Swift ‘art’ goes awry

VELJKO PAUNOVIC declared John Swift’s hat-trick “a work of art” – but he was left frustrated as QPR hit back to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Swift (above) hit a treble to see Reading go from 1-0 down to 3-1 up, with 13 minutes to go. But Reading boss Paunovic pointed to his side’s poor game-management as Rangers snatched a point thanks to Stefan Johansen’s injury-time strike.

Paunovic said: “The three goals we scored were a work of art and it could have been even more.

“Swift understands much more now his qualities as a finisher, and that has helped him be more ruthless in front of goal.

“But we didn’t perform well in defence and that is the biggest disappointment.”

QPR took the lead on 11 minutes, when Jordy de Wijs headed a Johansen free-kick across the Reading goal and Michael Morrison turned it into his own net.

But after 35 minutes, Swift ran on to a delightful Alen Halilovic pass behind the defence to score. After the break the Royals took charge as Swift struck twice, firstly finishing off a neat passing move involving Andy Yiadom and Tom Dele-bashiru, then neatly tucking away a low Liam Moore cross.

Within a minute, though, QPR were back in it, as Albert Adomah crossed for fellow sub Andre Gray to score on his debut.

Then in stoppage time, Adomah played in Chris Willock, whose cross was smashed goalwards by Yoann Barbet. Rafael saved, but the ball fell to Johansen to score.

Hoops boss Mark Warburton said: “We controlled long periods of the game but it’s about getting the ball in the back of the net and we didn’t look really dangerous until the last 10 minutes.”

READING: Rafael 7; Yiadom 7, Morrison 6, Moore 7, Baba 6, Dele-bashiru 6, Laurent 6; Halilovic 7, Swift 9, Ejaria 6; Puscas 5 (Holmes, 83). Unused subs: Southwood, Tetek, Hoilett, Ehibhationham, Clarke, Bristow.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS: Dieng 5; Dickie 6, De Wijs 6, Barbet 6; Odubajo 5, Johansen 7, Ball 6 (Thomas, 87), Mccallum 6 (Adomah, 72 8); Willock 7, Chair 6; Austin 5 (Gray, 66 7).

Unused subs: Archer, Kakay, Dozell, Dunne.

MAN OF THE MATCH: John Swift. Transformed the match with a hat-trick, only for QPR to snatch a point at the death.

REFEREE: Geoff Eltringham 7