MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s English striker Wayne Rooney (R) has a shot saved by Reading’s Omani goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi (L) during the English FA Cup third round football match between Manchester United and Reading at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, yesterday. — AFP

LONDON:  Wayne Rooney stands one goal away from becoming Manchester United's outright record goal-scorer after equaling club great Bobby Charlton's mark of 249 yesterday.

With the 79-year-old Charlton watching from the stands, Rooney guided in Juan Mata's cross after seven minutes as the defending FA Cup champion swept aside second-tier Reading 4-0 in the third round.

English Premier League teams Bournemouth, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City all bowed out to lower-league opponents.

Third-tier Millwall, Cup finalist in 2004, caused the biggest shock by thumping a much-changed Bournemouth 3-0, West Brom went down at home to Championship team Derby County 2-1, while Wolverhampton Wanderers, also from the second tier, ensured Stoke lost in the third round for the first time since 2009 by winning at Britannia Stadium 2-0.

In all-Premier League matches, Ahmed Musa scored twice as Leicester fought back from a goal down to defeat Everton 2-1 while in the battle of the new managers, Marco Silva saw his Hull side get the better of Paul Clement's Swansea with a 2-0 victory. Silva, appointed on Tuesday in place of the fired Mike Phelan, would have noted the large number of empty seats at Hull's KCOM Stadium with home fans staying away in protest against the club's owners.

Non-league sides Sutton United and Lincoln City earned replays but there was no fairytale for the lowest-ranked team in the competition Stourbridge as it went down at Wycombe 2-1. Arsenal played Preston in the late game.

MANCHESTER UNITED 4, READING 0

Rooney's latest milestone - he is the record scorer for England - came in front of Old Trafford fans who have adored him, on and off, since he joined as a teenage prodigy from Everton in 2004.

"To do it at such a massive club like Manchester United, it is a really proud moment for me," Rooney said. "It was not something I could have imagined. You don't think that far ahead, but I have been at this club a long time, it is a huge part of my life, and it is an honor to be up there alongside Sir Bobby."

United manager Jose Mourinho, who won the FA Cup when in charge of Chelsea in 2007, was effusive in his praise of Rooney.

"A more special day will arrive," he said. "It was great but I want one more goal. He is an amazing guy in the group and we all want him to do that. To have Wayne as the top scorer in a club like this is magnificent for him."

The game will be not be so fondly remembered by former United defender Jaap Stam, whose Reading side he coaches was outclassed.

Rooney set up Anthony Martial for 2-0 not long after he scored the opener. United, winning for the eighth consecutive game in all competitions, added two more in quick succession after the break through Marcus Rashford, his second coming after a mistake from goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi

WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1, DERBY COUNTY 2

Tom Ince, son of former England midfielder Paul Ince, struck a fine winner to upset top-flight West Brom. The hosts led through a Matt Phillips long-range strike but Derby hit back in the second half as Darren Bent levelled and Ince curled home a superb free kick.

MILLWALL 3, BOURNEMOUTH 0

Bournemouth made 11 changes from its last game and suffered an embarrassing defeat against a side in ninth place in League One. - AP