Zian Flemming’s extra-time brace helps Burnley see off Reading in FA Cup

Championship high-fliers Burnley were taken to extra time by League One Reading before edging into the FA Cup fourth round with a hard-earned 3-1 victory.

Burnley, fielding a much-changed line-up, broke the deadlock in the 71st minute through Lyle Foster only for a glaring error by Clarets keeper Vaclav Hladky to gift Lewis Wing an equaliser six minutes later, forcing the extra period.

Clarets substitute Zian Flemming finally settled the issue with a brace of well-taken goals in the 100th and 109th minutes to end Reading’s brave resistance.

Burnley sit second in the Championship table, one point behind leaders Leeds, and are unbeaten in 13 league matches.

Reading, meanwhile, came into the match in sixth spot in League One and undefeated in four games, although they survived a scare in their previous FA Cup outing when they needed extra time to beat Southern League Premier Division Central side Harborough 5-3.

Burnley boss Scott Parker made 11 changes to his starting XI from the 1-0 derby victory at Blackburn last time out but the revamped team still dominated the opening stages.

Foster and Luca Koleosho both wasted early chances when well positioned and centre-back John Egan should have done better when heading over from close in after a scramble in the home area.

Reading gradually settled but fashioned only one genuine opportunity before the interval, when defender Tyler Bindon headed wastefully over from a precise Wing cross.

The Royals made much of the running after the break but it was Foster who finally ended the stalemate when, after a deep Joe Bauress cross, he slammed home from a few yards out.

But Hladky’s howler, in the 77th minute, saw Reading draw level, the Czech keeper somehow allowing Wing’s speculative 30-yard shot to slither through his hands and also his legs, sending the tie to extra time.

Flemming, on the pitch only six minutes, coolly made it 2-1, after a clever pass from Mike Tresor, and the on-loan Millwall striker settled the issue when he scooped home from close range even though he was on the floor.