McShane sparks a fightback to dream of Wembley return
DO NOT put this down to a weakened Premier League team failing to respect the FA Cup. West Bromwich Albion were near enough full-strength but soundly beaten by Reading, a wellorganised, committed side now one victory away from reaching Wembley for the second year running.
They went behind to Darren Fletcher’s excellent opening goal but rallied and won with something to spare after goals from Paul McShane, a finalist with Hull in 2014, Michael Hector and Lucas Piazon.
While Hector and Piazon are both loanees from Chelsea, to describe this victory as made in Chelsea would be stretching things. Piazon, a late substitute, has made three appearances for the Stamford Bridge club in four years.
Hector, 23, played a more vital part, operating in holding midfield rather than his usual central defensive position, and scored with 18 minutes left to put Reading ahead.
He signed for Jose Mourinho on last summer’s transfer deadline day for £4m, one of the more curious transfers in Premier League history.
Brought through at Reading, he went on loan to Havant & Waterlooville, Horsham and Cheltenham Town among many other backwater stints, and looked an odd acquisition for a side aiming for the Premier League title. He was instantly loaned back to Reading but showed glimpses against West Brom of being a capable player for his parent club.
‘He can play for Chelsea in that role, I have spoken to Chelsea about that. It is good news for him going forward,’ said manager Brian McDermott, who must take huge credit for his tactics.
‘You have to admire where he has come from, he has been on loan so many times. Every time we suggested it back in the day he said, “Yes I’ll go”.’
Defeat will sting for Pulis, who keeps the FA Cup in high regard having reached the final with Stoke in 2011 and was only denied another Wembley trip last season when beaten in the quarter-finals by Aston Villa.
Once again he picked a strong side, making only two changes to the team which won at Everton last weekend. McDermott also made two changes and clearly sent his side out with belief of an upset.
Seven minutes before the break, Oliver Norwood delivered a wicked cross into the box that found Hal Robson-Kanu in a sliver of space. He applied a glancing header that would have gone in but for Ben Foster’s superb reactions.
West Brom took the lead in the 51st minute through a well-crafted goal. Stephane Sessegnon found Rondon and he pulled a low cross back for Darren Fletcher. The West Brom captain took a touch to go past his man and drove his shot past Ali Al Habsi.
His celebration in front of the away fans was pretty meaty too. They had just been sarcastically cheering a sky-high effort from James McClean that would not have looked out of place in a rugby match here. ‘We’ve had a shot,’ they sang.
Reading did not take long to hit back and McDermott can take a credit for his substitutions. In the 59th minute he sent on Matej Vydra and Ola John as Norwood stood over a free-kick. Although neither featured in the equaliser, West Brom’s defence seemed not to know who to pick up.
Norwood’s delivery curled to the six-yard box and McShane escaped Jonny Evans to nod the ball past Foster.
Reading took the lead when Norwood’s free-kick was headed in by Hector and Piazon scored the third following good work by John.
Pulis said: ‘We have been very good this year defending set plays but we were poor. We scored the goal and just switched off. I have seen the two free-kick goals and it is people not doing their jobs. You can’t legislate for that.’