Reading vs Stevenage. The FA Cup Third Round.
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Tuesday 16 January 2018 22:22, UK
Striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson helped himself to a hat-trick as Sky Bet Championship strugglers Reading eased to a 3-0 victory over League Two side Stevenage in their FA Cup third-round replay.
The Iceland international scored a volley, a header and a second-half tap-in to earn a fourth-round tie at Sheffield Wednesday.
Though Stevenage impressed early on, they were thwarted by a series of good saves from home goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola.
Reading had failed to win in their previous eight matches, which included the goalless draw at Boro in the sides’ first meeting.
And after a steady opening, in which neither side showed any fluency, Stevenage thought that they had gone ahead in the 11th minute.
Joe Martin curled in a free-kick from the left and although Matt Godden’s header flashed past Jaakkola, it was ruled out for offside.
Godden should have done better shortly afterwards when left unmarked to meet a cross from Danny Newton but he nodded straight at Jaakkola.
Reading showed little going forward but, when they did manage to find space in the Stevenage area on a rare attack, Dave Edwards’ shot was blocked.
Jaakkola saved well once again to deny Stevenage defender Jack King before Reading went in front shortly after the half-hour mark.
Chris Gunter’s cross from the left took a looping deflection and Bodvarsson, alone at the far post, volleyed firmly past goalkeeper Tom King.
And just a minute before the break, the same combination clicked again.
Another left-wing cross from Gunter found Bodvarsson, who powered in a header past King via a post.
Reading changed to orange shirts after the break, their blue-and-white hoops having clashed with Stevenage’s predominantly white jerseys.
The visitors could have reduced the deficit when Godden chipped into the home area but Newton carelessly nodded wide.
Bodvarsson completed his treble in the 64th minute – doubling his tally of goals for the season – when jabbing in from close range from yet another Gunter cross.
Stevenage had no real response and Reading, in front of their lowest crowd of the season of 4,986, strolled through the closing stages.
