Manchester City vs Reading Half-Time Update

The City of Manchester Stadium is subdued and reserved in this FA Cup Quarter-Final, where Manchester City are being held 0-0 by a dogged Reading side.

With the Semi-Final draw before kick-off pitting the winners of this tie against Manchester United, both sides have every reason to push on and try and capitalise from the start. Reading, who have netted nine times in the last three wins, have been more than willing to try to out-run and out-battle a fatigued City squad.

The Citizens, who have won four of their last five and are undefeated at home since losing to Everton before Christmas, needed to be alert from the get go – winger Jobi McAnuff swung in a fierce daisy-cutting ball on six minutes that centre-back Joleon Lescott was forced to deflect behind.

A McAnuff cross ten minutes later created another chance, this time for Noel Hunt, however he couldn’t direct his header, and the ball went harmlessly over.

City’s best effort fell to Wright-Phillips after 19 minutes, his overlapping run met a Carlos Tevez pass; his shot saved well by Alex McCarthy, as was the follow up attempt by David Silva.

Frustration started to creep in to City’s attacking options towards the end of the half, highlighted by Toure’s adventurous 35 yard drive at goal, which ended up high into the stands. David Silva then had an effort of his own that was nowhere near the target.

Reading will want to keep the pressure on City for the second 45 minutes, as they attempt to record a third successive away win. Jimmy Kebe’s pace at times has had City on the back foot, but the Royals must be weary of the trickery and creativity of David Silva especially.

Roberto Mancini’s City team news beforehand announced starting places for Tevez, Wright-Phillips and de Jong, meaning Zabaleta, Balotelli and Dzeko sit out. Patrick Vieira starts in place of Gareth Barry in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Captain Matt Mills is the biggest loss for Reading, a groin injury keeping the defender out. The Royals are also without their first-choice keeper, alongside a makeshift back four, but their 4-4-2 formation does include veteran left-back Ian Harte, who scored an incredible 18 goals last season.

Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Vieira, Yaya Toure, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Silva

Substitutes: Taylor, Dzeko, Barry, Jo, Boyata, Balotelli, Razak

Reading: McCarthy, Tabb, Gunnarsson, Khizanishvili, Harte, Kebe, Karacan, Leigertwood, McAnuff, Long, Hunt

Substitutes: Andersen, Griffin, Antonio, Church, Robson-Kanu, Howard, Taylor