Goals from Kelvin Abrefa and Shane Long were enough to beat a below-par Watford side and earn Reading a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Abrefa opened the scoring when his looping cross was poorly defended and found its way over goalkeeper Maduka Okoye just before half-time.
Striker Long settled the tie for Paul Ince’s side late on with a well-placed low strike from just inside the box.
It was Reading’s first win in any cup competition since 2020.
Watford, who made 15 changes to their squad because of injuries and other absences, improved in the second half but were unable to create enough quality chances in a one-sided game.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 21Bouzanis
- 27MbengueBooked at 69mins
- 6Dann
- 24Sarr
- 30Abrefa
- 5McIntyre
- 4HutchinsonBooked at 13minsSubstituted forLoumat 45′minutes
- 12BabaSubstituted forGuinness-Walkerat 86′minutes
- 15AzeezSubstituted forCarrollat 70′minutes
- 7Long
- 9Lucas JoãoSubstituted forCraigat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Lumley
- 2Carroll
- 18Guinness-Walker
- 22Loum
- 32Abbey
- 34Holzman
- 36Craig
- 40Scott
- 46Senga-Ngoyi
Watford
Formation 3-4-3
- 35Okoye
- 32Pollock
- 5Troost-Ekong
- 31Sierralta
- 3M GasparSubstituted forAndrewsat 45′minutes
- 18Asprilla
- 11Koné
- 42MorrisBooked at 59mins
- 36HungboSubstituted forAdemeyoat 75′minutes
- 49Adu-PokuBooked at 86mins
- 50BlakeSubstituted forBacunaat 45′minutesSubstituted forGrievesat 54′minutes
Substitutes
- 25Bacuna
- 26Hamer
- 51Amass
- 53Grieves
- 54Ademeyo
- 57Andrews
- 58Hunter
Live Text
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Match ends, Reading 2, Watford 0.
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Second Half ends, Reading 2, Watford 0.
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Goal! Reading 2, Watford 0. Shane Long (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tom McIntyre.
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Dean Bouzanis (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. James Morris (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Foul by Shane Long (Reading).
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Ismaël Koné (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Corner, Watford. Conceded by Kelvin Abrefa.
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Shane Long (Reading) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Ryan Andrews (Watford).
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Substitution, Reading. Nesta Guinness-Walker replaces Abdul Rahman Baba.
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Michael Adu-Poku (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Amadou Salif Mbengue (Reading) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Michael Adu-Poku (Watford).
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Andy Carroll (Reading) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by William Troost-Ekong (Watford).
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Tom McIntyre (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Michael Adu-Poku (Watford).
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Attempt blocked. Yáser Asprilla (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
