Reading Win Fifth -Round Tie At Derby County

…January signing Yakubu scores Reading's winner
…Warnock sent off on Derby debut
…Reading denied penalty after Keogh handles
…McClaren makes seven changes to Rams side
Yakubu came off the bench to score his first goal for Reading and secure an FA Cup fifth-round victory at Derby.

Hal Robson-Kanu gave the visitors a 53rd-minute lead after Stephen Warnock had been sent off on his Derby debut for fouling Jamie Mackie.

Darren Bent's fifth goal in as many games levelled the scores in the all-Championship tie eight minutes later.

With a replay beckoning, January signing Yakubu fired in a low left-footed shot.

Rams boss Steve McClaren made seven changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Bournemouth in the league in midweek.

January signings Jesse Lingard – on loan from Manchester United – and former Leeds United captain Warnock were given their first starts, but the latter lasted 39 minutes at the IPro Stadium before he was shown a second yellow card for a tough challenge on Jamie Mackie.

Reading's Simon Cox came closest to opening the scores in the first half, but struck the post after being played in by on-loan Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah.

Just before the interval the visitors were denied a penalty when Danny Williams's shot hit Richard Keogh on the hip and bounced up on to the defender's outstretched arm.

Steve Clarke's side began the second half on the front foot and took a deserved lead through Robson-Kanu's curled finish from inside the box as he notched his third goal of the season.

Derby levelled fortuitously as on-loan Aston Villa striker Darren Bent claimed his fifth goal in as many games after Lingard's shot deflected off his thigh in the six-yard box and into the net.

But with eight minutes left former Everton and Middlesbrough striker Yakubu, signed from Qatar club Al Rayyan , secured victory for Reading after being put through by Robson-Kanu.

Derby boss Steve McClaren: “We went for the win, we didn't want a replay. The quality of football, even with 10 men, was great and that was the important thing.

“I couldn't argue with Stephen Warnock's two yellow cards. He wanted to prove something, it gave us a mountain to climb.”

Reading goalscorer Yakubu: “I was desperate to go on, I told our manager I wanted to go on. Derby manager Steve McClaren pulled me back on the touchline and joked with me, telling me 'don't do it, don't go on and score', but I did it.

“I never wrote it off coming back to England, never say never. Reading gave me the chance to come back so I'm happy to be here.”

BBC SPORTS