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Championship | Gameweek 44
Apr 25, 2021 at 12pm UK
Madejski Stadium
SL

Reading
2 - 2
Swansea

Meite (31'), Lago Pontes Esteves (90+2')
Holmes (19')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Lowe (67'), Ayew (83')
Guehi (17'), Fulton (69')

Reading 2-2 Swansea City: Swans secure playoff position

:Headline: Reading 2-2 Swansea City: Swans secure playoff position:
The Royals' slim hopes of a top-six finish were ended.
Sports Mole

Swansea secured a Sky Bet Championship play-off place with a hard-earned 2-2 draw at Reading, whose own top-six aspirations were ended by the result.

Barnsley and Bournemouth join the Swans in the end-of-season shoot-out alongside already-qualified Brentford.

Swansea dominated much of the first half but fell behind against the run of play when Yakou Meite nodded home in the 31st minute.

Opportunist second-half efforts from Jamal Lowe and top scorer Andre Ayew gave Swansea the lead, with Tomas Esteves' late equaliser for Reading proving irrelevant.

Swansea had been in indifferent form going into the game, winning only two of their previous eight matches and losing five.

Reading were on a poor recent run of just one victory in eight games and had slipped to seventh place.

The Swans began the stronger in the sunny yet chilly conditions and could have gone ahead in the opening minute.

Lowe swung over a cross from the left flank to the far post where centre-back Ben Cabango rose powerfully but was unable to keep his header on target.

Wayne Routledge had a well-struck effort deflected away by home captain Liam Moore and Lowe volleyed wildly over from the edge of the area.

Reading gradually improved and served warning of intent when 22-goal top scorer Lucas Joao sent a low 20-yard effort narrowly wide.

Just past the half-hour mark, Reading went in front. John Swift curled in a teasing cross from the left and Meite ghosted in ahead of Jake Bidwell to guide in a firm header for his 11th goal of the season.

Reading could have increased their lead shortly before the break but Swansea goalkeeper Freddie Woodman saved well from Joao after the Portuguese striker had seized on an error by Conor Hourihane.

Swansea started brightly in the second half, with Lowe finding plenty of space on the left wing.

From a Lowe cross, Liam Cullen should have done better with a header that lacked direction and failed to trouble home keeper Rafael.

But the visitors drew level in the 67th minute after excellent work by substitute Ayew, who had been on the pitch only three minutes.

Ayew cleverly nutmegged Moore, which allowed Jay Fulton to run through and force a fine stop from Rafael – only for Lowe to tuck in the rebound.

Swansea went in front with seven minutes remaining. Hourihane did all the hard work as he cut in from the left and played a perfect square pass to allow Ayew to slot in his 16th goal of the campaign.

Lowe also struck a post near the end, shortly before Esteves drilled in a fine stoppage-time equaliser from distance, but Swansea held on for their play-off place.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CPortsmouth462813578413797
3Bolton WanderersBolton462512986513587
4Peterborough UnitedPeterborough462591289612884
5Oxford UnitedOxford Utd4622111379562377
6Barnsley4621131282641876
7Lincoln CityLincoln4620141265402574
8Blackpool4621101565481773
9Stevenage4619141357461171
10Wycombe WanderersWycombe461714156055565
11Leyton Orient461811175355-265
12Wigan AthleticWigan462010166356762
13Exeter CityExeter461710194661-1561
14Northampton TownNorthampton46179205766-960
15Bristol Rovers46169215268-1657
16Charlton AthleticCharlton461120156465-153
17Reading461611196870-253
18Cambridge UnitedCambridge461212223961-2248
19Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury46139243567-3248
20Burton Albion461210243967-2846
RCheltenham TownCheltenham46128264165-2444
RFleetwood TownFleetwood461013234972-2343
RPort Vale461011254174-3341
RCarlisle UnitedCarlisle4679304181-4030
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