Swansea fight back from two down to beat Reading

Published on: 18 October 2022

Jay Fulton's goal was his second of the season, with both coming from outside the box

Jay Fulton scored a spectacular long-range winner as Swansea City fought back from 2-0 down to claim a thrilling 3-2 Championship victory over Reading.

Classy finishes from Yakou Meite and Tom Ince put Reading on course for an away triumph.

But Harry Darling's precise header made it 2-1 at half-time before Ollie Cooper swept in the equaliser.

Fulton's stunner earned Swansea a sixth win in eight games as they bounced back from a weekend thrashing at Burnley.

This was a third successive home victory for the Welsh club, who climb to seventh in the table, while Reading drop to ninth after a third straight defeat.

Swansea's latest triumph offered further evidence that they may have what it takes to compete at the right end of the Championship this season, with Russell Martin's side finding some consistency after a poor start to the campaign.

Reading, by contrast, are suffering a first dip in form in 2022-23 having surprised many with their early-season successes.

Paul Ince was back in the Reading dugout at the Swansea.com Stadium having missed last Saturday's loss to West Bromwich Albion through illness.

He was in the dark, along with everyone else, when the floodlights failed inside the opening 60 seconds of the game, prompting a six-minute delay.

When the action resumed, there were early concerns for the Royals boss as Swansea dominated, with Michael Obafemi drawing a fine save from Joe Lumley before Ben Cabango's drive was pushed over the bar.

Swansea then saw a succession of penalty appeals turned down before Reading took the lead through their first attack of the night.

Junior Hoilett, who was allowed too much space down the Reading left, pulled back for Mamadou Loum to drive at goal.

His effort hit Darling and dropped perfectly for Meite to hook the ball home.

Meite then laid on Reading's second goal, as he got the better of Darling - whose appeals for a foul were ignored, despite a strong case - before squaring for Tom Ince.

Tom Ince lifts the ball over Steven Benda to score his third goal of the season

The manager's son produced Reading's second sharp finish of the evening, lifting the ball over a helpless Steven Benda and into the net.

Swansea were feeling hard done by, though their mood lifted a little before the break as Darling met Matt Grimes' corner with a precise header which sailed inside the far post.

The home side continued to control the game in the second half, and deservedly levelled when Joel Latibeaudiere crossed and Tom Holmes could only head the ball as far as Cooper, who steered a sweet half-volley beyond Lumley.

Swansea were not finished.

After Luke Cundle lifted over from 20 yards, long-serving midfielder Fulton produced perhaps the most memorable goal of his career, taking a touch before rattling the ball in off the base of the post from close to 30 yards out.

Reading manager Paul Ince:

"We came here with a game-plan. You know when you play Swansea they will have the lion's share of the ball.

"We thought we'd need one or two passes on the counter-attack and we could get in and it worked a treat.

"We got 2-0 up. I think if we keep it like that to half-time, normally we should go and win the game from that position.

"To concede before half-time gave them a lift and I am really, really frustrated because I thought the boys gave everything. If you come to Swansea and score two goals, you expect to take something out of the game."

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsSwansea

Formation 3-4-2-1

13Benda23Wood6Darling5Cabango22Latibeaudiere4Fulton8Grimes29Sorinola18Cundle31Cooper9Obafemi

    13Benda23WoodSubstituted forOko-Flexat 45'minutesSubstituted forStevensat 87'minutes6Darling5Cabango22LatibeaudiereBooked at 65mins4Fulton8Grimes29Sorinola18CundleSubstituted forNaughtonat 81'minutes31CooperSubstituted forNtchamat 90+3'minutes9ObafemiSubstituted forCullenat 90+3'minutes

Substitutes

    1Fisher10Ntcham20Cullen21Oko-Flex24Stevens26Naughton44Thomas

Reading

Formation 3-4-2-1

1Lumley17Yiadom3Holmes5McIntyre27Mbengue22Loum8Hendrick23Hoilett10Ince19Fornah11Meite

    1Lumley17YiadomBooked at 45minsSubstituted forBabaat 56'minutes3Holmes5McIntyre27Mbengue22LoumSubstituted forCarrollat 78'minutes8Hendrick23Hoilett10Ince19FornahSubstituted forEjariaat 62'minutes11MeiteSubstituted forLucas Joãoat 62'minutes

Substitutes

    2Carroll7Long9Lucas João12Baba14Ejaria18Guinness-Walker21Bouzanis

Referee:Andy DaviesAttendance:15,717Match StatsHome TeamSwanseaAway TeamReadingPossessionHome74%Away26%ShotsHome13Away7Shots on TargetHome5Away4CornersHome8Away0FoulsHome2Away7Live Text Post update

Match ends, Swansea City 3, Reading 2.

90'+6'Full Time

Second Half ends, Swansea City 3, Reading 2.

90'+4'Post update

Attempt missed. Joel Latibeaudiere (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Olivier Ntcham.

90'+3'Substitution

Substitution, Swansea City. Liam Cullen replaces Michael Obafemi.

90'+3'Substitution

Substitution, Swansea City. Olivier Ntcham replaces Oliver Cooper.

90'Post update

Joel Latibeaudiere (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'Post update

Foul by Lucas João (Reading).

90'Post update

Attempt blocked. Ovie Ejaria (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

87'Substitution

Substitution, Swansea City. Finley Stevens replaces Armstrong Oko-Flex.

83'Post update

Kyle Naughton (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

83'Post update

Foul by Junior Hoilett (Reading).

81'Substitution

Substitution, Swansea City. Kyle Naughton replaces Luke Cundle.

78'Substitution

Substitution, Reading. Andy Carroll replaces Mamadou Loum.

77'Post update

Attempt saved. Junior Hoilett (Reading) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner.

74'goalGoal!

Goal! Swansea City 3, Reading 2. Jay Fulton (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.

72'Post update

Attempt missed. Luke Cundle (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Michael Obafemi.

68'Post update

Harry Darling (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

68'Post update

Foul by Mamadou Loum (Reading).

66'Post update

Offside, Swansea City. Armstrong Oko-Flex tries a through ball, but Michael Obafemi is caught offside.

65'Post update

Attempt blocked. Tom Ince (Reading) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is blocked.

Page 1 of 4rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward

Source: bbc.com

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Learn more