The debates over whether the FA Cup run is a help or a hindrance can now end after the Swans fell to a single goal in a battling and at times very impressive display at the Vetch Field.
It took extra time to separate the side from their championship opponents and to be fair Reading could have had little complaints if Swansea had finished the job off before the 90 minute period had finished, certainly after a first period where the Swans were by far the better side.
Following the disappointment of conceding a two goal advantage at the Vetch on the weekend, Kenny Jackett sent his side out as follows - placing Leon Britton in the middle after an impressive second half display on Saturdday
Gueret
Ricketts Iriekpen Monk Austin
Forbes Britton Gurney Anderson
Connor Trundle
Subs: Murphy, Maylett, Robinson, Pritchard, Tate
Swansea started far the brighter side in the first half with Trundle and Connor continuing their great link up play of late and Anderson and Forbes providing a far more balanced look to the midfield.
It was pretty much consistent Swansea pressure for the opening period as they linked, harried, chased and ran the ball well at all times. Britton's running was a constant threat to the Reading defence as was the link play between the front two and the two wingers.
Trundle, Connor and Izzy all tested the Reading defence which seemed to be backed up by a keeper who did not look confident as the wind and rain blew into his face as the heavens around Swansea opened as we all know they can do so well.
Reading's defenders had clearly done their homework on Trundle placing two men on him on many occasions and allowing him to chest the ball but no space to turn. This was proving a problem for them as he was linking with Connor and Anderson to create more space to threaten the Reading goal.
For all the pressure you always felt that we needed a goal but it wasn't to be forthcoming in that opening period and as the half ended we started to wonder if the goalless scoreline would count against us as the game went onwards. | SWANSEA | | Gueret | | Austin | | Ricketts | | Iriekpen | | Monk | | Britton | | Gurney | | Forbes | | Anderson | | Connor | | Trundle | READING | | Hahnemann | | Murty | | Shorey | | Sonko | | Convey | | Harper | | Hughes | | Ingimarsson | | Little | | Sidwell | | Forster | REFEREE | | C Penton | ATTENDANCE | | 7,354 |
As the teams appeared for the second half, for five minutes it looked as if it was only the visitors that had come out as their game upped a gear and Swansea were very much on the back foot. Swansea's first touch of the second half was a sliding tackle from Monk to give Reading a corner as the visitors must have felt the rocket from Steve Coppell at half time.
| Trundle tries an early swapping of shirts |
It was just five minutes of pressure though as the two teams started to match each other better and chances were created at either end. Reading were happy to hand possession to Swansea in the midfield areas but it was a different story when we got into their third as they closed us down and we had less joy in those areas then we did in the first half.
| Paul Connor poses for the cameras |
The game was drifting towards extra time as Lee Trundle drilled in a low free kick that was well held by the opposition keeper. Andy Robinson replaced the tiring Ijah Anderson and Swanseas midfield became a little too narrow again as the referee signalled that we were due a late night at the Vetch as the game went into extra time but not before Robinson had forced the keeper into a full stretch save with a neatly taken volley
Goals | At this stage not too many people would have backed against penalties as the teams started to feel the strain of their second game each in little over 48 hours and if there was to be a score then surely one goal would win it.
And one goal it was that did separate the sides but sadly for Swansea it was the visitors that spoiled the party. In a rare lack of concentration at the back, the Swans failed to deal with a ball into the centre and as it was headed back across goal there was Nicky Forster to place the ball into the empty net and create the first noise of the night from the visiting support.
Could Swansea pull this back? The end answer was no but it certainly wasn't for a lack of trying. Trundle's shot was saved by the keeper when you would have laid serious money that he would have scored as a noisy Vetch crowd got behind their team willing them to get the goal that would send the game into the lottery of a penalty shoot out. | | Swansea | | None | | Reading | | Forster 95 | | Card Count | | Booked | | Swansea | | Forbes 85 | | Reading | | None | | Sent Off | | Swansea | | None | | Reading | | None | | Match Pictures | | To Follow |
Time had almost run out as the fourth official signalled one minute of stoppage time at the precise moment that a free kick was awarded to us on the right hand side of the pitch just outside the penalty area.
Was it to be Trundle or Robinson. The answer was the former and he pulled another full length dive from the keeper. With all eleven men, Willy included, up for the corner it was Robinson again who cut in from the right but his powerful shot was easily saved by the Reading keeper and that was that as they say.
It is disappointing to exit the competition at home but it was somewhat fitting that the Vetch played host to such a good game for it's last FA Cup tie and Swansea can hold their heads very high in defeat and now it is onto league matters to ensure that we are playing at a higher level next season.
Reading are a decent side but we more than matched them tonight but sadly on this occasion it was just not to be.
Back to the league but thanks for the effort lads - we are proud of you
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| Trundle sticks his tongue out while having his breast felt |
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