Reading vs Spurs (FA Cup 3rd round replay)

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Tottenham captain Ledley King is desperate to lift a trophy at Wembley after finally shrugging off a persistent knee injury.

King was outstanding in Tottenham's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea on Saturday and wants to lead the side out against Reading in their FA Cup third round replay on Tuesday night.

Spurs drew 2-2 at White Hart Lane in the first game and the fit again England international has already set his sights on Wembley glory.

Tottenham also play Arsenal in the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final next week and King declared: ``In the next 10 days we face Reading and Arsenal with both matches giving us a chance to get to Wembley.

``We take the cups seriously and as captain I've only lifted a pre-season trophy in Korea so I'd love a slice of glory. And we're really beginning to get things together now.''

New coach Juande Ramos arrived at Tottenham to replace sacked Martin Jol while King was out of action with his knee problem and he admits to feeling a little helpless.

King added: ``I felt like a man without a job. Being out made me realise how much I took playing for granted. Touch wood, I am okay - and for years to come.

``I did start to wonder how long it would take - I always knew I'd come through but was out so long I felt I did not have a job.

``It was strange going home knowing I hadn't done anything or played that day. Players will tell you that's the hardest thing of all - I'm not really religious but I believe in God and I had my moments with him. These frustrations started to affect my family life as well.

``Then Juande Ramos came in. He recognised me as skipper but English was not his first language and that made it harder.

``He's picked up the language well and we have a good relationship now. But beforehand, I tried to get to every game home and away, but it wasn't easy to watch.

``I was always in the dressing room but there's only so much you can say without playing. And I've always tried to lead by example so it's hard to comment when you're not playing.''

Ramos will have to decide whether to stick with Radek Cerny in place of England goalkeeper Paul Robinson against Reading.

Ramos insists that Robinson is still very much part of the squad but left him out of the side for the Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal and Saturday's defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Reading manager Steve Coppell has revealed he has received not a single enquiry for wantaway striker Leroy Lita.

England Under-21 international Lita has had enough of being left on the bench in recent months and is keen to move.

But Coppell, who will give the former Bristol City man a rare start in Tuesday's clash against Tottenham, is in no mood to grant him that wish.

And in any case, Coppell was convinced there was not a long queue of admirers desperate to sign him anyway.

He said: ``He is a player that wants to play, that's the bottom line and has been for months.

``He is a player under contract but the way of the world is such that if there is an opening for somebody somewhere then I'm sure we will hear about it.

``But I have not heard from anybody about Leroy. There has been a lot of speculation but I have certainly heard nothing.

``It is a non-issue because no-one has come in for him. It is the 14th of January and nobody has phoned about him - 100%.''

Lita has not scored a Premier League goal for 11 months and has just one so far this season, in a Carling Cup tie at Swansea, but Coppell nonetheless challenged him to make an impression against Spurs.

Coppell always uses cup games as a vehicle to give fringe men run-outs regardless of the opposition and a much-changed Reading side drew 2-2 at White Hart Lane in the first game just a week after the first choices were beaten 6-4 in the league there.

But Coppell made it clear that those who played the most were in on merit. He said: ``Would it be fair to leave out (Dave) Kitson or (Kevin) Doyle? As Jose Mourinho says, the team more or less picks itself. Every so often you have to make significant decisions but on a week-to-week basis eight or nine pick themselves.''

The winners are off to Manchester United in the fourth round and the champions also happen to be Reading's next league opponents as they are due at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

source: ESPNsoccernet - FA Cup - Reading v Tottenham Preview

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Robbie Keane scored the only goal of the game at the Madejski Stadium to put Tottenham into the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Reading.

The Republic of Ireland striker is now one away from a century of goals for Spurs, after his 15th strike of the season set up a mouth-watering tie at Manchester United a week on Sunday.

Reading almost forced extra-time in the replay when Stephen Hunt came off the bench and smacked a volley against the crossbar, but Steve Coppell's men can now focus on the league.

The clash was never going to be a 6-4 or the 2-2 in the previous matches between the clubs - there was plenty of attacking but the game missed the cutting edge of Dimitar Berbatov, who had flu.

England boss Fabio Capello was in the stands and he was able to cast his eye over an eager Jermain Defoe, a versatile Nicky Shorey who was played in central midfield and Jermaine Jenas returning from suspension.

• Coppell backs Ramos for Cup glory

Paul Robinson was not in the squad, though, as his wife gave birth to a boy on the eve of the game. He was unlikely to have been in the starting XI anyway after losing his place to Radek Cerny.

With Coppell's focus on the Barclays Premier League, it was a chance for him to look at his fringe players again, although he still kept five players in the starting XI from the weekend.

His players clearly cared about the competition - unlike Dave Kitson, who was not in the squad - but lacked the penetration of Hunt until he came off the bench.

Berbatov had scored six goals in the previous thrillers, and both teams adopted attacking approaches again.

Jenas made an early burst after robbing Kalifa Cisse of the ball but his cross was just ahead of Keane.

Chris Gunter, making his Spurs debut, also had a dangerous cross cleared and Defoe headed over from the resulting corner after Younes Kaboul flicked on to him.

Keane grabbed the opener in the 15th minute, stabbing home from close range after Kaboul met Jenas' corner and Adam Federici tipped onto the bar.

Reading had their moments going forward, with Leroy Lita at the heart of their attacks.

He had a glimpse of goal early on but his finish looped to safety - and he was also booked for diving, although it looked harsh as he merely fell as he attempted to get his shot away.

Robinson's replacement, Cerny, did not get the right contact on a punch seven minutes before the break - but Lita blazed over the crossbar. He also glanced a header wide from Shane Long's cross.

At the other end, Keane had a tame penalty appeal turned down by Mike Riley when Ulises de la Cruz blocked his cross, straight after the full-back had gifted the promising opportunity with a mess of a clearance.

Pascal Chimbonda then had Federici backtracking with a sliced cross - but there was no repeat of the type of blunder which put Robinson in the spotlight during the drawn match at White Hart Lane.

Federici was also down smartly to save at his near post just before the break when Defoe met Kevin-Prince Boateng's cross with a first-time volley.

Trying his utmost to impress, Defoe also wriggled through the Reading defence on the stroke of half-time but could not get a shot away.

Coppell tried to get back in the game by bringing on Simon Cox for Alex Pearce, with Shorey moving into central midfield and looking to spread the play to Long in attack.

Shorey shot wide after 56 minutes when Long tamed a cross from Rosenior and laid the ball back.

At the other end, Defoe was off target with an impish chip from the edge of the area - it was his last action as he was taken off just after the hour mark for Aaron Lennon.

Reading brought on their own winger, with Hunt replacing Shorey - and the substitute was teed up for a volley by Ivar Ingimarsson with seven minutes remaining but the Sunderland target's effort crashed off the crossbar.

Steed Malbranque had a volley tipped onto the bar in stoppage-time.

• Coppell backs Ramos for Cup glory

Juande Ramos has established himself as the king of the knockout competitions in Europe - and Steve Coppell believes the FA Cup is within his grasp at Tottenham.

'Of course they can win it,' said the Reading boss. 'They are capable of winning six games to win the cup. You look at the players they have got and they shouldn't be where they are in the league.

'I call them part of the top five in the country in the last couple of years. It hasn't quite worked for them this year but they are a very good team.'

Ramos knows it is against the odds that his unbeaten run in cups will continue - he has won back-to-back UEFA Cups and the domestic knockout trophy in Spain - but is targeting more glory.

'We're going to try,' said Ramos. 'The next game is very difficult and we know how tough it will be. They are clear favourites.'

Ramos's men were ahead in the 15th minute when Keane stabbed in after Younes Kaboul's header was tipped on to the crossbar by Adam Federici.

The Spaniard said: 'The most important things is to get through to the next round, we have not conceded a goal and it was quite an effort to overcome Reading.

'I'm very happy with the performance. The conditions were not good with the rain and we only had three days rest from the match against Chelsea at the weekend.'

Despite victory, Ramos is concerned that cup ties will distract his side from their league revival.

'This is my biggest concern,' he said. 'We are making a big effort to win in the cups and we have injured players and suspensions as a result.'

Coppell picked five players from the weekend clash at Aston Villa and insisted the cup still has its magic, despite clubs going into matches under strength.

'Winning can give you a lift and help self-esteem,' he said. 'Who cares if you are not going to win the cup in the end? Victories in the competition against bigger teams is what the magic of the cup is.'

source: ESPNsoccernet - FA Cup - Reading v Tottenham Report