Andy Townsend
Ex-Republic of Ireland international on BBC 5 live

"That's Palace all over. Wilfried Zaha gets the ball inside his own half and a few seconds later Yannick Bolasie is causing danger in the six-yard box. They are so dynamic."

Chris Gunter is getting some lengths in on this pitch. He's back defending now, heading Wilfried Zaha's ball away with Yannick Bolasie lurking behind him inside the area. Bolasie then just fails to react to Emmanuel Adebayor's knockdown.

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Hoops: This pitch has been lifted from a 3rd Division game in 1978

Chris Gunter then gets up the other end of the pitch to swing a decent cross into the area, but Damien Delaney heads away.

The hosts pick the ball up again through Ola John, who speeds past Joel Ward, then does the Palace man again when he tries to recover. In the end, though, John dithers too long on the ball and his low cross inside the area is wasteful.

Crystal Palace win the game's first corner as Chris Gunter thumps Yannick Bolasie's cross behind under no pressure. Bit of head tennis from the resulting corner, but Reading escape.

Image source, Getty Images

Not an action-packed opening 10 minutes by any means. In fact, BBC One commentary chat has drifted towards big beards. Joe Ledley's effort is impressing the most at the moment.

Image source, Getty Images

Having said that, Reading are quick to get players forward when they do build an attack. Hal Robson-Kanu delivers a diagonal ball into the area and Scott Dann heads out of the hands of Wayne Hennessey. Bit of communication needed there.

Reading's priority in these early stages appears to be stopping Crystal Palace from playing. Safety first with their formation, with a big gap betwen the midfield and lone striker Simon Cox. 

Michael Hector plays a speculative pass forward but Cox has no chance of beating Scott Dann and Damien Delaney to it all by himself.

Andy Townsend
Ex-Republic of Ireland international on BBC 5 live

"Some hesitation in the Reading backline in the early stages and they must not give anything soft away. When you are playing a side from the Premier League you almost don't mind losing to a great goal or piece of play - but don't' gift them anything."

Image source, Getty Images

Paul McShane versus Emmanuel Adebayor is going to be an interesting watch.

Actually, the whole Palace forward line has the potential to cause a few problems with a good mixture of experience and pace.

No chances yet in these early stages.

Image source, Getty Images

Really good FA Cup atmosphere as Reading get things under way.

Are big hipster beards still a thing? Crystal Palace's players seem to think so.

Anyway, out come the teams, followed by the managers. Alan Pardew strokes Brian McDermott's head before taking his place in his dugout. No negative reception from the home fans to Pardew actually. Indifferent.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Crystal Palace actually played pretty well for the first hour against Liverpool last weekend but, from then on, they failed to manage the game from 1-0 up and with 11 men against 10.

That defeat means Palace are still without a Premier League win this year but they also showed they are a dangerous team that will make chances.

Without a bad mistake by their goalkeeper and a stoppage-time penalty, they would have picked up at least a point.

I will be at the Madejski Stadium as co-commentator because this game is live on BBC One. I am expecting it to be close, but I also expect Palace to win.  

Lawro's prediction: 1-2  

Mark Bright
BBC Sport

"Reading are underdogs tonight and Crystal Palace are not used to that. Their attitude has to be spot on.

"The FA Cup has always been about giant-killings and Palace don't want to be on the end of one."

Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator at Madejski Stadium

"Both clubs will be desperate to get to Wembley to enliven a season in which they're nowhere near the upper echelons in their respective divisions, but are also nine points clear of the relegation zone.

"Reading's promotion push didn't get beyond the autumn but last year's semi-finalists are at it again in the FA Cup, reaching their fourth quarter-final in the last seven seasons.

"Crystal Palace are on a wretched run in the league and are the only team in the top four divisions without a league win in 2016. Luckily for them, their form in the FA Cup has been much better.

"Both teams will rightly see it as a very winnable tie, with Reading's good home form - coupled with Palace's recent poor run - making it a hard one to call."

Image source, Reuters

Former Reading and Crystal Palace boss Steve Coppell: "Reading has lost its way for sure. They have had owenership issues and lost direction. Hopefully now they have more stability and having Brian McDermott back is a great start.

"He wears his heart on his sleeve."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Away from the FA Cup briefly, there's been a managerial change in the Premier League today, with Rafa Benitez replacing Steve McClaren at Newcastle.

The former Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Valencia boss takes over with the Magpies a point from safety with 10 games left.

The best thing to come from Benitez's appointment is his rallying call of: "C'mon Toon Army!"

Next week, Benitez releases his version of Fog on the Tyne...