Played
October 6, 2012 3:00 PM BST
Liberty Stadium — Swansea
Referee: M. Dean
Attendance: 20336
October 6, 2012 3:00 PM BST
Liberty Stadium — Swansea
Referee: M. Dean
Attendance: 20336
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| Swansea City | 1.91 | 12.00 | 1.91 | 7.50 | 1.85 | 9.00 | 1.82 | 1.83 |
| Draw | 3.40 | 3.70 | 3.50 | 1.13 | 3.60 | 1.07 | 3.65 | 3.61 |
| Reading | 4.00 | 1.40 | 4.00 | 19.00 | 4.25 | 18.00 | 4.60 | 4.29 |
Swansea - Reading Preview: Laudrup looks to end slump against winless Royals
The Swans have conceded seven goals in their past three matches, but have an ideal opportunity to recover against Brian McDermott's side who are yet to collect a win
By Arthur Virgo
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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SWANSEA
 Vorm Rangel, Chico, Williams, Davies Ki, Britton Dyer, Michu, Hernandez Graham |
READING
 McCarthy Cummings, Mariappa, Gorkss, Shorey Kebe, Karacan, Leigertwood, McAnuff Hunt, Pogrebnyak |
Swansea are without regular left-back Neil Taylor (ankle) through long-term injury and 19-year-old Ben Davies has started in his place, but newly signed Dwight Tiendalli is another option. Centre-back Kyle Bartley (thigh) is also out injured.
Michu has been a regular starter behind Danny Graham in attack, but Michael Laudrup faces a choice between Leon Britton, Jonathan De Guzman and Ki Sung-Yeung for the two centre midfield positions, and between Nathan Dyer, Pablo Hernandez and Wayne Routledge for the two wings. Midfielder Kemy Agustien (calf) is recovering from injury.
Alex McCarthy will start again in goal for Reading, with Adam Federici (knee) unavailable. Competition for places in defence could be fierce, with Brian McDermott having made many defensive changes against Newcastle, bringing in Nicky Shorey at left-back in place of Ian Harte, Adrian Mariappa for Alex Pearce, and Shaun Cummings for Chris Gunter.
Winger Jimmy Kebe returned from injury on Saturday and is set to continue in place of Garath McCleary on the right flank, with Jobi McAnuff on the left.
The manager also faces a choice between whether to revert to starting Pavel Pogrebnyak up front as a lone striker, or continue with last week’s 4-4-2 and play either Adam Le Fondre or Noel Long in attack in place of one of three central midfielders Jem Karacan, Mikele Leigertwood and Danny Guthrie.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Swansea's manager Michael Laudrup has described the game as a "six pointer" after his team followed a promising start with three consecutive defeats in which they conceded seven goals and failed to score themselves.
- Defeat for the Swans would equal their worst run of losses in the Premier League (four) and failure to win would create their first run of five without a victory since they returned to the top flight.
- Reading have picked up just two points from their five games so far this season, and have won just two of their last 22 Premier League away games in which they suffered 15 defeats.
- The Royals have now scored 99 goals in Premier League history, having finished eighth in 2007 after winning promotion with a record 106 points in the Championship, before being relegated in 2008.
- Swansea have won four and lost none of the last six meetings in all competitions with Reading.
- The two sides last met at Wembley in the 2011 Championship play-off final, where the Swans secured promotion with a 4-2 win, despite the Royals threatening to comeback from 3-0 down at half time after Jobi McAnuff (pictured) set up two goals.
- The Welsh side have played fewer long balls, with 63, than any other Premier League side this season, and have scored all 10 of their goals this season from open play.
- Brian McDermott's side in contrast have played a higher percentage of their passes long (17.4 per cent) than any other Premier League side this season.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Swansea City 2-0 Reading
- 18.71 %
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Swansea City 2-1 Reading
- 18.07 %
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Swansea City 1-1 Reading
- 8.39 %
| Premier League (EPL) | 26 Dec 2012 | Reading 0 - Swansea City 0 |
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| Premier League (EPL) | 6 Oct 2012 | Swansea City 2 - Reading 2 |
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| Capital One Cup (CCUP) | 28 Aug 2007 | Swansea City 0 - Reading 1 |
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Swansea City
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| 19 May 2013 | Swansea City 0 - Fulham 3 | EPL |
| 12 May 2013 | Manchester United 2 - Swansea City 1 | EPL |
| 7 May 2013 | Wigan Athletic 2 - Swansea City 3 | EPL |
| 4 May 2013 | Swansea City 0 - Manchester City 0 | EPL |
| 28 Apr 2013 | Chelsea FC 2 - Swansea City 0 | EPL |
Reading
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| 19 May 2013 | West Ham 4 - Reading 2 | EPL |
| 14 May 2013 | Reading 0 - Manchester City 2 | EPL |
| 4 May 2013 | Fulham 2 - Reading 4 | EPL |
| 28 Apr 2013 | Reading 0 - QPR 0 | EPL |
| 20 Apr 2013 | Norwich City 2 - Reading 1 | EPL |
| Returns: | Swansea City £120.00 |
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Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 | |
| Returns: | Draw £37.00 |
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Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 | |
| Returns: | Reading £190.00 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
| 1 | Michel Vorm | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Chico | Defender |
| 6 | Ashley Williams | Defender |
| 22 | Ángel Rangel | Defender |
| 33 | Ben Davies | Defender |
| 7 | Leon Britton | Midfielder |
| 9 | Michu | Midfielder |
| 12 | Nathan Dyer | Midfielder |
| 15 | Wayne Routledge | Midfielder |
| 24 | Sung-Yong Ki | Midfielder |
| 10 | Danny Graham | Striker |
| 25 | Gerhard Tremmel | Goalkeeper |
| 5 | Alan Tate | Defender |
| 21 | Dwight Tiendalli | Defender |
| 11 | Pablo Hernández | Midfielder |
| 20 | Jonathan De Guzmán | Midfielder |
| 17 | Itay Shechter | Striker |
| 19 | Luke Moore | Striker |
| 21 | Alex McCarthy | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Nicky Shorey | Defender |
| 23 | Adrian Mariappa | Defender |
| 17 | Kaspars Gorkss | Defender |
| 24 | Shaun Cummings | Defender |
| 20 | Jem Karacan | Midfielder |
| 11 | Jobi McAnuff | Midfielder |
| 14 | Jimmy Kebe | Midfielder |
| 16 | Jay Tabb | Midfielder |
| 29 | Pavel Pogrebnyak | Striker |
| 10 | Noel Hunt | Striker |
| 12 | Stuart Taylor | Goalkeeper |
| 26 | Alex Pearce | Defender |
| 12 | Garath McCleary | Midfielder |
| 19 | Hal Robson-Kanu | Midfielder |
| 35 | Danny Guthrie | Midfielder |
| 9 | Adam Le Fondre | Striker |
| 30 | Jason Roberts | Striker |
| Chico | |
| Position: | Defender |
| Squad Number: | 4 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
The Spanish centre back played under Michael Laudrup at Mallorca, and he rejoined his former manager this summer as the Swans' £2 million replacement for Steven Caulker.
His side's assured opening faltered after his sending off against Sunderland resulted in his suspension, while he struggled last week on his return against Stoke.
Reading will hope their forwards can connect with a similar bombardment of long balls and crosses from the wings, and keeping a clean sheet will take the Welsh side a long way to victory on Saturday.
His side's assured opening faltered after his sending off against Sunderland resulted in his suspension, while he struggled last week on his return against Stoke.
Reading will hope their forwards can connect with a similar bombardment of long balls and crosses from the wings, and keeping a clean sheet will take the Welsh side a long way to victory on Saturday.
| Jobi McAnuff | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 11 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
The skilful winger has assisted three of his side’s six goals, including both on Saturday against Newcastle when he also curled an effort onto the post late in the match.
The 30-year-old has played every minute of The Royals' league campaign so far after winning promotion, and will play a crucial role in supplying their front men with crosses from the left wing opposite his counter-part on the right, Jimmy Kebe.
The 30-year-old has played every minute of The Royals' league campaign so far after winning promotion, and will play a crucial role in supplying their front men with crosses from the left wing opposite his counter-part on the right, Jimmy Kebe.
The Swans have a strong record and a good opportunity to shake off their poor run of form against a side yet to record a win or a point away from home in the league.
The Royals will hope to capitalise on their opponents' poor defensive record, but may be outgunned by the attacking talents of Michael Laudrup’s side.
The Royals will hope to capitalise on their opponents' poor defensive record, but may be outgunned by the attacking talents of Michael Laudrup’s side.
Results
Times In BST
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Robin van Persie Striker Manchester United |
26 | 3 |
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Luis Suárez Striker Liverpool |
23 | 0 |
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Gareth Bale Midfielder Tottenham |
21 | 0 |
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C. Benteke Striker Aston Villa |
19 | 3 |
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Michu Midfielder Swansea City |
19 | 0 |
