2-0 Stoke and that's pretty much game over I'd say. Yes, already. 16:11Jonathan LowAttendanceToday's crowd is 19, 157 with 602 away fans. 16:06Jonathan LowLumley saveImportant save by Lumley down low to his right to deny Campbell. 16:06Jonathan LowSecond halfWe're back out for the second half. The mist has swept in and it's making vision slightly difficult, fingers crossed it doesn't get any worse..
No Carroll or Sarr. 13:51Jonathan LowOfficialsToday's referee is Gavin Ward. He has refereed Reading on 12 occasions, with the Royals winning six of those clashes. He was last in charge of Reading for the win away at Hull in November. The 44-year-old will be assisted by Jonathan Hunt and Daniel Leach, while Sebastian Stockbridge will be acting as the fourth official. (Image: Birmingham Mail)13:42Jonathan LowAlex RaeReading assistant boss Alex Rae was on pre-match media duties this week instead of Paul Ince. Here is what he had to say ahead of this afternoon's game.
It's going to be a tough game, there will be fine margins in terms of who gets the first goal. We know the threat they will bring but if we move the ball well enough and quick enough we will create opportunities. 14:20Jonathan LowStoke team newsThe hosts include former Reading players Josh Laurent and Lewis Baker. 14:02KEY EVENTReading team newsThe Reading team is in! Here is Paul Ince's starting 11 as he brings in Fornah, Meite and McIntyre.
15:50KEY EVENTHT Stoke 1 Reading 0Smallbone's early strike the difference so far. Some big improvements needed for Royals in the second 45. 15:47Jonathan LowAdded timeONE minute of added on time. 15:47Jonathan LowStoke chanceReally nicely worked corner by the Potters sees Tymon fire in a low shot which is blocked by Lumley's legs and scrambled away. 15:45Jonathan LowReading chanceBest chance of the game so far for Reading, Meite goes up with Wilmot, it falls kindly to the Reading man who takes it down and lashes towards goal from the left side of the area but the keeper palms it away. 15:42Jonathan LowReading chanceHendrick dinks the ball back from the byline to the D and it falls to Fornah but he hits his effort into the ground and drags it horribly wide.
15:29Jonathan LowStoke chanceBit of pingball around the Reading area eventually sees the ball fall to Brown whose effort is deflected over the bar by McIntrye and onto the roof of the net. Royals once again all at sea defensively. 15:24Jonathan LowHalf chanceFornah clips a ball into the box for Meite but the forward can't get a clean connection on his header. A promising move by Reading but you have to worry about the other end at the moment - the defence is looking very shaky. 15:15Jonathan LowReading free-kickTom Ince goes for goal from a free-kick, 20 yards out, in a central position, but shoots tamely into the wall.
Reading will be in their black away strip by the looks of it. The crowd are slowly coming through the turnstiles - it won't be a sell-out by any means so let's hope those who have made the trip up from Reading get a game to remember! 14:36Jonathan LowAlex NeilHere are the thoughts of Stoke boss Alex Neil ahead of this afternoon's match. I think it'll be a tough game. They have a method in how they plan and teams find it difficult to break them down because they sit in a block. They are a danger on the counter, they're a danger from set plays, they've got some big, physical players.
You can follow all the action from the Potteries with reporter Jonathan Low in the live blog below. READ NEXT 'Under no illusions' - How Reading FC will prepare ahead of Stoke City and Manchester United What David Prutton's Reading FC prediction at Stoke could mean for Sunderland, QPR and others Stoke's home form, Dwight Gayle and the ominous Reading record Charlie Adam's prediction on ex-Reading FC star Michael Olise with Man City and Liverpool remark What Reading FC boss Paul Ince has done ahead of Manchester United FA Cup fourth round tie 16:18KEY EVENTGOAL StokeA pretty tame effort by Campbell is on target but takes a deflection off Holmes and finds the bottom corner of the net.
Awful. 15:15Jonathan LowCampbell assistGayle robbed Yiadom of the ball, fed it in to Campbell who then teed up Smallbone who couldn't miss from the edge of the area. Disastrous start for Reading. 15:13KEY EVENTGOAL StokeYiadom dispossessed far too easily, leaving Stoke bearing down on goal and the ball is played across to Smallbone who drills in a low shot. 1-0 to Stoke. 15:02KEY EVENTKick-offWe're off! Stoke literally get the ball rolling. 14:49Jonathan LowApproaching kick-offNot too far away from kick-off now - it's a chilly but sunny one here in Staffordshire.
Live coverage of Reading's Championship clash with Stoke at the bet365 StadiumWelcome to our live coverage of Stoke City against Reading FC in the Championship on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off at the bet365 Stadium is 3pm. Royals start the day in 14th place in the league table having picked up 11 wins from their 27 matches, while the Potters sit six places and seven points worse off. READ MORE: 'Under no illusions' - How Reading FC will prepare ahead of Stoke City and Manchester United Paul Ince's side, who won 2-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign, head into this encounter on the back of a 2-2 draw with QPR last weekend. That result means they have lost just two of their past eight games in all competitions and a win against the Potters could see them move up as high as seventh spot should other results go their way.
“The manager has banned any talk of Manchester United. There is a lot more at stake here. The cup tie will take care of itself next week, but every bit of focus this week has been purely on Stoke away. “We have to focus on the here and now. The players are as motivated for this weekend as they are for the cup tie.