Sport

In-form Long cooly ends West Brom's cup interests

Reading 1 WBA 0: READING’S REPUBLIC of Ireland international striker Shane Long continued his marvellous recent form as Roberto…

Mon Jan 10 2011 - 00:00

Reading 1 WBA 0:READING'S REPUBLIC of Ireland international striker Shane Long continued his marvellous recent form as Roberto Di Matteo's love affair with the FA Cup took an unwanted turn. The former Chelsea midfielder twice scored in FA Cup wins at Wembley for the Blues but could not find the inspiration to prevent his West Brom side from slipping to a sixth straight defeat.

Long made it seven goals in six games with a cool finish before half-time while Albion substitute Jonas Olsson was booked twice within 15 minutes of coming on at the break to add to the Premier League side’s woes.

Albion are already shorn of suspended centre-half Gabriel Tamas and Di Matteo must surely be weighing up a move for more defenders this month after the deficiencies which were evident in defeat at Fulham on Tuesday shone through again.

Even a change of goalkeeper could not save Albion. Boaz Myhill was handed a rare start after Scott Carson’s costly blunder at Craven Cottage in midweek and was greeted with chants of “Albion’s number one” from the visiting supporters after a stunning early save to deny Noel Hunt.

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But the problems at the back were again ruthlessly exposed by the Championship side’s devastatingly simple strike four minutes before the break. Hunt won a flick-on and Long was able to cruise past stand-in centre-half Gianni Zuiverloon and steer beyond Myhill.

Zuiverloon has spent most of the season on loan at fellow Championship side Ipswich and while he is an able full-back looks lost in the middle, while Olsson’s cameo was disastrous.

Albion’s attacking play did at least threaten occasionally, with Ishmael Miller twice going close on his first start of the season and James Morrison hitting the top of the crossbar, but there can be no doubt that Reading deserved their win.

Boss Brian McDermott led his side to Cup wins over Liverpool and Burnley last season and comfortably added another top-flight scalp.

Long has been linked with a move to West Ham in the transfer window and excelled, his movement too sharp for the visitors all afternoon.