FULL TIME - A brave performance from Reading but no reward as they suffer a fifth straight Premier League loss.

93 mins - Acrobatic attempt at a volley from Van Persie flies over the bar.

89 mins - Minimum of five minutes to be added on.

87 mins - Morrison on for Kelly, interesting change for the final few minutes.

83 mins - Now Rooney smashes over from the edge of the box, United on top. Kagawa on for Anderson.

82 mins - Nearly a second from United after neat link-up play between Van Persie and Giggs ends with the Welshman forcing a save from Taylor.

80 mins - Blackman lofts a high ball into the box and McCleary wins it at the back post but United clear their lines eventually.

77 mins - Time running out for Royals, but they are still in it at 1-0 down, just need a chance.

73 mins - Change for United, Young off and Carrick on.

70 mins - Break in play as Young and McCleary collide in a sliding tackle. The Reading winger looks to have come off worse but they both look alright to continue.

69 mins - Le Fondre and Blackman on in place of Hunt and Robson-Kanu, 20 minutes for them to make a difference. Looks like Blackman is going to play up front with Le Fondre just behind.

67 mins - Tensions rising as the referee stops play when Rooney goes down in the box and then gets up. Karacan is then clearly fouled by Young but no whistle, very odd decisions.

65 mins - Great tackle by Mariappa to prevent Van Persie shooting and McCleary then does brilliantly to chase down a long ball from a corner and win a throw. Plenty of energy about Reading this evening.

63 mins - Taylor gets down well to keep out Van Persie's free-kick. Still nothing much in the game.

61 mins - Free-kick to United in a dangerous position as Rooney goes down very easily under a challenge from Karacan.

60 mins - Karacan back on, seems to be alright. Welbeck sees a deflected shot fly behind.

57 mins - Excellent sliding tackle in the box from Karacan to block a shot from Buttner, but the midfielder is hobbling off the pitch after the challenge.

55 mins - Kelly is booked for diving in on Young and not winning the ball.

54 mins - The only worry for Reading at the moment is that United look below their best and could find another few gears, if they do then they could grab a couple more goals. The visitors have to keep the pressure up.

51 mins - Very bright start to the half from Reading, they are hounding the hosts and winning every loose ball.

49 mins - Replays show that was a blatant foul on Mariappa by Vidic, how did the referee not see that? Now Buttner clatters into Robson-Kanu and the visitors do get a foul.

47 mins - Huge cries for a penalty as Mariappa is pushed to the ground by Vidic from a corner, but referee says no. That looked a clear foul from the United man.

Teams are back out, the rain has not stopped falling so the pitch is looking quite cut up, which could impact the play. No changes, Reading need a goal to go with their positive play and they get us underway.

HALF TIME - Reading trail 1-0 to that fortuitous strike from Rooney but they have otherwise performed well, just need a goal in the second half now.

45 mins - Minimum of one minute to be added on.

41 mins - Hunt is the first name into the book for a rash tackle on Smalling. The rain is falling very heavily now, players will surely be glad to get into the dressing rooms in a few minutes.

39 mins - Foul from Rooney on McCleary in midfield.

36 mins - Just 10 minutes to until the break, rain still hammering down but Reading are playing very positively. Nearly another chance as McCleary is played through by a neat ball from Karacan but the winger's cross is overhit.

31 mins - Robson-Kanu curls a shot millimetres wide of the post, so close to nestling in the top corner with De Gea beaten. Reading still holding their own.

28 mins - Rain falling heavily at Old Trafford now, chances still few and far between.

25 mins - Welbeck bursts through the middle and shoots wide, United on top.

24 mins - Can Reading get back into this game now? At 1-0 they have a chance but they have to remain tight and positive.

21 mins - GOOAAL! United lead, but there is a huge slice of luck about the goal. Moments after Taylor does well to head clear under pressure, United come again through Ferdinand. He passes to Rooney and his shot takes a massive deflection off Pearce, looping the ball over the helpless goalkeeper. Very harsh on Reading.

17 mins - United started to get into their rhythm now as a neat passage of passing ends with Welbeck hitting a half volley well over the bar.

14 mins - First chance for United, Young curls a shot just wide of the post from a tight angle with Taylor beaten.

12 mins - United have offered very little in attack so far, Reading looking comfortable and positive too.

7 mins - Eamonn Dolan barking orders in the technical area, plenty of clapping at the moment as Reading have made a decent start.

5 mins - Leigertwood fouls Welbeck moments after Giggs escaped with a clear foul on McAnuff.

3 mins - Good move from Reading down the left as Leigertwood plays a ball over the top for Hunt. He lays it to Shorey and the visitors get a throw deep in the United half. Unfortunately it comes to nothing.

1 mins - A chorus of 'Brian McDermott's barmy army' belted out from the away fans. United on the attack but Young's cross is out for a goal kick.

Rather gladiatorial feel about the music as the teams come out, but it's a bit more upbeat now as the handshakes conclude. Eamonn Dolan makes his way down the touchline, his side will play with their own fans behind them in the first half. United get us underway...

Teams are in the tunnel, Reading in blue and white hoops with blue shorts and United in red tops and white shorts. A testing 90 minutes awaits the visitors.

GOOD afternoon and welcome to Old Trafford for live coverage of Reading FC's Premier League clash with champions-elect Manchester United.

What an end to Royals' most turbulent week of the season.

Four league defeats on the bounce prompted the surprise sacking of manager Brian McDermott on Monday along with assistant Nigel Gibbs.

Academy director Eamonn Dolan has taken over the reigns for probably the toughest away trip of the season.

United are 12 points clear at the top of the table and look almost certain to reclaim their title from rivals Manchester City.

They make eight changes from the side that drew with Chelsea in the FA Cup last weekend, with Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie both starting up front.

Reading make three changes from their 2-1 loss to Aston Villa last week.

Nicky Shorey starts at left-back ahead of Ian Harte, Jem Karacen gets the nod ahead of Hope Akpan in midfield and Noel Hunt is up front on his own as Adam Le Fondre is on the bench.

Alex McCarthy is back in the squad after recovering from injury.

Kick-off is 5.30pm.

Manchester United: De Gea; Smalling, Buttner, Ferdinand, Vidic (c); Anderson, Giggs, Young; Welbeck, Rooney, van Persie.

Subs: Lindegaard, Evans, Valencia, Carrick, Kagawa, Hernandez, Powell.

Reading: Taylor, Shorey, Kelly, Pearce, Mariappa, Karacan, Leigertwood, McAnuff, McCleary, Robson-Kanu, Hunt.

Subs: McCarthy, Gunter, Harte, Morrison, Akpan, Blackman, Le Fondre.