Long heroics come up short

HOW TO shatter a dream.

Shane Long has most probably contributed more than anyone to the thrill of the FA Cup this season, but the man who started his career at Cork City was dealt the most bitter of blows as Aston Villa scored four goals in the second-half to ensure their place in the semi-finals.

After scoring a dramatic winning goal against Liverpool in extra-time at Anfield in January, Long took yet more Premier League defenders to task yesterday, demonstrating all his predatory instincts to fire Reading into a two-goal lead at half-time.

With his movement, skill and commitment, Long gave fellow Ireland international Richard Dunne a restless afternoon with a performance that encapsulated an almost faultless first 45 minutes from the Championship hosts.

Yet Long’s contribution proved merely to be that of the anti-hero, the stimulant for a wonderful hat-trick from Norwegian striker John Carew after Ashley Young had prodded the visitors back into the game just moments after the start of the second-half.

After the disappointment of their defeat by Manchester United in the Carling Cup final last Sunday, Villa can now start preparing for at least one more trip to Wembley this season and, with a Champions League berth still in their sights, Martin O’Neill’s side have plenty to play for heading into the business end of the season between now and May.

It was made possible by a blistering 10 minute spell after the break, during which O’Neill presumably delivered a proverbial rollicking after an inept start.

It certainly worked on Carew, whose performance O’Neill suggested improved “threefold” as he took charge of the game with a fine display of power and finishing.

“It was a great spell by us after we played so meekly in the first-half,” the Derry man reflected. “To go out in the way it looked like we were going to would have been really disappointing. I think after our first-half performance the players must have been pleased just to get a chance to go out – never mind anything else.

“John Carew scored an absolutely delightful hat-trick and to be back at Wembley is great, even though I didn’t enjoy the last occasion at all.”

It took two sides to create such a marvellous, pulsating spectacle, and Reading defied the 31 league places between the sides with tenacity, courage and no little skill. Their exit means the FA Cup will be lifted by a Premier League side once again this year, but after guiding his side out of relegation danger with just one defeat from eight games officially in charge before yesterday, Brian McDermott has plenty to build on.

“If you’re going to lose a game then that is how you want to go down and I’m proud of our players,” the Reading manager explained after the game. “We were fantastic and Shane Long was first-class. He led the line extremely well and scored two goals against international defenders.”

While there is a perceived wisdom that cup runs distract league form, victories over Liverpool and West Brom this year have proved to be the catalysts for the change in Reading’s fortune.

In fact, it was nothing to do with luck that the hosts swept into a first-half lead with a dominant display that O’Neill admitted he was “relieved” was not rewarded with more than two goals.

In the 27th minute the hosts took the lead when Long used all his predatory instincts to turn home Matt Mills’ towering header from Brian Howard’s corner.

Three minutes before the interval, Long grabbed his second of the afternoon and seventh of the season, tucking the ball into the net after a blistering run and cutback from Jimmy Kebe.

Villa turned the game in 10 minutes of stunning attacking football that overwhelmed Reading with speed and skill.

Just two minutes after the restart, Young pounced on Carew’s cross along the six-yard box and three minutes later Carew himself timed his run into the area expertly to head Stewart Downing’s superb cross into the far post.

The vast army in the away end sensed a special FA Cup victory, and on 56 minutes Carew put them ahead with a deft flick after a storming run and cross by left-back Warnock.

Emile Heskey was denied by a fine stop by Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici before Villa were reminded of the fragility of their lead when Young was forced to clear Ivar Ingimarsson’s powerful header off the line.

In added time, Carew made the result safe when he smashed home a penalty he had earned himself. The way the FA Cup tends to work, an eighth FA Cup triumph for Villa is certainly not a long shot.

MATCH RATING: **** – Everything that is good about the FA Cup. A brave performance from the underdogs, a super comeback, a wonderful atmosphere.

REFEREE: Mike Dean 6 – Kept up well with the frenetic pace of the game but seemed a little too eager to book players for borderline offences.