West Bromwich 1 Reading 1: Coppell secures unwanted reward

Deep down, maybe Steve Coppell envisaged Reading's FA Cup interest being over before today's fourth-round draw; a plucky performance, an odd-goal defeat perhaps and no one would be too upset when returning to the real business in hand.

Wigan Athletic fielded a shadow side when ousted 12 months ago and Sheffield United do not give the impression of being too cut up at elimination this time.

Coppell, by resting six regular members of a team making runaway progress towards promotion, made no secret of his priorities either. What he might not have bargained for was the paucity of his opponents' performance.

It can be argued that West Bromwich Albion's own four changes actually strengthened their line-up, with the impressive Chris Kirkland among the returning quartet, so there is no doubt which side exceeded expectations and which one flopped.

In a tie that was dire for home supporters and unspectacularly comfortable for the sell-out 2,800 away following, Reading more than deserved a replay their manager hardly wanted.

Chances were scarce and it looked all over a goalless draw until two converted penalties in the final nine minutes by substitutes - Zoltan Gera for Albion, then Kevin Doyle barely 90 seconds later.

The first decision, following Chris Makin's nudge on Geoff Horsfield, was considerably more borderline. The other was an utterly needless handball by Martin Albrechtsen.

There was also Nathan Ellington's appalling five-yard miss early on, when a combination of the slippery conditions and the striker's reluctance to use his weaker left foot left him suitably embarrassed.

But that should not diminish admiration of Reading's utterly competent and committed display. Try as he might, Coppell will not stop the football world using days like this as a yardstick for when, rather than if, his side are in next season's Premiership.

All winter, he has been refusing to look beyond the next game by talking about Destination Big Time, so he declined to use phrases like "dress rehearsal". "This game is in isolation," he said. "It means nothing in terms of whether we are capable of playing at this level or not." Where he will have been particularly encouraged was by the form of his fringe players as well as regular inspirations like Steve Sidwell and James Harper. Among them were Brynjar Gunnarsson at the back, Shane Long in attack in his full senior debut and, in midfield, Stephen Hunt, who played his first FA Cup tie after making 21 of his 23 Championship appearances to date as a substitute.

Hunt flew in the face of any worries over fixture congestion by saying refreshingly: "If we run out of steam, we run out of steam. We will all give our best and see how we get on.

"We are top of the table and the boys who have come in are pushing well. Hopefully, this showed they are ready if called upon." Reading, encouraged on the quiet by Wigan's stunning impact on the Premiership, look capable of making a decent fist of it up there, too.

Eighteen points clear of third spot, they have more chance of being in the top flight next season than 17th-placed Albion, whose defender Darren Moore sees similarities with Hawthorns promotion campaigns past.

"Because of the run they've had, momentum will run right through the club," he said. "They rested players but such is their confidence that they felt those they brought in wouldn't let them down."

Goals: Horsfield (pen, 81) 1-0; Doyle (pen, 83) 1-1.

West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): Kirkland; Albrechtsen, Davies, Moore, Robinson; Greening (Gera, 72), Wallwork, Inamoto (Horsfield, 53), Carter; Ellington (Campbell, 53), Kanu. Substitutes not used: Kuszczak (gk), Chaplow.

Reading (4-4-2): Stack; Makin, Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson, Shorey; Oster, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt (Little, 86); Kitson (Doyle, 69), Long (Lita, 59). Substitutes not used: Hahnemann (gk), Sonko.

Referee: M Messias (South Yorkshire).

Booked: Reading Makin, Kitson.

Man of the match: Harper (Reading).

Attendance: 19,197.