Published: Tuesday, 26th January, 2010 5:00pm

LIVE - Sheffield United v Reading

by Sportsdesk

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FULL TIME. Sheffield United 3 Reading 0.

For all those fans used to seeing Reading win at Bramall Lane, the scoreline is not a misprint.

Their six game unbeaten run at the home of Sheffield United comes to a shuddering end with a heavy and painful defeat that plunges them deeper into trouble near the bottom of the table.

It also means that, despite the superb FA Cup run, caretaker boss Brian McDermott has not won in five league games with two draws and now three defeats.

But in truth Royals only have themselves to blame for this latest setback having squandered a glut of opportunities.

United led 2-0 at the interval through a Jonthan Fortune volley and Richard Cresswell header.

But McDermott's side could easily have got on the scoresheet after Gylfi Sigurdsson saw his penalty saved by Mark Bunn.

The impressive Blades keeper also made crucial saves from Ivar Ingimarsson and Jobi McAnuff and was excellent on the night.

The visitors could not find a way back in the second-half and Jamie Ward's late header sealed all three points for Kevin Blackwell's hosts who completed the double over Reading this season.

85 mins. Mark Yeates replaces Jamie Ward for United.

This is a painful lesson for the Royals that you have to take your chances to win games in this division.

80 mins. GOAL. Sheff Utd 3 Reading 0.

And it's all over now as the Balades score a simple third by taking advantage of some schoolboy defending.

Brian Howard's frustrations got the better of him and he picks up a yellow for clattering into Walker.

The free-kick was whipped in by Quinn and no-one picked up JAMIE WARD'S run allowing the winger to head in at the back post.

Chris Morgan tried claimed he got the final touch but as it stands it is down as Ward's goal.

74 mins. Reading make their final change as Jimmy Kebe replaces Jem Karacan.

It's the last throw of the dice now for McDermott.

They need something quickly or this game is finished.

66 mins. Ched Evans fires over from just outside the area.

Reading are throwing men forward here but it's not going for them tonight.

63 mins. Reading make a second change and Rasiak is on for Thorvaldsson.

60 mins. Brian Howard looks like he's intent on spoiling his old club's night.

He's been excellent since he came on and is driving Royals forward.

he was unhappy at being left out of the starting line-up and he's determined to prove something to Royals' coaching staff.

Now James Harper has been booked for the hosts.

55 mins. Guess what? Royals have wasted another great chance to score.

Sigurdsson nicked the ball off Jamie Ward and Brian Howard slid a lovely pass through to Shane Long.

The striker sped away from his marker but he hit his shot straight at Mark Bunn with only the Blades keeper to beat.

You just can't keep missing chances like that and expect to get something out of the game.

54 mins. Karacan skied one into the crowd but he was miles out and never going to score.

Still, it may only take one chance to get back into the game - and Royals must make sure they take it.

Blades' defence has looked anything but convincinig tonight.

United skipper Chris Morgan has now been booked.

50 mins. The Blades have started the stronger side again.

They went close to scoring again but were guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net instead of having a shot.

Sheffield's Nick Montgomery has been booked.

46 mins. And both clubs make a change for the second-half.

Former Blades midfielder Brian Howard comes on to face his former club in place of Kalifa Cisse.

Jordan Stewart replaces Andy Taylor for Sheffield.

HALF TIME. Sheff Utd 2 Reading 0.

Royals have left themselves a mountain to climb here.

A Jonathan Fortune volley and Richard Cresswell header gave United a comfortable lead but Reading will be kicking themselves for not scoring at least once themselves.

Gylfi Sigurddson had a penalty saved by Mark Bunn and the Blades stopper made at least three other excellent stops to keep Royals at bay.

But if you are going to succeed in the Championship you have to take you chances - and sadly Reading haven't.

42 mins. GOAL. Sheff Utd 2 Reading 0.

And Reading have been made to regret those squandered opportunities as the Blades double their lead.

Kyle Walker burst down the right and smashed a low shot that Adam Federici did well to save.

But the ball bounced up nicely off the turf giving RICHARD CRESSWELL the simplest of headers into an empty net.

Now McDermott really does need the half-time team-tale of his life.

40 mins. MISSED PENALTY.

Gylfi Sigurdsson, who scored from the spot at Anfield, has missed a penalty.

Chris Morgan brought down Shane Long in the box and referee Phil Crossley pointed to the spot.

But this time Sigurdsson's nerves got the better of his and his weak effort was comfortably saved by Mark Bunn down low to his left.

Reading may live to regret these missed chances.

38 mins. Fortune steps in with a brilliant header to clear Ingimarsson's header from almost off the line.

Reading pushing for an equaliser here.

32 mins. And another good chance goes begging for the Royals.

Gylfi Sigurdsson put Thorvaldsson away and, with McAnuff in space, he elected to shoot only for Chris Morgan to slide in with a tremedous smothering tackle.

Still, another wasted opportunity.

Andy Griffin has also been booked for Reading.

28 mins. Reading have just missed two excellent chances.

First, Ryan Bertrand floated in a lovely free-kick and Ivar Ingimarsson's well-directed corner looked like going in until Mark Bunn somehow clawed it away for a corner.

Then from McAnuff's flag-kick, Thorvaldsson headed over when he really should have scored.

Still, much more like it from the visitors.

24 mins. There's been a lull in play with little quality coming from either side.

Reading just aren't passing it well enough.

15 mins. Reading threatened an equaliser there, Jobi McAnuff's rasping angled drive forcing a decent stop out of Mark Bunn.

12 mins. GOAL. Sheff Utd 1 Reading 0.

And Royals fall behind here to a JONATHAN FORTUNE goal.

Firstly, Adam Federici made a great save to deny Jamie Ward.

But the visitors failed to clear the resulting corner and the ball was whipped back into the box where Fortune controlled it on his thigh before volleying past Federici.

8 mins. Richard Cresswell has nodded over when it looked easier to score from Stephen Quinn's pin-point cross.

Harper was also involved in the move and he looks up for this tonight.

5 mins. First chance for Reading when Shane Long races onto a long ball and dinks the ball over Blades keeper Mark Bunn.

But the ball rolls wide and referee Phil Crossley rejects Long's hopeful penalty appeal.

United's Ched Evans also had a shot blocked by Matt Mills.

1 min. Sheffield United make their intentions clear in the first minute, Nick Montgomery's free-kick strikinig the wall and defecting wide.

7.45pm. James Harer is saying a quiet prayer to himself on the pitch.

Is he hoping for three point for United? Or for Royals to get the win they deserparely need? Or even both?

But there's no doubt this must be the stangest of nights for the midfielder.

7.40pm. And some big breaking news from the Championship with Crystal Palace set to be docked 10 points after going into administration.

That would leave them with 27 points before tonight's fixtures and drag them into a relegation battle along with Reading.

7.30pm. Okay, so here are a few facts to warm, you up.

Well, to warm me up really because it's a cold one in the Steel City tonight.

History is certainly on Royals' side as they are unbeaten on their last six visits to Bramall Lane.

That includes a 2-0 win here last season thanks to goals from Kalifa Cisse and Kevin Doyle.

But few would back them to repeat that feat now given their form this season.

Interestingly, only two players survive from that last visit in November 2008 and they are Ivar Ingimarsson and kalifa Cisse.

That goes to show the monumental changes that have taken place in the past year or so.

And the Blades must fancy their chances tonight having already beaten Reading 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium back in August with goals from Jamie Ward, Stephen Quinn and David Cotterill.

7.30pm. The teams are in and Reading make three changes - and two of them are up front.

Caretaker boss Brian McDermott goes with Gunnar Thorvaldsson and Anfield hero Shane Long in attack, with Grzegorz Rasiak and Simon Church on the bench.

The other change sees Kalifa Cisse come in for Brynjar Gunnarsson, presumably due to an injury.

Otherwise, it's an unchanged starting XI from Saturday's FA Cup victory over Premier League Burnley, with new loan signing Zurab Khizanishvili on the bench.

Sheffield United include Royals loanee James Harper in midfield with ex-Reading striker Darius Henderson on the bench.

But former Royals favourite Glen Little has not even made the squad and is parading around in a suit.

Reading: Federici - Griffin, Ingimarsson, Pearce, Bertrand - McAnuff, Karacan, Cisse, Sigurdsson - Thorvaldsson, Long. Subs: Kebe, Church, Rasiak, Pearce, Howard, Khizanishvili, Hamer.

Sheff Utd: Bunn - Walker, Morgan, Fortune, Taylor - Ward, Harper, Quinn, Montgomery - Cresswell, Evans. Subs: Henderson, Yeates, Williamson, Bennett, Stewart, Geary, Camara.

The referee is Phil Crossley from Kent.

Good evening and welcome to Sheffield United.

Royals have been on a superb run in the FA Cup, knocking out Liverpool and Burnley.

But they remain in deep trouble in the league and not even a win tonight will lift them out of the relegation zone because they are four points adrift of Scunthorpe United above them.

In fact, Reading have not won in the Championship since they beat the Blades' Steel City rivals Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 at Hillsborough on December 5.

And caretaker boss Brian McDermott is still searching for his maiden victory in the league as he prepares for his fifth game in charge.

Some interesting sub-plots tonight could include a possible debut for Royals' new loan signing Zurab Khizanishvili.

And Reading midfielder James Harper is likely to play for the Blades having joined them on loan for the season.

Kevin Blackwell's hosts are still well in the promotion race in seventh place, just three points off fourth.

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