Birmingham 2-1 Reading

Virtual Replay: Watch a 3D animation of Hunt's goal for Reading

Virtual Replay: Watch a 3D animation of Julian Gray's winner

Gray's (right) second-half goal proved enough

A second-half Julian Gray goal handed Birmingham victory at the expense of Reading in their FA Cup fourth-round replay at St Andrews.

Gray headed in Jiri Jarosik's cross to give Steve Bruce's men a fifth-round game against Stoke.

Mikael Forssell gave Birminham the lead after easing through the Royals defence to slot home from two yards.

Reading equalised after the break through Stephen Hunt, who fired high past goalkeeper Maik Taylor.

Reading striker Dave Kitson should have opened the scoring after six minutes when Birmingham's defence was split by Brynjar Gunnarsson.

The midfielder drifted past a couple of challenges before finding Kitson, whose shot narrowly drifted past Taylor's post.

Kitson also forced Taylor into a superb low save before the end of the first half, after Steve Sidwell's effort rebounded off the post.

Forssell made the striker pay for his misses midway through the opening 45 minutes when he picked up the ball from Jermaine Pennant.

The Finn jinked past the Reading backline to score past Graham Stack.

The Championship leaders fought back after the interval when Hunt took his chance inside the area after making the most of a mix-up in the defence.

But it was Birminingham who had the final say, when Gray eluded his marker to head in the winner.

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Birmingham boss Steve Bruce:
"I'm delighted for the young lads, it was a horrible night and the ball was swerving all over the place in atrocious conditions.

"It takes a little bit of time to settle, a few of them haven't played at this level.

"I thought the reaction was terrific after Reading equalised."

Reading boss Steve Coppell:
"The players are very disappointed.

"We had good possession, decent chances and it was a difficult night with the wind and the surface, which was hard and bobbly. But that's no excuse.

"To be fair to them (Birmingham City) they came back and it was a great piece of individual skill that created the goal in the second half."

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Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Bruce, Painter, Gray, Pennant, Clemence (Oji 90), Clapham, Birley (Sadler 59), Forssell, Jarosik.
Subs Not Used: Vaesen, Alsop, Allen.

Goals: Forssell 30, Gray 67.

Reading: Stack, Halls, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Makin, Oster, Sidwell, Gunnarsson, Hunt, Kitson, Long (Cox 68).
Subs Not Used: Federici, Golbourne, Osano, Sinnott.

Booked: Gunnarsson.

Goals: Hunt 51.

Att: 16,644

Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).