Swansea City produced an awesome display of football at this afternoon to see off promotion chasing Reading in some style

For those who were present at the Mad Stad back in September they firmly believed that in Reading they were watching the best footballing team in the division.  Well after today it is very easy to believe that it is a case of ' the kings are dead, long live the kings' as the Swans made Reading look ordinary at best even if they are probably a side destined for the Premiership.

The visitors ended the day second best in every single department as the Swans turned in a display that we know they were capable of and one that Reading simply had no answer to.

To a man the team performed superbly and the result was never in doubt even if it took until the last minute of the first half to break the deadlock.   We were so good that the referee even invented five minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game just so he could watch us for that bit longer.

In Nathan Dyer it does appear that Roberto has found another gem to add to an ever growing list and he was a constant thorn in the side of the Reading defence.  Indeed following the second half switch of wing when Orlandi came on it took just nine minutes for Dyer to frustrate his opposite number Roseinor so much that the Reading man saw red.   Probably for the best he could have easily felt?

Roberto's side was relatively straight forward to pick today with Gomez moving into the middle to replace the suspended Britton and Dyer in for his Liberty debut as the Swans lined up as follows: -

Dorus

Rangel     Monk     Williams     Tate

Dyer     Gomez     Pratley     Allen     Gower

Scotland

I don't like to take anything away from the opposition when they do outclass as and in fairness Reading did for the opening 120 seconds or so.   In that time, Doyle had a snapshot that was well wide of the mark but from then on in there was only one side that were going to win the game.  Indeed, had Monk and Williams been searched on their way out of the Liberty this afternoon I am almost convinced that you would have found Doyle and Noel Hunt in their pockets.

Swansea passed the ball around with a style and confidence that we know they have and it was Reading who spent the forty five minutes on the back foot.   Gower tested Federici on more than one occasion whilst the ball for Dyer to run onto was a very effective addition to the Swans armoury and used to great effect on more than one occasion.

Jason Scotland - again playing the lone striker role - was getting closer and closer and just about on the stroke of halftime he grabbed his 12th goal of the season.  Turning again on the edge of the box he drilled a low shot into the corner of the net and the Swans were into a deserved lead as the half time interval came along.

The second half took a very similar pattern although in fairness - as with at Burnley last week - the Swans were happy to give a little more possession to the visitors although the lion share was very much with us.  Joe Allen gets better and better every game and is looking like the next big thing every time he touches the ball whilst the ever running engine of Darren Pratley was in full force all afternoon despite the heavy strapping on his injury.

Tate and Rangel were constant additions to the Swans attack as Reading tried bravely to cling on and frustration reigned.  Orlandi replaced Gower and Roseinor saw the first of his two yellow cards for dissent when he disputed the direction of a throw in.   Minutes later he had the second to add to his collection when he tugged back Dyer's sleeve as the winger skipped through two defenders and the referee had little alternative but to end his afternoon early.

And the referee made it two dismissals minutes later when he elected to send a member of Reading coaching staff to the stands for much arm waving (was he trying to take off!) and it was clear that the sheer gulf in class was becoming too much on the afternoon.

The second duly arrived with just three minutes left.   Great work again from Scotland resulted in his shot being blocked but it was Orlandi who followed in to grab the second and secure another maximum return for the Swans now unbeaten in ten since the injury to Ferrie Bodde back in November (11 if you count the cup game)

The final whistle was greeted with great enthusiasm and praise from the Liberty crowd and as attentions turn back to the FA Cup you really do firmly believe that this is possibly the best team the Swans have ever produced.   They really are a joy to watch.

Photo: Action Images

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