Reading 2 – 1 Swansea

Reading climbed back to the cusp of the play-off places courtesy of a 2-1 win over Swansea on a drizzly evening at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Andy Carroll’s third goal of the season put Paul Ince’s men ahead, and it might have been two within five minutes had Yakou Meite not mindlessly blazed his penalty over the bar.

The Royals did find a second early in the second half, when Tom Ince’s deflected shot wrong-footed Steven Benda, and though Liam Cullen halved the deficit with 19 minutes to play, it was not enough to spark the comeback the Swans required.

In typical Championship fashion, Reading’s 11th league win of the season sees them move from 16th up to eighth, level with Norwich, Millwall and QPR on 35 points, and outside the top six on goal difference alone.

Russell Martin’s Swans – who are now on an eight-game winless streak, with their last victory on October 23 – drop to 16th.

More to follow…

What’s next?

Both teams are back in action at 7.45pm on Friday December 30. Reading travel to Carrow Road to take on Norwich, while Swansea host Watford at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Both matches are available to watch live on Sky Sports Football Red Button.