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| February 9, 2006 | Thursday | Muharram 10, 1427 |
Birmingham, Preston in fifth round
LONDON, Feb 8: Goals from Mikael Forssell and Julian Gray led Birmingham City to a 2-1 home win over second division leaders Reading in their FA Cup fourth round replay on Tuesday.
In the night’s other replay, Preston North End won 2-1 at second division rivals Crystal Palace thanks to a late goal by Danny Dichio, who had also scored their first.
Forssell put Premier League strugglers Birmingham ahead after 30 minutes at St Andrews when he took a pass from Jermaine Pennant and wriggled past two defenders.
His first effort was saved by Graham Stack but the Finland striker slotted home the rebound.
Reading, 10 points clear in the second division, went close to an equaliser a minute later when Steve Sidwell hit the post.
The visitors eventually got back on level terms six minutes into the second half, Stephen Hunt taking advantage of indecision in the Birmingham defence to volley powerfully into the roof of the net from 15 metres.
Birmingham, third from bottom in the standings, secured a fifth round visit to second division Stoke City when Gray headed in a cross by Jiri Jarosik in the 67th minute.
Dichio grabbed the decider in the 87th minute at Selhurst Park to give Preston a tie against the winners of Wednesday’s replay between Middlesbrough and Coventry City.
Darren Ward had put Palace ahead after 25 minutes with a header but Dichio equalised with a header of his own nine minutes later.
Fifth round matches will be played on Feb 18-19.—Reuters
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