Swansea hit back to deny Reading their first win

06 October 2012 18:19

Swansea staged a late fightback to deny Reading their first Premier League win of the season in a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

Michael Laudrup's side looked set for their fourth successive league defeat when goals from Pavel Pogrebnyak and Noel Hunt put the visitors 2-0 up before half-time.

But Spanish midfielder Michu gave Swansea a lifeline with 19 minutes remaining and Wayne Routledge ensured Reading's winless run would extend to six matches when he equalised seven minutes later.

Swansea had made a bright start, creating several decent chances in the opening 20 minutes, with the best falling to striker Danny Graham who saw a header turned over the bar by Alex McCarthy.

Reading had shown little going forward, but took the lead in the 31st minute when Russian striker Pogrebnyak latched on to a through-ball from Jobi McAnuff and fired goalwards.

It should have been a routine save for Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm, but the Dutchman somehow let the ball sneak beyond him into the net.

Brian McDermott's team struck again just before half-time when a McAnuff shot looped up off Angel Rangel and Hunt was on hand to lash the ball past Vorm.

Laudrup responded by sending on Luke Moore for Graham at the interval and the substitute made a big impact.

Moore troubled the Reading defence immediately and McCarthy was forced to save with his foot when the striker went through on goal.

McCarthy then did superbly to push Moore's header against the post and also turned Ki Sung-Yeung's deflected low shot onto the woodwork.

Reading were under seige now and Laudrup's team got one back in the 71st minute when Michu powered in a diving header from a deflected Routledge cross.

McCarthy pulled off yet another great stop to keep Moore out, but Swansea were not to be denied and after Ki robbed Reading of possession, a counter-attack was finished off by Routledge's leveller in the 78th minute.

Source: AFP