Analysis of Albion 2 Reading 3

Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo's love affair with the FA Cup is officially over.

For years they looked a match made in heaven. But last night brought an ugly, public break-up in a horror night at the Hawthorns. The fall-out from the messy separation could make the Ashley and Cheryl Cole split look positively amicable.

The head coach made his name in England as a cup hero, but last night the Italian suffered an evening from hell at the hands of his footballing 'mistress.'

The Baggies have played worse this season. But they have probably never felt worse.

It is tough to imagine how the night's events could have unfolded any more horridly for Di Matteo and his troops.

Psychologically it was the nightmare scenario as they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, conceding an equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time and a winner in extra-time to pass up the chance of the quarter-final derby day their supporters were desperate for.

Physically it was beastly, as they endured 120 minutes of bruising action for no reward.

Financially it was grim, as they cost the club an estimated £600,000 in commercial revenue from a clash with their West Midlands rivals.

Roman Bednar limped off injured to add to Di Matteo's woes while two of his defenders were left nursing battered egos, after awful errors that meant the hard work of their team counted for nothing.

As if the list of problems wasn't long enough, the evening concluded with ugly post-match scenes on the pitch that will inevitably leave the Baggies tainted by association, even though their players and officials appeared largely blameless.

It all added up to a gruesome night that the head coach and his squad will be desperate to forget with immediate effect.

Yet, if Di Matteo's post-match body language was any guide, it will take more than a few well-chosen words to wipe away the negative effects of such a debilitating occasion.

The Italian looked shattered when facing the media. Little wonder, given the inexcusable nature of the giveaway witnessed from his team.

Despite a performance that was no better than average, Albion had all-but sewn up their place in the last eight as the clock ticked through the third minute of added time.

Then a howler from Gianni Zuiverloon – his second such error in the tie – handed Brian Howard an unlikely equaliser for the Royals.

The gifts just kept coming, as Abdoulaye Meite presented the Royals with the chance of a winner that was taken with relish by Gylfi Sigurdsson, whose wonderful strike ensured the Albion centre-back was punished to the full for his sloppiness.

Robert Koren had looked set to celebrate the best day of his troubled season, after scoring the two goals that seemed certain to set up the mouth-watering Villa clash. Instead, the Slovenia captain was left slumped on the turf in disbelief at the 120-minute mark.

That empty feeling came a full two hours after the high-point of Koren's night, blasting Albion ahead with just six minutes on the clock.

Bednar and Meite had already gone close, as the hosts made a flying start to the game which was cemented by Koren's early strike.

Bednar's shot from the edge of the area was saved by goalkeeper Adam Federici but Luke Moore pounced on the rebound, his cross deflected off Federici and was cleared off the line by Ryan Bertrand, only for Koren to rifle in the rebound.

But that was as good as the evening got for Albion, who never managed to rediscover the tempo that offered such promise in those early exchanges.

Reading were level with three minutes of Koren's strike, Meite setting the tone for a clumsy night after being beaten far too easily by Simon Church to create the opening. Church's cross from the left was turned goalwards by Sigurdsson and, although Carson parried the initial effort, Jimmy Kebe was on hand to turn in the rebound.

It was much less dramatic than his nine-second strike in the original match. But nine minutes remained far too fast for the Baggies' liking.

Matt Mills headed wide wastefully for Reading and Bednar missed a fine chance for the hosts, as the first-half petered out.

But the second period began dramatically as Koren struck again with a major helping hand from Federici, who let the midfielder's left-footed shot from 25 yards squirm through his legs and into the net after a Zuiverloon throw-in.

Sigurdsson rattled the crossbar with a fine shot from distance a minute later and Carson made a couple of smart blocks, but the Baggies looked home and dry.

That was until deep into stoppage time when a hopeful punt by Federici was missed hopelessly by Zuiverloon, Kebe nipped in and squared for Howard to beat Carson coolly to set up an extra half-hour.

The equaliser left Albion looking shattered in body and mind, so it was little surprise when the winner came just five minutes into the extra period.

But again it was a gift as a high ball was scuffed by Meite into the path of Church, although his pass to Sigurdsson left the Icelander with plenty to do.

His fantastic curling shot gave Carson no chance and it proved the decisive touch, with a deflect shot wide by Koren the closest Albion came to forcing penalties despite a concerted late effort.

The multiple post-match melees simply added to the bitter taste from an evening of anti-climax, as Reading players and stewards alike appeared to get too hot under the collar in what should have been a moment of jubilation.

But by the time those scenes were transpiring on the field, Di Matteo was already in the sanctuary of the dressing room pondering how to deal with the worrying vulnerabilities that have materialised in his side of late.

The Albion boss will consider his next move doubtless feeling betrayed by the competition he has always loved. Two games with the Royals have cost his side more than he could ever have imagined.

On the distant horizon, he will see a March 27 Championship trip to the Madejski Stadium that must already fill him with feelings of dread.

Because, after the last 11 days, if Di Matteo never saw Reading again it would be too soon.

By Steve Madeley