Swansea

0

Reading

0

(HT 0 - 0)
Kickoff: 19:45
Att: 12775
Royals stopper keeps Swans at bay
Reading had keeper Adam Federici to thank as they earned a 0-0 draw at Swansea, but they are still waiting for their first goal of the season.
 
Federici: In great form
Federici: In great form
 

Swansea

  1 de Vries
  16 Monk
  5 Tate
yellow card 22 Rangel
yellow card 2 Williams A
  7 Britton
yellow card 10 Orlandi
  27 Gower **
  12 Dyer ***
  33 Morgan
  14 Dobbie *

On The Bench

  17 Cornell
  3 Painter
  20 MacDonald ** (91)
  29 Richards *** (91)
  30 Bond
  36 Thomas
  18 Pintado * (80)

Reading

  1 Federici
yellow card 2 Rosenior
  5 Mills
yellow card 26 Pearce
yellow card 24 Bertrand
  27 Davies *
  20 Karacan **
yellow card 4 Cisse
  17 Henry ***
  19 Robson-Kanu
  18 Church

On The Bench

  21 Hamer
  7 Tabb *** (77)
  15 Harper ** (58)
  6 Gunnarsson
  12 Mooney
  10 Hunt N * (46)
  9 Long

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.

Today's other The Coca-Cola Football League Championship matches.
Peterborough 2 - 3 West Brom
Mackail-Smith 45 McLean 53   Moore 3,34 Brunt 41 Dorrans s/o 90 Att: 8752
Ipswich 1 - 3 Crystal Palace
Bruce 62   Ambrose 49,50 Danns 69 Att: 20348
Blackpool 0 - 0 Derby
      Att: 8056
Bristol City 1 - 0 QPR
Maynard 78     Att: 14571
Barnsley 0 - 3 Preston Report
    Parry 11 Mellor 32 Parkin 72 Att: 11850
Scunthorpe 0 - 2 Middlesbrough Report
    Johnson A 28,53(pen) Att: 8274
Nottm Forest 2 - 4 Watford
Blackstock 45 Adebola 87   Graham 31 Williamson 76 Smith 80 Cleverley 90 Att: 19232
Sheff Utd 1 - 1 Leicester
Treacy 66   Fryatt 52 Att: 26069
Doncaster 0 - 0 Coventry Report
      Att: 9484
Plymouth 1 - 3 Cardiff
Gow 90(pen)   Chopra 4,80,85(pen) Capaldi s/o 90 Att: 11918



Team News:

1951Royal : "...Yet another good goalkeeper performance given as to the reason why we lost again at Sheff Utd. It's too much of a coincidence that this happens every game and has to be down to poor finishing in many cases. Too many of o..."   view full comment

Paper Talk: Hughes' Turkish delight

Mark Hughes is on the shortlist to become Turkey's new coach, while Kieron Dyer's West Ham nightmare will cost them close to £30million.

More from today's press

WC Famous Five - Rob Mullarkey

TEAMtalk Towers veteran Rob Mullarkey takes a trip down memory lane as he fondly remembers and describes his Famous Five World Cup moments.

Read today's Column

reza78 (Manchester United) : "...Manchester United will sell Vidic to Real Madrid in the summer with Karim Benzema coming to Old Trafford. Smalling will be the new star defender! Also, Frank Ribery will join Real and David Silva to United. ..."   view full rumour

   

Don't miss these

LATEST PHOTOS TT COLUMN COMPETITIONS
In the Telegraph Sport Michael Ballack says Arsenal are not good enough to win the title and tells Arsene Wenger to stop making excuses.
TEAMtalk column
Go to the Gallery WC Famous Five - Rob Mullarkey Free to enter!