A pretty dull first half, where Swansea passed the ball around for 40 minutes, without any cutting edge and we were playing compact and deep, with the obligatory hoof up to Pog when we would finally break up play. We must have completed about 20 passes in total, in the first half.

Second half was definitely better. Guthrie really got involved (can't fault his effort or passion, he was flying in to challenges) and him and Karacan really worked well together. They both seemed to be able to press a lot better then the rest of our side, and subsequently got a lot closer to the Swansea midfield. We showed them way too much respect in the first half, not pressing them. They are a good footballing side but there are very few players in the world who can collect the ball whilst under pressure from two/three men and still retain possession with ease. Ledge was careless on the ball again but he definitely played a good hand in this point. A number of times he anticipated well and cut out through balls as well as winning challenges in the middle of the park.

Pearce and Mariappa were solid at the back, and have done well in these last two games, although a lot of that might be to do with the extra man in midfield.

Feel sorry for Pog, he's putting plenty of effort in but just not getting any service or even players up around him quick enough to help him out. We're starting off games on the backfoot and subsequently his time on the pitch is spent chasing the ball or trying to win 50/50 balls in the air. We looked better when ALF came on but I think that was also as a result of actually getting amongst Swansea way higher up the pitch.

MOTM - I'll say Karacan. Honourable mentions to Guthrie, Fed and both CBs.
West_Reading

Laudrup's men dominated the first half but in the end were left clinging on for their point, with Chico Flores heading Adam Le Fondre's volley over the bar. "I am satisfied with the performance, not so much the result," Laudrup added. "We dominated for 75 minutes and we could have won the game. The performance was good."

For Reading, the draw ended a run of seven consecutive defeats. The Royals are still in the relegation zone but they were the only one of the bottom three teams to get any kind of a result.

Le Fondre's late volley was headed over the bar by Flores and the Reading striker was also booked for handling the ball into the net. Newcastle were awarded a goal which came off Demba Ba's arm at the Madejski Stadium earlier in the season, but the same luck was not shining on Reading.

A point was a small step, given Reading are still six points from safety, but even so ending the run of defeats was vital for Brian McDermott's team, who had come so close to earning a draw against Manchester City before Christmas.

Having conceded nine goals in their last two home games, Reading's aim was clearly in keeping a clean sheet and the goalkeeper Adam Federici secured that by saving well from Nathan Dyer and Ki Sung-yeung.

"We need to find a way to get results and today we got a result," McDermott said. "We are disappointed they didn't give us the handball goal ... because they normally give them here. Adam would have headed it but he said he got pulled back. We were much more resilient; it is important to move on with a point and we can look forward with confidence to West Ham [at home on Saturday]. We have got a point and a clean sheet and we are off the bottom of the table."
The Guardian