Red-hot Lita sends Baggies packing

Reading 3 West Brom 2 (after extra time

Lita, 21, had not started a match since the beginning of last month and had only just recovered from an ankle injury but the summer buy from Bristol City was simply sensational as Bryan Robson’s side wilted and were finally dispatched in extra time.

Albion had made an excellent start thanks to a first half brace from Richard Chaplow.

Albion were without almost a whole team of experienced campaigners, out through injury, suspension or international commitments, but Reading boss Steve Coppell did not field a full-strength team either.

Lita made his intentions clear by firing an early chance into the side-netting after Steve Sidwell had robbed Junichi Inamoto in midfield but Chaplow responded with a ninth-minute opener, drilling low past Stack after Ronnie Wallwork had opened up the home defence.

Chaplow’s second arrived on the half-hour mark; a tap-in from two yards after Stack found Nathan Ellington’s shot too hot to handle.

Reading needed an early comeback and Lita duly provided that within five minutes of the restart with a smart finish to beat Kirkland at his near post

Wallwork had to block in front of a post to stop Shane Long from hitting the target and Sidwell was only just off target from the edge of the area as Reading began to take a grip on the game.

Long was gaining confidence now, as he produced a cheeky back-heel to begin the move that led to James Harper setting up the equaliser in the 65th minute, with Lita’s rising drive from 25 yards perfectly placed as well to give Kirkland no chance.

Albion attacks were rare now but Ellington forced Stack into a save with a rising drive from a tight angle on the right when perhaps a pass would have been the better option.

But Reading were now relentless in coming forward and Albion relieved merely to stay in a tie they must have thought they had wrapped up at the break.

Kevin Doyle came on for Long in the 90th minute and Inamoto was replaced by youngster Rob Davies for extra time.

Lita’s hat-trick arrived just three minutes after the restart as he fired joyously past Kirkland after last defender Albrechtsen had only half-stopped Harper’s burst into the box.

There was still time for the Premiership side to respond but they never came close as the night belonged to Lita and Reading.

READING: Stack, Murty, Sidwell, Gunnarsson, Lita (Cox 101), Hunt, Oster (Osano 107), Harper, Ingimarsson, Makin, Long (Doyle 90).

WEST BROM: Kirkland, Greening (Dyer 81), Chaplow, Albrechtsen, Carter, Curtis Davies, Ellington, Earnshaw, Wallwork (Nicholson 106), Hodgkiss, Inamoto (Rob Davies 90).

Referee: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).