couple of minutes now and Erik ten Hag is visibly annoyed with how long it’s taken to get him sorted.
Reading then float a long free kick over to the Man Utd box where the ball is headed away. The ball drops to Andy Carroll who smokes a shit at goal and sees his effort blocked.
Michael Jones28 January 2023 21:10
Man Utd 0-0 Reading
49 mins: Chance! Aaron Wan-Bissaka presses high up the pitch and takes the ball off Andy Yiadom. He lays it across to Bruno Fernandes who drives a shot towards goal but the shot continues to rise and flies well over the crossbar.
Michael Jones28 January 2023 21:07
Man Utd 0-0 Reading
47 mins: Marcus Rashford goes on an early run as Harry Maguire lifts the ball over the top. The pass is decent but the ball skips on and Joe Lumley flies off his line to scoop it up.
Michael Jones28 January 2023 21:06
Second half: Man Utd 0-0 Reading
Reading get the ball rolling for the second half.
Manchester United will want to get themselves in front as soon as possible. They quality on their bench isn’t that strong so the longer the game goes without a goal the more it plays into Reading’s hands.
Michael Jones28 January 2023 21:04
HT Man Utd 0-0 Reading
Manchester United had 15 shots in the first half but only two on target. David De Gea in contrast had just four touches in the first 45 minutes but was forced into a vital save just before the break.
Michael Jones28 January 2023 21:01
Son Heung-min brace fires Tottenham past Preston and into FA Cup fifth round
Record-chasing Harry Kane was limited to a watching brief as Son Heung-min fired Tottenham into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 victory at Preston in a battle of the lilywhites.
Kane recovered from a midweek illness to take his place on the bench and was hoping for an opportunity to move clear of Jimmy Greaves’ all-time scoring record for the club, having matched his tally of 266 with the winner at Fulham on Monday.
But, although this was not always an easy night for Spurs against a side 26 places below them in the pyramid, the England captain was not needed as Son’s second-half double proved the difference at Deepdale before substitute Arnaut Danjuma marked his debut with a late third.
Michael Jones28 January 2023 20:55
HT Man Utd 0-0 Reading
Nothing to separate the teams at half-time. Will United get their goal in the second half?
Michael Jones28 January 2023 20:51
Half-time: Man Utd 0-0 Reading
45+2 mins: Chance! Tyrell Malacia takes some major liberties inside his own box trying to chest the ball under control. Junior Hoilett nicks it off him and pokes the ball towards goal only for David De Gea to leap across and smother the effort.
That’s the best chance Reading have had.
The whistle then goes for half-time and the teams head into the break on level terms.
Michael Jones28 January 2023 20:47
Man Utd 0-0 Reading
45 mins: Nearly! Christian Eriksen whips another cross into the box and the ball flies through to Antony. He brings the ball down and moves it onto his right foot before blazing his shot wide of the far post!
Michael Jones28 January 2023 20:45
Man Utd 0-0 Reading
42 mins: Penalty shout! Casemiro is given the ball inside the box and shifts the ball onto his right foot. Junior Hoilett comes in from behind and pokes the ball away but clips the midfielder who goes to ground.
VAR takes a quick look after the referee signals to play on and they decide that the contact isn’t enough to overturn the decision.
Michael Jones28 January 2023 20:41