Phil SumblerIt was one of the easiest nights that Russell Martin could have imagined as goals from Joel Latibeaudiere, Ben Cabango and Joel Piroe were more than enough to progress us to the second round of the Carabao Cup – a competition that we won in 2013.
The Swans were dominant in pretty much every aspect of the game as they scored not just once but twice from a corner with headers from the defensive duo before Piroe scored on his competitive debut for the club to give the result a position that our domination deserved.
It was Martin’s first win as head coach of the Swans and he will be delighted at the performance of the team who were quick to put the weekend defeat behind them and gain a place in the second round draw that will take place tomorrow evening.
BBC Sport: Veljko Paunovic made 10 changes, with no fewer than seven teenagers in his starting side. There were seven more teenagers on the bench, while 17 of Reading’s 18-man squad were products of the club’s academy.
Perhaps it was not surprising, therefore, that despite making five changes themselves, the more experienced Swansea side dominated.
They went ahead when Latibeaudiere, a centre-back playing in an unfamiliar right wing-back role, rose highest at the far post to head Yan Dhanda’s corner into the net.
Debutant Piroe might have doubled the lead but saw a left-foot shot saved by Luke Southwood before his header drifted wide.
New boss Martin’s desire to keep possession was obvious as Swansea controlled the ball, though George Puscas’ free-kick did force a save from Steven Benda as Reading rallied before the break.
Southwood’s sharp save then denied Piroe a memorable individual goal after the Dutchman turned beautifully and beat three men on a sparkling run, but Swansea doubled their lead from the corner which followed.
Jake Bidwell met Matt Grimes’ delivery with a header which was blocked on the line, leaving Cabango to head in from point-blank range.
Reading played the final quarter of the game with 10 men after Nelson Abbey limped off with three substitutes already used, and Swansea wrapped up their win when Dhanda found summer signing Piroe in the box and he rolled in his first goal in English football.
Reading manager Veljko Paunovic:
“I am very proud of the effort, the mentality and character this generally – majority actually – young team with a few senior players [showed].
“I am very encouraged with their performance. They never lost composure although it was tough for us playing against a team that has much more experience.
“It was good to see the team working hard and never giving up.”
Swansea head coach Russell Martin:
“Really pleased with so much of the stuff we saw tonight. It felt like it was progress from Saturday. I said to the guys ‘no game of football is easy despite the youth of their team’. Ours wasn’t exactly very experienced or very old.
“But they made it easy for themselves in the way they played. The intensity to react when we lost the ball, their aggressiveness when we went to press – there’s so much to be pleased with, but so much to still work on.
“We’re really early on with what we want to do and what we want to be, but I’m very grateful for the players and their willingness to try to do what we’re asking them to do.”
RATE THE PLAYERS
MATCH FACTS AND LINE UPS
OTHER EFL CUP RESULTS
NEXT UP FOR THE SWANS
