Birmingham 2 (Taylor 47, Larsson 90)
Reading 3 (Kitson 3, Lita 41, 79)

The Royals progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a good 3-2 win against Birmingham at St Andrew's this afternoon.

Dave Kitson scored his first goal since the opening day of the season after just three minutes, then Leroy Lita doubled the advantage before half time.

Martin Taylor gave the Blues some hope with a goal just after the restart, but Lita notched his second from Simon Cox's neat touch on 79.

Sebastian Larsson placed home a very good free kick with practically the last kick of the game, but Reading progressed to the next round.

The Royals were grateful to Adam Federici for some good saves, while Sam Sodje produced a couple of brilliant interceptions and Andre Bikey was also assured at centre back in a solid all-round team display.

The draw for the fifth round takes place at 1:30pm on Monday.

Birmingham (4-4-2): Maik Taylor; N'Gotty (Danns 78), Sadler, Martin Taylor, Upson; Johnson (c), Muamba (Kilkenny 78), Larsson, McSheffrey; Campbell (Bendtner 67), Jerome
Subs: Doyle, Nafti
Booked: Upson

Reading (4-4-2): Federici; Murty (c), De La Cruz, Bikey, Sodje; Harper (Osano 90), Oster, Seol, Convey, Kitson (Cox 75), Lita
Subs: Hahnemann, Ingimarsson, Hunt
Booked: Bikey, Cox, Federici, Kitson

Ref: P Dowd

Attendance: 20,041


Full report
The Royals made a brilliant start when the returning Dave Kitson scored in only the third minute. Seol burst down the right, and the ball only just stayed in play on a very heavy pitch.

The Korean cut back to the edge of the six yard box, and Kitson took a touch with his right, turned and smacked home with his left foot.

City almost got back on level terms straight away, but DJ Campbell stabbed wide from a very good position as Adam Federici was out quickly to make it hard for the striker.

Our Australian kepper pulled off a great save moments later to deny Cameron Jerome, making himself big as the frontman headed goalward. It was a 'star jump' save, reminiscent of Peter Schmeichel in his pomp.

Then Sam Sodje pulled off two superb tackles, firstly to deny Campbell when clean on goal, then denying Gary McSheffrey as he advanced dangerously.

Reading had been fairly comfortable, and added to their lead not long before the break. The goal was very similar to our first, but was created down the left flank instead.

Bobby Convey did very well to turn his man, and found Leroy Lita with a low cross that he controlled and stabbed home on the turn.


Second half
The Blues were given a lifeline just two minutes after the restart, although there were loud cries for offside from the Reading defenders.

A loose ball was fired back into the box by Fabrice Muamba, and with a number of players looking offside, the ball found its way to Martin Taylor, who lashed home a very good finish from 15 yards.

City were given a head of steam, and only a superb block from Graeme Murty prevented Campbell from a tap in.

Reading soon asserted themselves again though as the game became more even, and Convey went on a couple of great runs but couldn't quite get a shot off.

Convey's free kick from the edge of the box gave Lita a sight of goal with a header, but he steered it off target.

With 11 minutes left Reading made the game safe thanks to a good team goal. Seol found sub Simon Cox on the edge of the area, and he played in Lita with a lovely touch. The striker blasted home past Maik Taylor for his second of the afternoon.

Jerome headed goalwards in the dying stages but it was well saved by Federici, then McSheffrey stabbed a good chance wide.

Sebastian Larsson turned home an injury time free kick to make it 3-2, but Reading progressed to the fifth round for the first time since 1998.