FA CUP MATCH FACTS: CARDIFF VS READING
Club News
23rd January
Cardiff City vs Reading - F.A. Cup Fourth Round
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Date: Saturday, 24th January 2015, 3:00pm
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Tickets for this match are still available. Please call 0845 345 1400 or buy tickets online now!
F.A. Cup action returns to Cardiff City Stadium this Saturday afternoon, as Russell Slade's Bluebirds host Steve Clarke's Reading. Cardiff City defeated Colchester United, 3-1, to reach Round Four while the Royals impressively overcame Huddersfield Town by a single-goal at the John Smith's Stadium.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Please note that Junction 33 of the M4 will be closed for road works on the day of this match. We would advise that you modify your travel plans accordingly.
MATCH FACTS
- Cardiff City defeated Reading, 3-0, in the semi-final of 1926/27. This was the most successful F.A. Cup season for both teams.
- Russell Slade has already tasted success over Reading this season, a 2-1 win in November
- Simon Cox is the current top scorer for the Royals with eight goals
- January signings for the Bluebirds, Alex Revell and Scott Malone are both eligible to play on Saturday
- Reading skipper Jem Karacan could make his second appearance of the season after a long term injury
- The Royals have won three times on the road in all competitions this term
- In contrast, Cardiff have a 60% win record at Cardiff City Stadium in 2014/15
KEY OPPOSITION PLAYER: Oliver Norwood
A late summer signing from Huddersfield Town, Norwood has been a rare consistent in the Reading setup during the current campaign. He has aided his side with six assists from midfield. The Royals fans will be delighted to see skipper Jem Karacan to return to full fitness after a long term injury, but even a stalwart like Karacan may have trouble splitting the midfield partnership built by Norwood and Daniel Williams in recent months.
ONE TO WATCH: Nathaniel Chalobah
Steve Clarke utilised his former Chelsea FC connections on Thursday to secure the signing of England U21 international Chalobah on loan until the end of the 2014/15 season. Nathaniel spent the first half of the season with Premier League new boys Burnley, but only made four appearances for Sean Dyche's side during that time. Despite his age, Chalobah has experienced Championship football with Watford, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough across the past three years. The 20-year-old is yet to make his Stamford Bridge debut, but is highly thought of throughout the footballing world as one for the future.
RECENT FORM (ALL COMPETITIONS)
Cardiff City: LDWWLL
Last time out: Middlesbrough 2-1 Cardiff City - Tuesday, 20th January 2015, Sky Bet Championship
Cardiff City produced a spirited performance on Teeside, but a late Kenwyne Jones header was not enough to prevent Middlesbrough collecting all three points. The Bluebirds looked comfortable for large parts of the game at the Riverside, a stadium where Boro had mustered a ten game unbeaten run and had already picked up 25 League points. After being the better side for large parts of the first half and starting the second half the brighter of the two teams, the Bluebirds were undone by Patrick Bamford who gave Boro the lead. With their tails up, the advantage was doubled by Lee Tomlin, the midfielder scoring his third goal in two games. Kenwyne Jones’ header gave City the chance of fighting for a point in the 85th minute, but Middlesbrough stayed resilient to record a 2-1 victory.
Cardiff City: Moore, Brayford, Morrison, Turner, Connolly, Adeyemi (Ralls), Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Noone (Macheda), Harris, Revell (Jones). Subs Not Used: Wilson, Fabio, John, Le Fondre.
Reading: LDWWDL
Last time out: Fulham 2-1 Reading – Saturday, 17th January 2015, Sky Bet Championship
Bryan Ruiz scored a dramatic winner in the third minute of injury time as Fulham beat Reading at Craven Cottage. Alex Kacaniklic put Fulham ahead, calmly scoring from the edge of the box following Scott Parker's drilled pass. Reading's Pavel Pogrebnyak headed in Oliver Norwood's corner to level, with only his second of the season. But it was Fulham who moved further away from the relegation zone when Ruiz headed home from close range.
Reading: Federici, Gunter, Pearce, Hector, Obita, McCleary, Williams, Norwood, Robson-Kanu, Cox (Blackman), Pogrebnyak (Mackie). Subs Not Used: Kelly, Guthrie, Karacan, Andersen, Cooper.
LAST COMPETITIVE MEETING
2014/15: Friday 21st November, Championship: Cardiff City 2-1 Reading
Cardiff City recorded a fifth-successive home victory under the Friday night lights as they saw off the visiting Reading 2-1. The Bluebirds broke the deadlock midway through the first half when Peter Whittingham’s fierce corner kick delivery was turned into his own net by Royals centre-back Alex Pearce.
It continued to be a nightmare evening for Pearce as, with half time looming, he hauled down his former teammate Adam Le Fondre for a City spot-kick. The challenge earned the defender a red card and saw the score-line doubled, as Whittingham dispatched the resultant penalty with consummate ease. The Royals set up a nervy finale when Michael Hector drove a low shot through Marshall with ten minutes remaining, but City held strong to secure all three points.
Cardiff City: Marshall, Connolly (Fábio), Turner, S Morrison, Brayford, Noone (Daehli), Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Pilkington, Le Fondre, Macheda (Jones). Subs Not Used: Manga, Adeyemi, R Morrison, Moore.
Reading: Federici, Kelly, Gunter, Pearce, Hector, Norwood, Williams (Taylor), Robson-Kanu (Blackman), Obita, Murray, Cox (McCleary). Subs Not Used: Andersen, Cummings, Cooper, Tshibola.
Tickets for this match are still available. Please call 0845 345 1400 or buy tickets online now!
