What the papers say: Swansea

[Far Canal]

sportinglife.com

Swansea 0 Reading 0

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/li ... 94607.html

Reading had goalkeeper Adam Federici to thank as they escaped from Swansea with a point - but they are still waiting for their first Coca-Cola Championship goal of the season.

Federici produced a string of fine saves - most notably from a Mark Gower penalty - as the Royals earned their second goalless draw of the season.

But matters at the other end will still be a concern for manager Brendan Rodgers as his side failed to hit the net for the third league game running.

The early exchanges were certainly feisty but chances were few and far between in the opening quarter of the game, with Scott Davies drilling a long-range shot just wide for the visitors and Andrea Orlandi having a free-kick blocked for the Swans.

But the home side were handed a great chance to go ahead in the 24th minute when Ryan Bertrand was penalised for handball but Gower - who is still yet to score in 45 appearances for the club - saw his spot-kick saved by Federici.

The resulting corner was deflected out for another but from the second Federici was at the heart of the action again, keeping out Garry Monk's thumping header.

The Swans continued to press and Steven Dobbie linked up well with youngster Kerry Morgan but the Scotsman sent his shot wide, before Federici continued to keep the home side at bay with a fine save from another Dobbie effort.

Reading replaced Davies with Noel Hunt at the break and lined up in a more attacking 4-4-2 formation in the second half.

And it was the Royals who had the first sight of goal in the second half when Hal Robson-Kanu got past Nathan Dyer but blazed his shot high and wide.

Robson-Kanu was involved moments later as the clash sparked in to life with an unsavoury set-to. The young winger flew into a challenge on Dyer and both sets of players squared up to each other, with Swans pair Ashley Williams and Angel Rangel going in to the book along with Kalifa Cisse of Reading.

Alan Tate and Orlandi were both off target for the home side before Hunt flashed a header across the face of goal at the other end, and then Dobbie was also wide of the goal with a shot from just inside the box.

The Swans were continuing to press and Orlandi's long-range effort missed the target, before Morgan fired just wide.

But the Royals almost snatched it right at the death when Liam Rosenior crossed for Hunt, but Dorus de Vries kept his header out before Jay Tabb shot just wide. Six minutes of injury time did not produce a winner to leave both sides still searching for their first league win.

Teams

Swansea:
De Vries, Williams, Tate, Monk, Rangel, Britton, Orlandi, Dyer (Richards 90), Gower (MacDonald 90), Morgan, Dobbie (Pintado 80).

Subs Not Used: Painter, Cornell, Bond, Thomas.

Booked: Orlandi, Williams, Rangel.

Reading:
Federici, Rosenior, Mills, Bertrand, Pearce, Cisse, Henry (Tabb 77), Robson-Kanu, Karacan (Harper 58), Davies (Hunt 46), Church.

Subs Not Used: Gunnarsson, Long, Mooney, Hamer.

Booked: Bertrand, Cisse, Rosenior, Pearce.

Att: 12,775

Ref: Simon Hooper (Swindon).

STAT ATTACK
Swansea............Reading
6.....Shots On Target.....2
11....Shots Off Target....4
5.....Fouls (Conceded)...17
7..........Corners..........6
3.......Yellow Cards.......4
0.........Red Cards........0