Reading moved level on points with the Championship play-off places as their third victory from four extended Swansea City’s winless run to eight games.
Andy Carroll volleyed the Royals ahead in a first half in which they also missed a penalty as Yakou Meite blasted way over.
The Swans played themselves into trouble after the break, with goalkeeper Steven Benda’s misplaced pass falling to Tom Ince, whose deflected shot doubled Reading’s lead.
Substitute Liam Cullen scored on the rebound to raise hopes of yet another Swansea comeback but the visitors’ late attempts to salvage a point were in vain.
Reading climb up to eighth in the table, level on points with fifth-placed Norwich City and short of the top six on goal difference alone.
Such is the chaotic congestion of the Championship that Swansea, who started the game one position higher than Reading, drop to 16th as they remain without a victory since October.
Russell Martin’s men have lost three and drawn five of their past eight fixtures, failing to score first in any of those matches. And while their 14 points from losing positions is the best in the division this season, the comeback specialists could not repeat the trick this time.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Lumley
- 23HoilettSubstituted forMbengueat 80′minutes
- 17Yiadom
- 3HolmesBooked at 40mins
- 24Sarr
- 5McIntyre
- 10Ince
- 8Hendrick
- 22LoumBooked at 77mins
- 11MeiteSubstituted forBabaat 65′minutes
- 2CarrollSubstituted forLongat 80′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Long
- 9Lucas João
- 12Baba
- 15Azeez
- 18Guinness-Walker
- 21Bouzanis
- 27Mbengue
Swansea
Formation 3-5-2
- 13Benda
- 5CabangoBooked at 66mins
- 6DarlingBooked at 66mins
- 23WoodSubstituted forOko-Flexat 61′minutes
- 29SorinolaSubstituted forNaughtonat 78′minutes
- 8Grimes
- 7AllenSubstituted forCullenat 58′minutes
- 4FultonSubstituted forCundleat 58′minutes
- 3Manning
- 31CooperBooked at 27minsSubstituted forPatersonat 58′minutes
- 17Piroe
Substitutes
- 1Fisher
- 12Paterson
- 18Cundle
- 20Cullen
- 21Oko-Flex
- 22Latibeaudiere
- 26Naughton
Live Text
Second Half ends, Reading 2, Swansea City 1.
Attempt blocked. Tom Ince (Reading) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked. Assisted by Joe Lumley.
Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Jeff Hendrick.
Attempt saved. Harry Darling (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Manning with a cross.
Harry Darling (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Andy Yiadom (Reading).
Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Naby Sarr.
Ryan Manning (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Shane Long (Reading).
Attempt missed. Luke Cundle (Swansea City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Foul by Liam Cullen (Swansea City).
Andy Yiadom (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Ryan Manning (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jeff Hendrick (Reading).
Substitution, Reading. Amadou Salif Mbengue replaces Junior Hoilett.
Substitution, Reading. Shane Long replaces Andy Carroll.
Foul by Jamie Paterson (Swansea City).
Jeff Hendrick (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Swansea City. Kyle Naughton replaces Matthew Sorinola.
Mamadou Loum (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
