Reading’s FA Cup journey was put to an end in the third-round as they were knocked out of the competition by Championship high flyers Burnley.
Having scraped past non-league Harborough Town in the last round, the Royals had another tough tie to contend with against promotion hopefuls Burnley.
The Royals survived a scare against the team in the seventh tier, eventually winning 5-3 after extra-time to book their place in the third-round.
Manager Noel HUnt named a strong side which included Harvey Knibbs, despite reports linking him with a move away from the club.
Scott Parker’s Burnley side, who sit in second place in the Championship as they look for a quick return to the Premier League, also had plenty of senior experience despite making 11 changes.
They named an accomplished forward line with veteran strikers Jay Rodriguez and Ashley Barnes, while former Royal Josh Laurent was placed on the bench.
Burnley were expectedly dominant in the early stages but wasted a few chances to go in front in the opening 10 minutes.
The Clarets had plenty of possession but were unable to breach the Royals defence as the game was goalless going into the break.
David Button was kept busy but only had to make a routine save from Luca Koleosho to keep it at 0-0.
There were warning signs for Reading when Lyle Foster came a few inches from putting the visitors ahead, firing narrowly wide.
Reading’s best chance of the game fell for Sam Smith in the box, but Burnley managed to scramble the ball behind for a corner before he could convert. Knibbs was then denied by a block from the resulting corner.
Burnley finally took one of their chances when Foster was on hand to put the ball home from close range with 20 minutes left to play.
However, Reading hit back quickly as a powerful Lewis Wing strike was too much to handle for the keeper. The long shot specialist lined one up and despite getting good power, it was hit straight at the keeper, but Vaclav Hladky inexplicably let the ball slip through his hands.
That goal was enough to take the contest to extra-time, with the FA making the decision to scrap replays from this season for the first time.
Burnley retook the lead in the first-half of extra-time when Zian Flemming struck in the 100th minute.
Parker’s side consolidated their place in the next round with a third goal to put the tie to bed as Flemming grabbed his second of the game.
Reading: Button, Rushesha, Dean, Bindon, Kanu, Savage, Wing, Knibbs, Abrefa, Wareham, Smith
Subs: Pereira, Ahmed, Osho, Senga-Ngoyi, Borgnis, Holzman, Sackey, Stickland, Wellens
Burnley: Hladky, Sonne, Worrall, Egan, Lucas Pires, Bauress, McDermott, Koleosho, Foster, Barnes, Rodriguez
Subs: Delcroix, Ekdal, Fleming, Green, Humphreys, Laurent, Tresor, Tweedy, Veevers
Goals: Foster 71’, Wing 77’, Flemming 100’, 109′
