Robbie Keane scored the only goal of the game at the Madejski Stadium to put Tottenham into the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Reading.

The Republic of Ireland striker is now one away from a century of goals for Spurs, after his 15th strike of the season set up a mouth-watering tie at Old Trafford a week on Sunday.

Reading almost forced extra-time in the replay when Stephen Hunt came off the bench and smacked a volley against the crossbar, but Steve Coppell's men can now focus on the league.

The clash was never going to be a 6-4 or the 2-2 in the previous matches between the clubs - there was plenty of attacking but the game missed the cutting edge of Dimitar Berbatov, who had flu.

England boss Fabio Capello was in the stands and he was able to cast his eye over an eager Jermain Defoe, a versatile Nicky Shorey who was played in central midfield and Jermaine Jenas returning from suspension.

Paul Robinson was not in the squad, though, as his wife gave birth to a boy on the eve of the game. He was unlikely to have been in the starting XI anyway after losing his place to Radek Cerny.

With Coppell's focus on the Barclays Premier League, it was a chance for him to look at his fringe players again, although he still kept five players in the starting XI from the weekend.

His players clearly cared about the competition - unlike Dave Kitson, who was not in the squad - but lacked the penetration of Hunt until he came off the bench.

Berbatov had scored six goals in the previous thrillers, and both teams adopted attacking approaches again.

Jenas made an early burst after robbing Kalifa Cisse of the ball but his cross was just ahead of Keane.

Chris Gunter, making his Spurs debut, also had a dangerous cross cleared and Defoe headed over from the resulting corner after Younes Kaboul flicked on to him.

Keane grabbed the opener in the 15th minute, stabbing home from close range after Kaboul met Jenas' corner and Adam Federici tipped onto the bar.

Reading had their moments going forward, with Leroy Lita at the heart of their attacks.

He had a glimpse of goal early on but his finish looped to safety - and he was also booked for diving, although it looked harsh as he merely fell as he attempted to get his shot away.

Robinson's replacement, Cerny, did not get the right contact on a punch seven minutes before the break - but Lita blazed over the crossbar. He also glanced a header wide from Shane Long's cross.

At the other end, Keane had a tame penalty appeal turned down by Mike Riley when Ulises de la Cruz blocked his cross, straight after the full-back had gifted the promising opportunity with a mess of a clearance.

Pascal Chimbonda then had Federici backtracking with a sliced cross - but there was no repeat of the type of blunder which put Robinson in the spotlight during the drawn match at White Hart Lane.

Federici was also down smartly to save at his near post just before the break when Defoe met Kevin-Prince Boateng's cross with a first-time volley.

Trying his utmost to impress, Defoe also wriggled through the Reading defence on the stroke of half-time but could not get a shot away.

Coppell tried to get back in the game by bringing on Simon Cox for Alex Pearce, with Shorey moving into central midfield and looking to spread the play to Long in attack.

Shorey shot wide after 56 minutes when Long tamed a cross from Rosenior and laid the ball back.

At the other end, Defoe was off target with an impish chip from the edge of the area - it was his last action as he was taken off just after the hour mark for Aaron Lennon.

Reading brought on their own winger, with Hunt replacing Shorey - and the substitute was teed up for a volley by Ivar Ingimarsson with seven minutes remaining but the Sunderland target's effort crashed off the crossbar.

Steed Malbranque had a volley tipped onto the bar in stoppage-time.

Teams:

Reading Federici, De la Cruz, Ingimarsson, Pearce (Cox 46), Shorey (Hunt 66), Rosenior, Cisse, Harper, Convey, Lita, Long.

Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Doyle, Henry.

Booked: Lita, Long.

Tottenham Cerny, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul (Stalteri 82), Gunter, Tainio (O'Hara 76), Jenas, Boateng, Malbranque,Defoe (Lennon 61), Keane.

Subs Not Used: Forecast, Taarabt.

Booked: Lennon.

Goals: Keane 15.

Att: 22,130

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).