MATCH REPORT - Reading 3-1 West Bromwich Albion

Two headed goals from set-pieces from the unlikely sources of centre-back Paul McShane and Michael Hector plus a late third from substitute Lucas Piazon cancelled out Darren Fletcher's 54th minute opener to settle the fifth-round clash.

And it also continued Reading's recent romance with the FA Cup, with Brian McDermott's men now the leading scorers in this season's competition with 13 goals.

As for West Brom, their struggles in Berkshire show no sign of ending. It is now 21 years since they tasted victory on Reading soil, an alarming record for any side.

Such was their frustration at the final whistle that police and stewards were needed to break up scuffles in the away end.

Baggies' left-back Chris Brunt also claimed he had been struck by a coin thrown by a West Brom supporter after the game had finished.

None of that should detract from an excellent display from the Royals who, for most of the day, looked more like a Premier League team than Tony Pulis' visitors.

McDermott made two changes to the side that held high-flying Burnley to a 0-0 draw in the league a week earlier.

Reading FC defender Jake Cooper recalls a famous FA Cup win at Anfield Yann Kermorgant was cup tied so Deniss Rakels came in for his full debut.

And with Matej Vydra nursing an injury and only on the bench, Simon Cox was handed his first start since a Capital One Cup win against Portsmouth on August 25.

Cox was farmed out to Bristol City on loan shortly afterwards by former boss Steve Clarke, but the striker from Tilehurst has been given another opportunity under McDermott, this time alone up front in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Rakels wide left.

Reading may have been the underdogs, but the last time West Brom had lost to lower league opposition in the FA Cup was in 2011 – to Reading.

In fact, Royals had not been beaten at home by West Brom since 1995, though much of that time was spent in different divisions.

That, perhaps, was reflected in the strength of West Brom's line-up and also their bench which included Rickie Lambert, Craig Gardner and Victor Anichebe.

After a minute's applause in memory of Reading's late record goalscorer, Ronnie Blackman, it was the visitors who threatened first when Brunt curled a 30-yard free kick over Ali Al Habsi's crossbar.

But Royals matched the Premier League opponents in the first quarter and gave Pulis' men little time on the ball.

Then they almost broke the deadlock with 23 minutes gone. A piece of brilliant skill from Hal Robson-Kanu saw the Wales international wriggle out of trouble and past four Baggies players before forcing a corner with a teasing cross.

And when the visitors failed to clear Oliver Norwood's flag-kick, Rakels picked up the pieces and teed up Paul McShane, only for Royals' captain's first-time shot to whistle an inch wide of Ben Foster's post.

As the first half went on, so Reading's confidence grew. Robson-Kanu, Cox and Rakels were linking up nicely, and it almost resulted in a goal on 38 minutes.

Rakels and Cox led a break-away and, when Norwood's superb cross reached Robson-Kanu, it took a finger-tip save from Foster to tip the winger's bullet header over the bar.

The Baggies were offering little going forward and, when they did work their way into a good area just before the break, Salomon Rondon was crowded out by Reading's sharp defence.

A superb corner by Brunt after the restart did cause problems, but McShane was in the right place to hack the ball clear.

But they finally broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second half through Fletcher.

Baggies attacked down the left and Fletcher collected Rondon's pass, took a touch and rifled an angled shot across Al Habsi into the far corner.

But Reading weren't behind for long and they grabbed an equaliser five minutes later.

McDermott has just made a double substitution by replacing Rakels and Cox with Vydra and Ola John.

And as they entered the fray, Norwood delivered a perfect free-kick and McShane planted a header past Foster to draw the hosts level.

It was no more than Royals deserved and they built on that momentum by taking a 72nd minute lead.

John won a free-kick 25 yards out and when Norwood clipped it to the back-post, Hector ran around the back of the Baggies defence to plant a close-range header past Foster.

Royals' tails were now up and the impressive John almost grabbed a third when his effort from the edge of the area whistled just wide of the post.

As the final whistle approaches, so Royals grew more nervous under more and more pressure.

But the Baggies blew two clear-cut chances to level the scores in the last five minutes.

Rondon failed to get a proper connection from point-blank range when Fletcher flicked on a Brunt corner, allowing Royals to clear their lines.

And when the visitors regained possession and delivered the ball back into the box, the unmarked Fletcher fluffed his lines from six yards out allowing Al Habsi to gather.

It was a pivotal moment in the match as Reading grabbed a third five minutes later to kill the game off.

Piazon had only been on the pitch a matter of moments when he collected John's unselfish pass before slamming the ball past Foster, with the Baggies' defence in disarray.

It was a rousing comeback from McDermott's men who thoroughly deserved to reach the last eight.

The visitors were so angered by the defeat it even spilled over into the stands, where police and stewards broke up scuffles.

Brunt was also involved in an altercation with West Brom supporters after the left-back suggested he had been hit by a coin thrown from the away end.

Meanwhile, it is the third time McDermott has taken Reading this far in the competition after quarter final appearances in 2010 and 2011.

Whether Royals can go further this time remains to be seen, but few teams will fancy their chances of playing at Madejski Stadium.

The draw for the quarter finals takes places this evening live on BBC2 from 6pm, and the Royals are ball number two.

Reading return to the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday night when they host Rotherham in the Championship (8pm).