06/10/2012 14:00 v Reading

The Swans came back from 2-0 down against Reading to claim a share of the spoils as they ended their run of three consecutive defeats.

The Royals had led 2-0 at the break through goals from Pavel Progrebnyak and Noel Hunt.

But the Swans bravely fought back and after hitting the woodwork twice, Michu gave the Jack Army hope when he nodded home Wayne Routledge's deflected cross for his sixth of the season.

Routledge then drew Michael Laudrup's side level when he fired past Alex McCarthy with 12 minutes left to set up a tense finish.

Substitute Pablo Hernandez went close, as did Jem Karacan at the other end, but both teams were forced to settle for a point.

Prior to kick-off, Ryder Cup star Sergio Garcia was introduced to the Swans crowd, who gave him a huge reception after his recent heroics in Chicago.

Garcia is in Swansea to meet up with his sister, who is the partner of Swans star Pablo Hernandez.

There was another important piece of business before the game got under way, with Leon Britton receiving a trophy to mark his 400th game for the club.

As ever, the little midfielder was given a rapturous reception by the Jack Army.

The Swans made a positive start, Ashley Williams getting on the end of Ki Sung-Yueng's free-kick but the defender's effort flew wide.

Danny Graham then went close, Wayne Routledge's perfectly-judged cross finding the striker in the box. Graham's header was goalbound, but keeper McCarthy tipped it over for a corner.

Another Ki free-kick found Graham minutes later, but the striker appeared to lose sight of the ball with the sun shining in his eyes.

Then the Swans created a great chance with 18 minutes on the clock. Michu threaded through a pass for Routledge, who held off his marker but could only shoot straight at McCarthy, who swatted away his attempt.

The Swans kept applying the pressure, and Williams again connected with a Ki delivery into the box, but his header was well over.

Routledge and Nathan Dyer linked up well before the former's shot was deflected to Michu, but the Spaniard couldn't keep his shot down.

Then, against the run of play, the visitors took the lead with their first effort.

Captain Jobi McAnuff sent Progrebnyak through down the left, and the Russian's effort squeezed under Michel Vorm and just over the line with 31 minutes gone.

The Swans looked for a quick reply as Ki's low effort was well dealt with by McCarthy.

And another suckerpunch followed before the break. After a shot was deflected into Hunt's path, the striker volleyed past Vorm.

Michael Laudrup made a change at the break, Luke Moore coming on in place of Graham.

And it almost paid off within a minute as Michu put the substitute in on goal. But McCarthy stretched out to deflect Moore's effort wide with a superb reaction save.

Moore went even closer six minutes later, leaping high to head Routledge's cross goalwards, but McCarthy dived and tipped his effort onto the post before the defence cleared the danger.

Laudrup made another change, Pablo Hernandez replacing Dyer just after the hour mark.

The woodwork came to the rescue again as Ki's deflected shot was palmed onto the post by McCarthy as the Swans continued to pile on the pressure.

The keeper was at it again from the resulting corner, getting down to keep Williams' header out.

Then, with 20 minutes to go, the Swans did cut the deficit.

Routledge's cross was deflected and Michu reacted first to header past McCarthy.

The stadium erupted, and the Swans were now in sight of drawing level.

And they did that with 12 minutes to go. Substitute Moore slipped in a neat pass for Routledge, who fired past McCarthy at the first attempt.

The Swans then thought they had a great appeal for a penalty as Hernandez's volley hit the arm of Nicky Shorey, but Mike Dean waved away the appeals. Hernandez reacted quickest but his shoot just floated over.

As the Swans were eyeing a winner as the game entered stoppage time, Reading almost pinched victory as Vorm swatted away sub Hal Robson-Kanu's cross and Karacan nodded towards goal. Fortunately for the Swans, Williams was there to clear off the line.

The visitors pushed again, Jimmy Kebe volleying just wide, while at the other end, sub Jonathan de Guzman himself volleyed into the side-netting.

And that was the final action as both sides were forced for a share of the points.

 

 

SWANS: Michel Vorm, Angel Rangel, Ben Davies, Chico Flores, Ashley Williams (capt), Leon Britton, Ki, Michu (Jonathan de Guzman, 86), Nathan Dyer (Pablo Hernandez, 62), Wayne Routledge, Danny Graham (Luke Moore, ht).
SUBS: Gerhard Tremmel, Dwight Tiendalli, Alan Tate, Itay Shechter.

READING: Alex McCarthy, Nicky Shorey, Jem Karacan, Adrian Mariappa, Pavel Progrebnyak (Adam Le Fondre, 80), Noel Hunt (Jason Roberts, 72), Jobi McAnuff (capt), Jimmy Kebe, Jay Tabb (Hal Robson-Kanu, 89), Kaspars Gorkss, Shaun Cummings.
SUBS: Alex Pearce, Gareth McCleary, Danny Guthrie, Stuart Taylor.