26/12/2012 15:00 v Reading

The Swans reached the halfway stage of the Premier League season with 25 points after being held at Reading.

In a match that ended 0-0, there were few chances - the best falling to Michu in the first half but he couldn't keep his effort down from six yards after a Chris Gunter error.

Reading had the ball in the net in the second half, but sub Adam Le Fondre's effort was rightly ruled out for the use of a hand.

Nathan Dyer's header required a fine reflex save from home stopper Adam Federici, and then in the final five minutes Chico Flores bravely headed Le Fondre's goalbound volley over the crossbar from two yards out.

It was another point on the board for Michael Laudrup's side, who finished the day in the top half of the table.

The Swans settled into the contest early on and, after Jem Karacan failed to take advantage of Chico being dispossessed by Pavel Progrebnyak, the visitors went within inches of opening the scoring.

Ben Davies' cross found Michu, and when the Premier League's top scorer's first touch to Luke Moore was returned to the Spaniard he curled an effort just wide of the far post.

Michu again went close after a fine individual effort, but he was adjudged to have fouled Adrian Mariappa in the process.

The Spaniard then had a great chance to break the deadlock, Dwight Tiendalli's cross dropped to Gunter, and when the Wales international chested down it fell to Michu six yards out, but he couldn't keep his shot down.

Ki Sung-Yueng then almost found the onrushing Nathan Dyer with a 40-yard through ball, but it fell just too short of the winger as the Swans enjoyed an encouraging opening 30 minutes.

That was the end of the half, but the Swans could take a lot from a first 45 minutes in which they totally dominated possession and territory, along with having the best chance of the game so far.

The second half started much like the first, with the Swans dominating the vast majority of possession.

The best chance of the half didn't come until the 66th minute as Wayne Routledge's cross found Dyer ten yards out, but when the winger dived low to connect with his header, Federici sprung into action to palm it wide.

Michael Laudrup then made two changes with Kemy Agustien and Jonathan de Guzman replacing Leon Britton and Moore with 22 minutes to go.

Federici was called upon again soon after as the Reading defence could only clear de Guzman's free-kick to Ki, but his powerful drive was kept out by the home keeper.

The home crowd were then up on their feet as sub Le Fondre directed Ian Harte's free-kick past Michel Vorm, but he was rightly booked for using his hand.

Laudrup made his final change for the last ten minutes, and it was an enforced one as Itay Shechter replaced the injured Michu.

Reading then thought they were heading for three points as Le Fondre's bullet volley from Vorm's punched clearance after a Gunter cross looked destined for the net. But Chico came to the rescue as he bravely headed the shot over for a corner from two yards out.

 

READING: Adam Federici, Chris Gunter, Adrian Mariappa, Alex Pearce, Ian Harte, Jem Karacan, Mikele Leigertwood, Jimmy Kebe, Jobi McAnuff (capt, Hal Robson-Kanu, 62), Danny Guthrie, Pavel Progrebnyak (Adam Le Fondre, 62).
SUBS: Stuart Taylor, Shaun Cummings, Sean Morrison, Jay Tabb, Noel Hunt.

SWANS: Michel Vorm, Dwight Tiendalli, Chico Flores, Ashley Williams (capt), Ben Davies, Leon Britton (Kemy Agustien, 68), Ki Sung-Yueng, Michu (Itay Shechter, 81), Wayne Routledge, Nathan Dyer, Luke Moore (Jonathan de Guzman, 68).
SUBS: Gerhard Tremmel, Kyle Bartley, Garry Monk, Danny Graham.