Reading 1-1 Walsall (1-4 Pens)

The Saddlers are through to Round 4 of the FA Cup after a thrilling 4-1 penalty shootout victory at the Madejski Stadium. A Zigor Aranalde OG on 32 minutes cancelled out Darren Wrack's 7th minute header. Walsall dominated the early stages before Readings equaliser.

The game had its costs, however, with Ian Roper being stretchered off, O'Connor and Sonner injured in the first half and Wrack and Junior picking up their 5th bookings of the season. But Aranalde, Zdrilic, Simpson and Bazeley kept their cool from the spot while Walker saved from Harper and Butler missed the target.

It was an interesting game to watch as neither side were able to exert a serious period of pressure on the other. No matter who was under pressure at any stage of the game you always felt like a breakaway and chance was possible at the other end. It was the Saddlers who saw the best of the opening encounters and when Hahnemann came charging off his line to deal with a ball on the right wing he hadn't bargained on losing it and it falling to Bazeley who could calmly whip a ball in to Wrack to head home in to an empty net guarded by a stranded Reading player. Shortly after the opening goal Aranalde nearly doubled the Walsall lead as he drilled his shot across the face of the penalty area and out wide.

10 minutes later it was another Walsall chance, this time from Leitao who received the ball on the edge of the penalty area, turned the defender to find some space and curled a right footed shot about a yard wide of the top right hand corner.

Lee had stuck with the same shape from the Wolves game with Jorge taking up Zdrilic's wide position with Wrack the other side of Junior down the center. For the opening 15 or 20 minutes the Saddlers looked really comfortable and the fluency in our game that has deserted us in recent weeks showed signs of coming back.

Reading began to create chances round about the half hour mark, as Forster saw a header saved by Jim Walker after a great ball in from Murty.

Reading are a side full of pace and energy, and their quick breaks earned them a countless number of free kicks in the Walsall half, and just after the half hour mark Bazeley gave a way a free kick on the right wing, about 5 yards away from the penalty area. Newman swung the ball in, and Aranalde sent the ball past Walker, who some may say had enough time to deal with what was an easy ball to deal with at first.

Danny Sonner was forced to leave the field injured with just 4 minutes of the half to play, and he was replaced by Fitzroy Simpson.

The final 5 minutes of the half were very eventful, Wrack had another header, but this time it was saved by the keeper, Martin Butler saw an effort blocked by Ian Roper, while Nicky Forster and Sammy Igoe had long range shots that failed to cause Jimmy Walker any bother.

The first half had been encouraging, The Saddlers were creating chances and getting men forward, Bazeley and Aranalde had more freedom than they did against Wolves, and it had eventually proved key with Bazeley supplying the goal.

Half Time: Reading 1-1 Walsall

Martin O'Connor was replaced by Steve Corica for the start of the second half, Wrack moved in to the middle to partner Simpson and Corica took up Wracks position on the right of the front 3.

If any side looked like winning the game in the second half it was certainly not the Saddlers. Jim Walker proved what a crucial player he is for us by saving a series of Reading efforts just 10 minutes after the restart.

With 20 minutes left to play both Corica and Forster sent efforts from the edge of the box in the arms of the keepers, and you just had that feeling that extra time might have been looming

When Forster and Butler both had close range chances with 15 minutes left Saddlers fans must have thought they were going to get home early, but in both cases Jimmy Walker made fantastic saves, especially from the Butler volley on the left hand side of the penalty area. Walsall's finest chance the half fell to Junior who hammered a hard shot straight in to the arms of the keeper after some great edge of the box movement from other players to create him the space.

As the clock ran down both sides continued their frantic efforts to get the ball in to the opposition boxes, but both sides failed and the game went in to extra time.

Full Time: Reading 1-1 Walsall

Extra time saw Zdrilic on for Junior, and Reading start  the stronger the of the two sides with Butler sending an effort way over the bar. Darren Wrack and Andy Hughes (twice) went close in the first period of extra time, which was one of the dullest passages of the game.

HT ET Reading 1-1- Walsall

Zigor Aranalde and Andy Hughes both started the second period off with long range efforts, but it was Harper for Reading who forced a save from the Walsall keeper as he got on the end of a Cureton corner and looked to have edged the Royals in front.

Walsall were beginning to threaten from set pieces, Danny Hay had connected with a Fitzroy Simpson corner just before David Zdrilic went the closest any Walsall had been to scoring, with a header which he saw flash wide of the left hand post.

With plenty of chances being created, and neither side able to score again the match went to penalties.

FT ET Reading 1-1- Walsall

Penalties: Aranalde (scored) Butler (missed) Zdrilic (scored) Cureton (scored) Simpson (scored) Harper (saved) Bazeley (scored)

Final Score - Reading 1-1 Walsall (Penalties 1-4)