Sir Alex Ferguson appeared to be nodding off in the first half. Casemiro's contributions in the second will have been suitably stimulating for those in the cushy Old Trafford directors' box.
In times of need, Manchester United still have a five-times Champions League winner to call upon in the opponent's penalty area. It had to be the consummate Casemiro who ended Reading's resistance.
The boys from Brazil broke through. Antony and Casemiro were United's most consistent and creative performers before they combined in the 54th minute, the winger drifting inside and playing the ball into the channel for the onrushing Casemiro to clip over goalkeeper Joe Lumley.
Read more: United player ratings vs Reading as Casemiro superb and Antony good
A goal at the cost of £155million, Casemiro selflessly pointed to Antony. The winger crowned one of the most fulfilling weeks of his five months with United with another innovative assist. Since justifiably dubbed "predictable" by Gary Neville at Arsenal last week, Antony has been anything but. The Old Trafford compere announced he was the man of the match.
But it was Casemiro, again charging forward as he did for the heart-stopping equaliser at Chelsea in October. He is the most attack-minded defensive midfielder around. Casemiro delayed his loft so the goalkeeper Lumley would drop to the turf. Four minutes later, he whipped a second in.
How apt Casemiro played with the all-round brilliance Reading manager Paul Ince did during his six trophy-laden years for United. Ince had an enviable view of Casemiro's class.
There was no louder ovation than for Casemiro's withdrawal with United two goals ahead and a man up. Andy Carroll enriched the supporters' evening with one of the most brainless yellow-card doubles six minutes apart. Forever a Liverpool misfit, Carroll was merrily goaded as he approached the tunnel.
The roars from United supporters were tinged with relief. Reading were identical to the top-flight Royals who obdurately secured a goalless draw at Old Trafford on the opening day in 2007. Tom McIntyre denied two certain goals with brave blocks that drew appreciation from Ince and his assistant, the tenacious former Sunderland midfielder Alex Rae.
Seconds after Ferguson was filmed in what appeared to be a soporific state, he will have awoken to roars that greeted Marcus Rashford's header. Only it was chalked off by VAR and Reading returned to the dressing room level at the interval.
Early into the restart, Ten Hag enquired why Junior Hoilett's bloodied nose could not be attended to a few yards away off the pitch. Just as Reading's modest following was at its loudest, Casemiro intervened.
The Brazilian flavour of United's victory extended a canny flick from Fred. Three goals in 12 minutes killed the contest despite Reading registering through Amadou Mbengue's powerful header.
A midweek that United might have spent trekking to Berkshire for an FA Cup replay will now take place at Old Trafford against Leeds. United's final game in hand in the Premier League is a certainty for February 8 with both teams through to the fifth round. Elland Road hosts the teams only four days later.
This was the fourth three-goal home win in the last five for United and the goals were hard to come by. Reading rode their luck in a first half they ought to have ended in front. David de Gea could have worn his slippers yet Tyrell Malacia was the one caught dozing when he inadvertently teed up Hoilett inside his own area in the 45th minute. De Gea diverted the ball away.
That was the sole scare on an evening Ten Hag eventually gave some regulars a breather. Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Christian Eriksen and Wout Weghorst all made way. Rests must be scheduled for Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Surprisingly, there was only one change to the United line-up against the Championship's 14th-placed team. Harry Maguire was recalled for his obligatory cup appearance, a sensible selection a day after Ten Hag denied the United captain was fifth-choice centre-back.
United's 3-0 advantage over Forest ahead of the League Cup semi-final second leg at Old Trafford doubtless altered Ten Hag's thinking. Starting first-choice talents against Reading ensures they are not undercooked for next Saturday's Premier League visit of Crystal Palace.
Ince, treated to a humiliating chorus of "Paul Ince is a Scouse b-----d" by United's raucous following at Blackburn the only time he managed against them in the Premier League, received grateful applause from some supporters as he approached the dugout. Enough water has passed under the bridge for Ince to earn appreciation for his brilliance during his distinguished six-year service.
Since the broadcasters failed to televise United's goalless draw with Exeter in the third round in 2005, all but one of their FA Cup ties have been beamed live into homes in the United Kingdom. With an unsociable kick-off time of 8pm on a Saturday, this was only deemed worthy of ITV4. The sacred slot on ITV1 still belongs to The Masked Singer.
Casemiro was more entertaining.
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