United seem content to play the rest of this one out down the wings. Reading want a second, to really flatter to deceive, but they look unlikely to get it.
90'
There's going to be four added minutes at least in this one.
88'
A pair of corners offer a late chance for United to add further gloss but they find no way through for a fourth. The clutch of young stars who are enjoying their run-out now would surely love to find a big finish.
86'
Reading will depart with their tails between their legs after this one, of course, but for that first half, they managed to frustrate United with their resilience. They will need that back in the Championship.
82'
One surely in the mix will be Casemiro though. The impact the Brazilian has had since his arrival from Real Madrid has been terrific. United have still looked pacy since he departed the pitch, but their opponent is a Reading side with a man down.
80'
So, what can Erik ten Hag take from this? His side have another game on Wednesday, to settle their EFL Cup chances in the semi-final second leg. It will be interesting to see if he rests any major stars.
78'
T. Malacia gets yellow.
A Reading break down the right wing requires an industrial response from Malacia, who is duly booked for his troubles.
76'
S. Long enters the game and replaces Lucas João.
Long completes the raft of Reading changes as he takes the spot of Lucas Joao.
75'
D. Bouzanis enters the game and replaces J. Lumley.
M. Craig enters the game and replaces J. Hendrick.
In something of a surprise change, Reading replace their goalkeeper now and bring on Bouzanis for Lumley.
Reading also introduce Craig in place of Hendrick.
Minute
Description
73'
A. Elanga enters the game and replaces W. Weghorst.
K. Mainoo enters the game and replaces Casemiro.
The hosts also introduce Mainoo for Casemiro, with an ovation for the double goalscorer.
Despite that goal, United make more changes, with Elanga on for Weghorst.
72'
A. Mbengue has scored a goal for Reading! Assist by T. Ince.
Ince can't quite believe he's found his man there, unmarked. It is a serious lapse at the back for United, though questions could be asked if Maguire was held back in trying to get there in time.
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 3-1 READING! Oh, that is a poor one to concede for the hosts. The Royals have a surprise corner, and Ince skims it in where Mbengue nods home a free header.
70'
Garnacho should put a chance away too! The replacements are having a whale of a time at Old Trafford. There may be another goal in this one.
69'
A. Mbengue enters the game and replaces J. Hoilett.
Mbengue is on for Hoilett in Reading's latest change too.
68'
A. Garnacho enters the game and replaces M. Rashford.
F. Pellistri enters the game and replaces Bruno Fernandes.
With victory almost certainly secure now, United make the changes too, with Garnacho on for Rashford.
The hosts also bring on Pellistri for Fernandes.
66'
Fred has scored a goal for Manchester United! Assist by Bruno Fernandes.
That is terrific vision from Fernandes, who plays a training ground move to unlock Reading once again. United are loving this now.
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 3-0 READING! It's a party for the Brazilian contingent at Old Trafford, as Fred bags a goal of his own too. The hosts play a short corner, Fernandes lays it flat to the midfielder, and he flicks a back-heel in at the near-post. Sublime!
65'
A. Carroll gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
Things have gone from bad to worse for Reading now, as they drop to 10 men! Casemiro is cleaned out by Carroll and it is a second yellow for the forward, who heads straight down the tunnel. It is not the former England international's finest moment.
62'
T. Fornah enters the game and replaces M. Loum.
Fornah replaces Loum now for Reading's first change of the game. This might be beyond them now.
60'
A. Carroll gets yellow.
Carroll put a cruncher on Eriksen shortly before the opener and now his latest challenge is too much for the referee, who shows him a yellow card.
58'
Casemiro has scored a goal for Manchester United! Assist by Fred.
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 READING! It's a Casemiro double! After a free-kick aimed for Maguire is defended out, Fred lays a short ball to the midfielder who slices a gorgeous shot through the air and in at the far post. What a delight!
Fred has barely been on the pitch a few minutes and he's already made an impact. That will delight Ten Hag, who is looking a bit perkier with those quick goals.
57'
Fred enters the game and replaces C. Eriksen.
United back up that goal with their first change of the game, bringing on Fred for Eriksen.
56'
Now Old Trafford is rocking. The response is a roar from the crowd, and the players look delighted to have found the breakthrough. Can they build on it?
54'
Casemiro has scored a goal for Manchester United! Assist by Antony.
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 READING! They won't be chalking that one off! Casemiro opens up the account for the day, latching onto Antony's superb throughball before a scoop finish beats the keeper. The hosts hit the front.
Eriksen held up the play with Lindelof in midfield before hanging the ball out to Antony there. It is a simple but sublime ball from the Brazilian to set up his international team-mate.
52'
A spot of surprise Reading pressure down the right flank catches everyone off-guard, including the visitors themselves. Carroll can't do anything with the ball and throws his arms up in frustration.
50'
With attention given, the game resumes. Hoilett has his nose almost comically plugged to stop the flow, but it seems unlikely he will remain for long. Ten Hag is shaking his head.
48'
Early concerns for the Royals here, with play brought to a halt for Hoilett to be given medical attention. The defender took a flailing elbow from Weghorst to the face and has been bloodied.
46'
We're back underway at Old Trafford. Can Manchester United find a way to break through in this match or will Reading continue to frustrate them?
45' +2
HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 READING
45'
An almighty let-off for United now! Malacia miscues a collection in his own box and Reading pounce immediately, only to be unable to find a clean shot. Two added minutes to come.
43'
Eriksen puts a wayward header in. United just can't quite get over the edge here.
41'
The hosts want a penalty, but VAR will deny them again here. Casemiro goes down in the box, and there is contact, but the referee is unmoved by the appeals from the hosts.
39'
He hasn't been called upon to impress defensively so far, but Maguire has been controlling the tempo intelligently for United. He will take that as a positive.
37'
That was a tight call, and United know it. Erik ten Hag is less than impressed down on the sidelines, remonstrating with the fourth official. The game continues.
33'
An absolute blockbuster move from United ends in nothing on the scoresheet, but it is a marvel of a run from Antony. He carves up Reading down the right, and pulls a superb ball in that Fernandes takes wide.
31'
A frozen moment for Lumley sees him almost poached of possession inside his box. He makes no mistake with the next ball that comes near him after Eriksen left him spooked.
27'
Fernandes! The Portugal international just curls this latest effort wide and high to the right from inside the lip of the box. He's not too far off the mark with that one.
25'
Conversely, Reading are offering very little in breakaway offensive threat. Save those early flashes, they have been firmly stuck on the back foot. Patience will be a virtue in this one.
23'
There's a little bit of everything from United so far. Long balls, short crosses, flat deliveries from all angles, you name it. But the breakthrough is yet to come halfway through the first half.
21'
Reading are really feeling the heat now. Some last-gasp defence denies Weghorst after United pour en-masse into the box. The sense of a looming goal feels palpable in the damp Mancunian air.
17'
Antony! A lovely break from the hosts rakes Reading over the coals, but the Brazilian cannot finish the move, just curling his launched effort wide to the left.
12'
United are looking to be the sixth Premier League team into the fifth round so far, joining Manchester City, Leeds United, Leicester City, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur. Will they make it an easy job?
10'
United will know they have the time to be leisurely here, but only to a point. Reading are hold their shape well enough to force them into some relatively static back-four action so far.
6'
Rashford is hacked down clumsily on the edge of the opposition box. This is prime set-piece territory for the plethora of players who enjoy them at United.
4'
Now a Reading free-kick presents the chance to cause consternation. Instead, United block and fly down the far end, where Weghorst sees his attempt to pull a flat shot off deflected away.
2'
An early break from the Royals down the left sets pulses racing for the Red Devils in defence. They recover to see off Ince though, shutting down the former Blackpool man.
1'
We are underway in this FA Cup fourth round tie between Manchester United and Reading!
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the FA Cup fourth round, as Premier League heavyweights Manchester United welcome Championship outfit Reading to face them at Old Trafford!
Caught in the middle of an EFL Cup semi-final sandwich, the Red Devils are back on the hunt to end their silverware drought. Where better to lay down another marker for their progress under Erik ten Hag than in the game's oldest competition?
Substitutes: Fred, Lisandro Martinez, Brandon Williams, Anthony Elanga, Tom Heaton, Facundo Pellistri, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Raphael Varane.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia; Casemiro, Christian Eriksen; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Wout Weghorst.
But to stay in the mix, they'll have to avoid the magic of the cup, or more accurately one of those infamous giant-killings this tournament is well-known for. Reading are struggling at the wrong end of the second tier, but they could still spring a shock.
Substitutes: Tyrese Fornah, Dean Bouzanis, Amadou Mbengue, Shane Long, Michael Craig, Nesta Guinness-Walker, Femi Azeez, Yakou Meite, Scott Dann.
READING (5-3-2): Joe Lumley; Junior Hoilett, Andy Yiadom, Thomas Holmes, Tom McIntyre, Abdul Rahman Baba; Jeff Hendrick, Mamadou Loum, Tom Ince; Lucas Joao, Andy Carroll.
This will be the 10th meeting between the Red Devils and the Royals in the FA Cup, and it is fair to say history is on the side of the former. United have only lost one prior meeting in this competition, almost a century ago in the 1927-28 season.
In fact, Reading have won just one of their 22 matches against United in all competitions and have lost their last six in a row. Their only win was in a second replay during that very FA Cup tournament generations ago.
If there is one man staking a lot on this game, it will be Maguire for the hosts though. The centre-back has struggled with injury, but even after a stellar World Cup campaign, he is effectively fifth in the pecking order under Ten Hag. He must impress today.
The teams have emerged at Old Trafford and we are moments away from kick-off.
Erik ten Hag will have some words for his side. They managed 15 shots there, but just two were on target. There is work to be done.
Until the next time, thank you for joining us - and have a great weekend!
Next however, another rendezvous with Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup awaits. Reading meanwhile return to the Championship, where the battle to for a congested playoff race continues.
The whispers were very quiet after his first few games in charge, but they've built to a roar now. Erik ten Hag might just be about to do what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the false dawn of 2021 could not deliver, and end the trophy drought for the Red Devils. But there is a long way to Wembley here.
Commentary
More…