Birmingham 2-1 Reading

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.