Reading 2 - 4 Swansea

Swansea beat Reading in play-off thriller

By Paul Fletcher BBC Sport at Wembley

Scott Sinclair hit a hat-trick as Swansea became the first Welsh side to reach the Premier League after holding off a brave Reading fightback in a pulsating Championship play-off final at Wembley.

The Swans have not played in the top flight of English football since 1983 but they scored three unanswered first-half goals to take control of Monday's match.

Sinclair struck twice in as many minutes midway through the half, first from the penalty spot and then with a close-range finish, before Stephen Dobbie scored with his right foot from 16 yards.

Royals substitute Jay Tabb and assistant manager Nigel Gibbs were both red carded at the break after abusing referee Phil Dowd on what was turning into an afternoon to forget for Brian McDermott and his team, but the Royals surged back into the contest after the restart.

Joe Allen headed into his own net following Noel Hunt's flicked header, and Matt Mills converted a corner as Reading scored twice in eight minutes to leave the contest on a knife edge.

Jem Karacan struck the Swansea post but Sinclair converted his second penalty of the afternoon 10 minutes from the end as the Welsh side held on.

Swansea, who almost went out of business nine years ago, were far from their fluent best for most of the match but showed guts and resolve as Reading tore into them after the break.

And their victory means that boss Brendan Rodgers, sacked by Reading after 23 games in charge in December 2009, ends his first campaign in south Wales celebrating the first promotion of his managerial career.

Reading started the match with an intensity and tempo that suggested they did not want Swansea to settle into their smooth passing rhythm.

Shane Long buzzed along the Swans back line and the Welsh side looked rattled, with keeper Dorus de Vries spilling a low cross that Ashley Williams eventually cleared.

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Swans right-back Alan Tate surrendered ground every time fit-again Royals winger Jimmy Kebe was in possession and the Reading man underlined his intent with one particularly dangerous run from inside his own half to the edge of his opponent's area.

Reading were perhaps unlucky not to be awarded a penalty of their own when central defender Garry Monk appeared to handle the ball.

However, the complexion of the contest changed completely when Sinclair scored his quick-fire double.

Nathan Dyer, the club's player of the season, had been anonymous but there was no doubt that Zurab Khizanishvili clumsily hacked him down for the penalty that Sinclair casually slotted home with a precise low finish.

The Reading defender was one of three players booked in the opening minutes of the game and he was perhaps fortunate to escape a second yellow for his foul on Dyer.

The Royals did not have time to regroup before Swansea scored again, with left-back Ian Harte's lack of pace cruelly exposed in the build-up.

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Dobbie surged past the Irishman, who had a comfortable head start in the race for the ball, before delivering a low cross that Adam Federici could only deflect into the path of Sinclair, who slotted home from six yards.

Royals striker Hunt headed wide from a corner at the near post but the momentum was now firmly with the Welsh side, who struck their third shortly before the break.

Again the goal originated down the right, with Jobi McAnuff unable to block Dyer's cross and Dobbie slotting home from 16 yards after Khizanishvili deflected the ball into his path.

The Royals might have given themselves a lifeline before the break, but Long scuffed his six-yard strike after a deep cross fell invitingly at his feet, while De Vries saved a crisp 20-yard strike from Mikele Leigertwood.

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Sinclair delight at Wembley glory

Reading's afternoon deteriorated even further during the break when substitute Tabb and assistant manager Gibbs were both given their red cards.

But their crestfallen supporters were given encouragement shortly after the restart when Allen deflected a header into his own net at the near post after Hunt's flick.

The Swans almost restored their three-goal lead but Dobbie, who was substituted for Darren Pratley straight afterwards, shot disappointingly wide from a good position at the end of a brilliant mazy run.

His profligacy was punished as Royals skipper Mills headed home from a corner to bring his team right back into the contest.

The momentum was fully with the Berkshire club and they almost equalised but a deflected Karacan shot hit the base of the post and Monk blocked Hunt's goal-bound follow-up.

Swansea then restored their crucial two-goal advantage when Sinclair completed his hat-trick with a penalty that just eluded the dive of Federici.

There was no doubt about the spot kick, which was awarded after Andy Griffin clumsily fouled Fabio Borini and the Swans played out the final minutes with relatively few alarms to complete an incredible journey from League Two to the Premier League in just six years.

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (5)

Reading

01 Federici
02 Griffin Booked (Robson-Kanu - 84' )
05 Mills
15 Khizanishvili Booked
23 Harte
04 Karacan
08 Leigertwood
11 McAnuff Booked
14 Kebe
09 Long
10 Hunt (Church - 76' )

Substitutes

41 McCarthy
24 Cummings
26 Pearce
07 Tabb
19 Robson-Kanu
20 Howard
18 Church

Swansea City

01 De Vries
02 Williams
05 Tate
16 Monk
22 Rangel
12 Dyer
21 Sinclair
24 Allen Booked (Moore - 89' )
37 Britton (Gower - 77' Booked )
14 Dobbie (Pratley - 55' )
15 Borini Booked

Substitutes

25 Ma-Kalambay
17 Serran
08 Pratley
27 Gower
29 Richards
09 Beattie
19 Moore

Ref: Dowd

Att: 86,581

Match Stats

Possession 47 53

Shots

19 6

On target

11 4

Corners

16 1

Fouls

18 4

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:21 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +3:08

Corner taken by Ian Harte from the left by-line, Header by Mikele Leigertwood from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

90:00 +2:51

The ball is swung over by Simon Church, Luke Moore gets a block in.

90:00 +0:36

The ball is swung over by Jimmy Kebe, Dorus De Vries makes a save.

89:39

Jobi McAnuff crosses the ball, Headed from the edge of the area by Simon Church goes wide of the left-hand post.

88:51 Substitution

Substitution (Swansea) makes a substitution, with Luke Moore coming on for Joe Allen.

87:38

Angel Rangel fouled by Hal Robson-Kanu, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Dorus De Vries.

86:26

The ball is crossed by Jobi McAnuff, save by Dorus De Vries.

83:18

Garry Monk takes the direct free kick.

83:18 Substitution

Substitution Hal Robson-Kanu replaces Andy Griffin.

83:18

Foul by Shane Long on Scott Sinclair, free kick awarded.

82:30

Corner taken by Ian Harte from the right by-line, clearance made by Joe Allen.

82:09

Ian Harte sends in a cross, Matt Mills takes a shot. Ashley Williams gets a block in.

81:31

Ian Harte restarts play with the free kick.

81:31 Booking

Booking Booking for Mark Gower for unsporting behaviour.

81:28

Unfair challenge on Jimmy Kebe by Mark Gower results in a free kick.

79:47

Fabio Borini provided the assist for the goal.

79:47 Goal scored

Goal - Scott Sinclair - Reading 2 - 4 Swansea Scott Sinclair scores a power penalty. Reading 2-4 Swansea.

78:38

Fabio Borini fouled by Andy Griffin, the ref awards a Penalty.

77:37

Ian Harte sends in a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Mikele Leigertwood misses to the right of the target.

76:24 Substitution

Substitution Mark Gower replaces Leon Britton.

75:04 Substitution

Substitution Simon Church replaces Noel Hunt.

75:04 Substitution

Substitution (Reading) makes a substitution, with Simon Church coming on for Shane Long.