24 min Mark Ogden with news of some charming chanting at Old Trafford:
Hugely fortunate goal for United, but it came after some excellent work from Ferdinand to read a McAnuff pass and stride upfield. After beating a man he taps it inside for Rooney who volleys from just inside the area. Gigantic deflection off Pearce takes it over Taylor's hapless head and it dips under the bar. Probably a regulation save for the keeper if Pearce had got out of the way.
18 min United building with a little more purpose now. Rooney's drifted out to the right and crosses dangerously. Mariappa heads it back towards him, and he picks out Welbeck on the edge of the box. His shot is over.
15 min Ashley Young with United's first shot on goal. He's found by Ferdinand on the left-hand side of the area and faces up against Kelly. Tries to bend it into the far corner, but it's just wide.
13 min It's a slow, dull game so far. United gradually wrestling some control in the match but have been listless going forward. Rooney puts a free kick from out wide straight into a Reading player, then overhits a long pass towards Vidic from the rebound. Out for a throw on the other side. Here's a pertinent statistical tweet from our friends at Opta:
8 min Not a bad start at all for Reading, who have stopped United from putting together anything meaningul with incessant pressing. McCleary looking like a promising outlet on the left-hand side.
5 min Typically sensible work from Mikele Liegertwood in the middle, with a well-won ball and probing pass forward towards Hunt. Brings about a Reading throw, but Shorey and McCleary contrive to put it back out between them. Here's Gordon Rankin with his answer to the question above:
3 min United pressing forward early on but haven't created a chance as yet. It's only a matter of time. I don't know about you, but I fully expect United to have some chances today.
1 min We're off, United get us started.
17.27 The teams are out. Reading are 20/1 with some bookies this afternoon. Anyone on?
17.25 Here's Shinji Kagawa having a big think during the warm-up:
17.15 Stuart Taylor, Reading's 32-year-old goalkeeper, is playing today. It's his 89th career appearance. He started playing in 1997. That's an average of 5.5 games a season. Nice work if you can get it.
17.00 Today's not-so-retro highlights are brought to you by the year 2012:
16.42 Here are the teams:
Manchester United: De Gea, Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Buttner, Welbeck, Giggs, Anderson, Young, Rooney, van Persie.
Subs: Lindegaard, Evans, Valencia, Carrick, Kagawa, Powell, Hernandez.
Reading: Taylor, Shorey, Kelly, Pearce, Mariappa, Karacan, Leigertwood, McAnuff, McCleary, Robson-Kanu, Hunt
Subs: McCarthy, Gunter, Harte, Morrison, Akpan, Blackman, Le Fondre.
Referee: Lee Mason
16.30 Afternoon liveblog fans.
We shall be treated to a lovely procession this afternoon at Old Trafford which will wind its way through a managerless Reading side.
Its route will continue over the coming few weeks and culminate with Manchester United's arrival at a 20th top flight title.
After City's meek defeat to Everton earlier today the last remaining hopes of some kind of title chase have been estinguished.
United can win it now with five more wins and you'd fully expect them to get the first of those today against a Reading team that increasingly look destined to be playing Championship football next season.
And they're down a Brian McDermott, so probably will forget how to play in a formation, or what to do with throw-ins and stuff. I assume that's what happens to a team without a manager?
Team news and goals, surely, to follow. Stay tuned.
Let's read this preview together. You can start:
Saturday, March 16 2013
Manchester United v Reading
Old Trafford
Kick-off: 17.30 GMT
TV: Live ESPN, Highlights BBC ONE Match of the Day.
Manchester United (Possible, 4-2-3-1): De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Anderson; Valencia, Cleverley, Rooney; Van Persie.
Out: Fletcher (illness), W Keane (knee), Jones (ankle), Nani (hamstring), Scholes (knee).
Reading (Possible, 4-4-2): Taylor; Kelly, Pearce, Mariappa, Harte; McAnuff, Leigertwood, Akpan, Robson-Kanu; Hunt, Le Fondre.
Out: Federici (ankle), Kébé (groin), Pogrebnyak (suspended), McCarthy (match fiitness), Roberts (hip).
Referee: Mark Clattenburg. Matches: 17, R6 Y54.
Team News
Nani and Phil Jones both miss out on Manchester United's Premier League encounter with Reading at Old Trafford.
Winger Nani injured his hamstring against Chelsea last weekend, while the versatile Jones has been out since hurting his ankle in the FA Cup clash with the Royals four weeks ago.
Midfielder Paul Scholes is also out as United look to maintain their 12-point lead over Manchester City.
Reading will again be without Adam Federici and Jimmy Kébé for the to face the Premier League leaders.
Goalkeeper Federici is still sidelined by an ankle problem, meaning third-choice Stuart Taylor will again deputise following last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
That defeat prompted Brian McDermott's dismissal as manager, with the club four points from safety, and caretaker manager Eamonn Dolan will also be without winger Kébé.
Pavel Pogrebnyak serves the last part of his three-game ban while fellow striker Jason Roberts is likely to miss the rest of the season.
Match Notes
If there was method in Reading owner Anton Zingarevich's decision to sack manager Brian McDermott this week it was perhaps the theory that a trip to Manchester United is a 'free' game and one which has no downside for the Russian.
Lose and nobody would have expected any different, yet win or draw and the decision to remove McDermott is vindicated.
Reading need points rather than point-scoring, however, and they could not have asked for a tougher start to life after McDermott.
Betting: Home 2-13, Away 16-1, Draw 13-5.
Stat of the game: In 17 games in all competitions, Reading have beaten United just once – in the FA Cup in 1927.
Mark Ogden's prediction: Manchester United 3 Reading 0.
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