Martin O’Neill may still be vexed by the injustice of Aston Villa’s Carling Cup final defeat last weekend but the route back to Wembley seems relatively clear. Villa have few injury problems for their trip to Madejski Stadium, where their strew of rapid inside-forwards should prove potent. “They’ve got good players in wide areas and up the pitch, but it doesn’t worry me,” said Reading’s manager, Brian McDermott. After defeating Liverpool in the fourth round and Sheffield Wednesday 5-0 in midweek, you can see why. James Callow

Venue Madejski Stadium, Sunday 1.45pm

Tickets £25 (0844 249 1871)

Previous meetings Reading wins 2 Aston Villa wins 12 Draws 2

Referee A Name

This season’s matches 0 Y00, R0, 0.00 cards per game

Odds Reading 7-2 Aston Villa 11-13 Draw 13-5

Reading

Subs from Hamer, Armstrong, Cissé, Tabb, Matejovsky, Long, Hunt, Mooney, Henry, Pearce, Bignall, Thorvaldsson

Doubtful None

Injured Karacan (hand, Apr)

Suspended McAnuff (second of three)

Unavailable Khizanishvili (Cup-tied)

Form guide (all comps) WWLWDW

Disciplinary record Y44 R4

Leading scorer Sigurdsson 10

Aston Villa

Subs from Guzan, L Young, Sidwell, Carew, Albrighton, Delfouneso, Davies, Delph, Salifou, Beye, Clark

Doubtful Dunne (calf)

Injured Reo-Coker (foot, Apr), Harewood (foot, Aug), Bouma (ankle, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide (all comps) LWWDDD

Disciplinary record Y55 R2

Leading scorer Agbonlahor 14

Match pointers

• Reading have lost seven of their last eight meetings with Aston Villa in all competitions

• This is the ninth successive occasion that Aston Villa have been drawn away from home in an FA Cup sixth-round tie

• Reading have scored a last-minute goal in each of their last three meetings with Villa

• Martin O’Neill has failed to win any of his previous 12 games in the month of March while he has been manager of Villa

• This is the first time that Reading have reached the sixth round of the FA Cup since 1927

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