Reading mercifully make the first change of the match, replacing the awful Jobi McAnuff with Welsh international Hal Robson-Kanu. It's at the very least addition by subtraction - McAnuff was singlehandedly snuffing out all of the visitors' most promising moves in the middle of the pitch, generally passing the ball straight to Nigel de Jong or running into Yaya Toure rather than doing anything particularly useful. Manchester City will find the field far less open to them on the counterattack now.
Manchester City Vs. Reading, FA Cup: Hal Robson-Kanu Replaces Jobi McAnuff
Not surprisingly City have looked less dangerous since the substitution. While the home side has certainly generated a number of chances in the match, most of them have come from the wide players stretching the play on the break. They’re finding it very difficult to break down Reading once their defence has been set, despite something of a makeshift back line from the Championship side. Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli are warming up, which is a little bit ominous.
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