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READING FC’s hopes of causing an FA Cup shock were put to bed by Manchester United’s clinical second-half display which amended for a goalless opening 45 minutes.
After holding out throughout the first-half, which included a Marcus Rashford goal being disallowed for offside, the Red Devils turned on the style in the second-half.
The United win had a Brazilian flavour with a Casemiro double before Fred rounded off the scoring just after Andy Carroll had been sent off for two bookable offences.
The Royals gave the travelling support of 3,000 a goal to cheer when 21-year-old Amadou Mbengue netted a goal that will live long in his memory.
Up against his former club, Paul Ince named a strong starting eleven that included Lucas Joao and Andy Carroll up top.
With some world class talent at his disposal, Erik Ten Hag opted to go with a near to full strength line-up that saw in-form Marcus Rashford picked to start as well as Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.
The Royals have just one win in their history against Man United, which came in the FA Cup in 1927 and they would be hoping to create another piece of history under the lights at Old Trafford.
Getting used to their surroundings under the bright lights of Old Trafford, Reading had an early opening when Jeff Hendrick was tripped by Casemiro to win a free-kick, but Tom Ince’s effort was headed away by the wall.
United started to assert their dominance and won the first corner of the game when Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s fizzed cross was deflected behind.
The hosts then had a free-kick of their own in a promising position that Christian Eriksen bent just past the far post.
The Royals had plenty of defending to do as they were pinned back by the home team, but for the most part they stood up to the test thrown at them.
Rashford struck a free-kick with plenty of power but not enough direction as it was pushed away by Joe Lumley before Eriksen’s follow up was well blocked by Mamadou Loum.
Tom Holmes continued to lead from the back and put in plenty of outstanding blocks to keep United at bay where he thwarted both Wout Weghorst and Eriksen in quick succession.
There were plenty of shots raining down on Lumley’s goal, but Reading held firm to limit United mainly to shots from distance.
The Red Devils found a breakthrough in the 35th minute when Rashford sneaked in at the back post and his header squeezed over the line. Or so they thought. VAR came to the rescue for Reading with the goal chalked off due to Weghorst being found offside in the build-up.
Despite only having 20% possession throughout the first-half with limited chances, the Royals did create a huge opening in first-half added time.
Tyrell Malacia dwelled on the ball in the box which allowed Junior Hoilett to snatch possession and fire a shot that was stopped by David De Gea as the teams went in level at the break .
Loum was caught in possession at the start of second-half proceedings, but Fernandes couldn’t take advantage and smacked the ball into the Stretford End.
10 minutes after the restart, United had the ball in the net again and this time it stood.
Antony threaded a perfectly weighted pass to find the run of Casemiro who drifted into the box and dinked the ball over Lumley to put the Premier League side ahead.
United quickly added to their tally, again through Casemiro when the Brazilian’s 30 yard strike took a nick off the head of Holmes to find its way past Lumley into the corner.
Ince made his first switch with an hour gone which saw Tyrese Fornah take the place of Loum in the middle of the park.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors as they were reduced to 10 men for the final 25 minutes.
Carroll was given his marching orders when he slid in late on Casemiro having already been booked just five minutes prior.
United then put the tie beyond their Championship opposition when substitute Fred reacted quickest to convert from a cross.
Ten Hag’s team came inches away from finding a fourth to continue the rout as the ball was scrambled off the line with Weghorst searching to mark his home debut with a goal.
Reading gave their travelling support something to cheer when they found an unlikely goal when substitute Amadou Mbneuge was given a free header and nodded past De Gea to reduce the deficit.
Ince then made three more switches which included Dean Bouzanis coming on for goalkeeper Lumley, despite there not appearing to be an injury to force the substitution. Meanwhile, Shane Long and Michael Craig replaced Joao and Hendrick.
A huge chance came Reading’s way when Tom Ince tricked his way into the box and fed the ball to Fornah, but he delayed his shot and the opportunity went begging.
Reading can now turn their full attention to Championship football for the remainder of the camapign. They host Watford next Saturday.
Man United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire (c), Lindelof, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes, Antony, Weghorst
Subs: Heaton, Martinez, Varane, Williams, Fred, Mainoo, Pellistri, Elanga, Garnacho
Reading: Lumley, Hoilett, McIntyre, Yiadom (c), Holmes, Rahman, Loum, Hendrick, Ince, Joao, Carroll
Subs: Bouzanis, Guinness-Walker, Mbengue, Dann, Craig, Fornah, Azeez, Long, Meite
Goals: Casemiro 54’, 58’, Fred 66’, Mbengue 72’
