A much improved Swansea side were held by Reading at the Liberty Stadium

The Swans laid seige to the visiting goal in the second half but were unable to break down a resolute Reading defence as well as passing up a couple of glorious opportunities - most notably Mark Gower missing a first half penalty.

If Saturday was a poor performance this was almost the other end of the scale with the Swans attack led by the superb Stephen Dobbie - a clear man of the match winner and desperately unlucky not to notch his first goal for the club.

Reading can head back up the M4 knowing they are lucky to leave with a point having been second best for most of the evening and very 'strong' in the tackle determined to break down Swansea attacks with any method available to them.

Paulos sprung one surprise pre kick off with a first league start for Kerry Morgan and his faith in the youngster was rewarded with a very good performance which will surely earn him more starts in the weeks, months and years to come.

The Swans lined up as follows: -

Dorus

Rangel     Monk     Williams     Tate

Dyer     Britton     Gower     Orlandi     Morgan

Dobbie

Although the Swans had the better of the play in the first half at times they felt a little disjointed again and seemed to play too tight to each other and not create the space that this kind of formation and style dictates is almost necessary.   With Gower taking a role behind the lone striker in Dobbie he seemed too keen to head back out to his comfort zone on the left which gave Morgan little space to do what he needed to do on his debut.

But the same player (Gower) was given the perfect chance to open his league account for the Swans when the referee gave a penalty for a handball that he had initially missed but thankfully the eagle eyes of the linesman had seen.   Surely this was the moment for his opening goal?   You would assume but it wasn't as the keeper dived to his right and saved the penalty to keep Reading level.

That was the best chance of the first half but a half time team talk made the difference to the Swans as they came out unchanged in terms of personnel but much changed in terms of performance.

As Rangel and Tate became more involved in the attacks - something that has seemed almost missing in recent weeks the Swans started to find the space they craved and the excellent Dobbie was on the prowl for his first league goal.   It seemed like only a matter of time until it came as he created his own space was always a willing outlet and was a total threat to the Reading goal.

Morgan, Dyer and Gower were feeding Dobbie and he was revelling in the role he had been given linking well with the midfield behind him and always a willing runner for the Swans who were looking to pass the ball around in a manner to which we have become accustomed.

A foul on Dyer in midfield sparked what the tabloid press would refer to as a mass brawl but the referee showed just two yellow cards to add to the handbags already on display as he missed - not for the first time - things right in front of him.

One of those was an excellent save from a Dobbie shot that he decided must mean a goal kick to Reading whilst several niggling fouls on Swans players went unpunished.

Dobbie was replaced by Pintado and with it some of the Swans danger seemed to disappear although there was still time for Dyer to somehow miss after being teed up by Morgan (?) and - despite six minutes of stoppage time, the game ended goalless - enough to move the Swans off the bottom but still no first league win of the campaign.

But from tonight we can take the positives and the first signs of better things around the corner were there - Reading can count themselves more than lucky to leave with a point.

Onwards and (hopefully) upwards

Photo: Action Images

Leeds United Polls