Match Report by Nigel Gigg
We all know this season is all about the League and ultimate promotion, but there’s nothing like an F. A Cup clash against opponents from a higher Division to get the adrenalin pumping.
After the loss of 2 points on Saturday, Andy Gurney could probably count himself lucky to retain his place in the starting line-up, but Andy Robinson was dropped in favour of Ijah Anderson. Adrian Forbes came back from suspension and replaced Alan Tate with Leon moving to central midfield where he played so well on Saturday.
Les Ferdinand was out through injury and was replaced by Bobby Convey.
Side- Gueret, Anderson, Monk, Iriekpen, Austin, Forbes, Gurney, Britton, Anderson, Connor, Trundle. Subs Murphy, Tate, Robinson, Maylett, Pritchard.
Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann almost presented Swans with a dream start when he mishandled the ball in a muddy six-yard box and saw the ball squirm away from him. But no Swans player was close enough to take advantage.
Reading continued to look a bag of nerves and Lee Trundle almost scored direct from a corner when the defender at the near post totally missed the ball as he attempted to clear.
Reading took time to settle and it was 13 minutes in before they mounted any sort of attack when a glancing header from a corner went well wide.
A minute later and Leon Britton fired a shot from 20 yards just over the bar after good interplay between Paul Connor and Lee Trundle. Then Sam Ricketts and Adrian Forbes combined well and Forbes’s cross beat the keeper and just missed the oncoming Paul Connor.
Paul Connor then had a header cleared off the line as the Reading goal came under siege.
Reading did finally start to look like a side with premiership ambitions and had excellent efforts from Bobby Convey and Glen Little.
Swansea, however, regained the initiative and Lee Trundle was bought down just outside the box on 32 minutes. With the crowd calling his name, he stood aside as Andy Gurney fired a thunderbolt of a freekick, which took a deflection of the wall and went just wide with Hahnemann beaten.
A minute later and Adrian Forbes fired a terrific left foot shot that Hahnemann turned around for a corner with a full-length diving save.
Then Lee Trundle and Paul Connor linked before Connor sent Trundle through and from a narrow angle he fired a shot that seemed goal bound but went just wide.
Swans dominated the remainder of the half but failed to break the deadlock and would have counted themselves unlucky not to be ahead at the break.
Reading started the second half brightly and forced a corner immediately. The ball was floated high but Willy jumped unchallenged to collect but managed to lose the greasy ball which was stabbed wide of the post by Nicky Forster.
The impressive Steve Sidwell then had an effort from just outside the box that flew just over the bar.
It took Swansea 5 minutes to mount their first attack of the second half, which ended with a diving header from Adrian Forbes that went well wide.
Reading were now far better organised and were marking Lee Trundle more closely, closing down Swansea’s main attacking threat.
Reading were having the bulk of possession and they now looked the more likely to break the deadlock. They should have gone in front on 67 minutes when after a dreadful error from Kevin Austin, substitute Lloyd Owusu had a header from just 6 yards that he managed to head straight at Willy Gueret in the Swansea goal.
On 75 minutes Andy Robinson replaced Ijah Anderson who had had an excellent game on the left of midfield.
With 10 minutes left Nicky Forster should have scored after a defensive mix up, but Swansea cleared to the other end and Andy Robinson had a terrific 20-yard effort turned around for a corner by Hahnemann.
Next, Lee Trundle fired a freekick through the defensive wall and the shot was well saved by Hahnemann.
Swans matched Reading for the last 10 minutes but neither side could find the elusive goal.
With the game going into extra time, again it was Reading who started the period the better and created a couple of clear opportunities in the opening minutes. They got the games first goal 5 minutes into extra time when Willy Gueret started to come for a freekick but backed off. Ivar Ingimarsson rose at the far post and headed across goal to give Nicky Forster an easy tap in.
Swans responded by replacing Adrian Forbes with Brad Maylett in the hope that a fresh pair of legs could get past tiring defenders.
Paul Connor had yet another opportunity with a diving header and Lee Trundle had Swansea’s best chance of the night but he hit his shot straight into the keeper’s chest.
By the time the game went into the 2nd period of extra time it was a battle of two very tired teams and on a soaking wet pitch it was little wonder.
Swans were becoming more and more desperate and throwing bodies forward, often leaving only one defender as they sought the equaliser.
The closest they came was a couple of Andy Robinson shots that the impressive Hahnemann kept out.
Reading held out to go through to the fourth round, leaving Swansea to lick their wounds and no doubt count Sky’s money.
Tonight’s was a totally committed performance in which they had much the better of the opening 45 minutes and had they scored one or two then it may well have been Swansea going through to the next round.
Ratings
Gueret 7- Should have come for the cross that led to the goal.
Ricketts 8 -Excellent in both attack and defence.
Monk 8 – Another great display.
Iriekpen 9 – Outstanding. Battled throughout and looked an accomplished footballer.
Austin 7 – Given a bit of a roasting at times. But didn’t stop for 120 minutes and still attacking down the left in the last few minutes.
Forbes7 – Usual all out effort but did tire second half.
Britton 8 – remarkable how he kept going after playing so little football of late.
Gurney 7 – Much better display.
Anderson 7 – Did plenty of work in attack and defence.
Connor 7 – Good first 45 minutes.
Trundle 7- as with Connor excellent first half but marked out of things after the break.
Subs –
Robinson 7 – More like his old self. Must put this sort of performance in week in week out.
Maylett 5 – Didn’t get into the game.
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