By Aydan
January 29 2006

David Dunn comes off the bench to salvage a replay for Blues in the FA Cup Fourth Round. Dunn struck midway through the second half to earn a 1-1 draw at Championship leaders Reading and put Blues in Mondays draw for the Fifth Round.

Birmingham travelled to the Madejski Stadium without three first choice central defenders as Kenny Cunningham and Martin Taylor were injured while Matty Upson served a one match suspension. In came Olivier Tebily and Alex Bruce with Mario Melchiot taking the vacant captaincy.

Reading made a bright start to the game but Blues managed to create the first chances with Chris Sutton and Muzzy Izzet both going close. But it was Reading who took the lead on 31 minutes when young striker Shane Long collected a ball from James Harper before striking it low to Maik Taylor's left giving Reading a one goal advantage going into the half time break.

Birmingham came out for the second half and continued to disappoint forcing Steve Bruce into making a rare triple substitution. David Dunn, Mikael Forssell and Neil Kilkenny came on to replace Emile Heskey, Jiri Jarosik and Muzzy Izzet just before the hour mark. And the substition almost paid off immediately when Dunn controlled Jermaine Pennant's cross and hit a volley just over the bar.

A David Dunn header then forced Reading keeper Graham Stack into making a save just a minute later. Fortunately for Blues it was third time lucky for Dunn on 67 minutes.

Mario Melchiot sent a long throw towards the impressive Chris Sutton who flicked the ball into the path of Dunn, who this time made no mistake in beating Stack from six yards out. This was the midfielder’s second goal in as many games.

Birmingham could have snatched it towards the end had it not been for keeper Graham Stack. Stack first made a good save to deny Mario Melchiot before tipping a Jermaine Pennant free kick over the bar.

But overall Blues fans will be happy tonight with a draw against the Championship's leaders. A home replay against Reading will add yet another game to blues already congested fixture list but at least it puts Steve Bruce's men into the draw for the Fifth Round on Monday.