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Stoke rallied in the second half although it took a blatant piece of gamesmanship by Ben Petty, which saw them reduced to ten men, to maintain the blank score-line. Petty was sent off four minutes from time after tugging back Walsall’s Matias who had a clear run on goal.
Prior to this Walsall had needed a stupendous James Walker save from a Peter Thorne (pictured)effort to maintain the status quo. Stoke still had a chance to snatch a goal two minute from time but Kippe’s header was cleared away from the line by Matias and so its all to play form in the second leg at the Bescot Stadium.
There was little to choose between the sides at the J.J.B. Stadium as Wigan and Reading also failed to register with the scorers. In truth though Reading will be much happier with the final score line as the hosts spurned numerous chances to build an unassailable advantage during the ninety minutes. Culprit in chief was striker Andy Liddell who managed to squander a host of gilt-edged chances.
He saw one effort turned away by Reading keeper Whitehead, another hit Viveash on the goal line with Whitehead beaten and on the third occasion he lofted the ball over the bar when he should at least have hit the target.
Reading too, had their moments with Carroll saving headers from Hunter and Parkinson. Martin Butler saw his shot on the turn drift agonisingly wide.
The second half brought more of the same as Wigan’s Simon Haworth side-footed the ball over the bar and then had a shot blocked by Robinson. Whitehead was also called into action to turn an Ashcroft header over the top.
Reading survived to the final whistle to set up an intriguing second leg at the Madejski Stadium.
