Cabral costs Swans with string of super saves as Reading leave hosts feeling frustrated
RAFAEL Cabral proved to be the scourge of Swansea City as he made a string of fine saves to earn Reading a point against Steve Cooper’s side in the Swans’ final game of 2020, writes Ian Mitchelmore.
The hosts created stacks of chances at the Liberty Stadium, with Andre Ayew, Jake Bidwell, Joel Latibeaudiere and Marc Guehi all having opportunities to bulge the net.
However, Brazilian goalkeeper Cabral produced a fine display to keep Cooper’s men at bay as the Swans missed out on the chance to end the year in the Championship’s automatic promotion spots.
The performance will no doubt have given the Jack Army plenty of encouragement though, with Swansea keeping their fourth clean sheet in a row on home soil as they stretched their unbeaten run to three games.
Following Brentford’s 2-1 triumph over Bournemouth in the day’s earlier kick-off, Cooper’s troops knew they needed to beat the Royals to end the year in the top two.
The Swansea head coach made one change to the side that started the 2-0 Boxing Day win over Queens Park Rangers at The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, with Korey Smith coming in for Yan Dhanda as the hosts packed out their midfield.
Veljko Paunovi was without a number of key players, including top scorer Lucas João who has netted 14 goals this term. It represented a huge opportunity for the Swans who were playing on their newly relayed surface for the first time.
And they were bidding to end what’s been a remarkable 2020 on a high, with Swansea knowing they would go into the New Year with the second best points return - behind only Brentford - of any side in the second tier since the game resumed in June following a three-month absence owing to the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
After a gritty and scrappy 2-0 victory against Barnsley on what was a turgid pitch before Christmas, Swansea brimmed with confidence in the opening stages against Reading as they looked to stretch their opponents and knock the ball around with pace. But Reading looked equally comfortable in possession, with both sides aiming to keep the ball on the deck when possible.
Chances were few and far between in the opening stages, although Swansea’s top scorer Ayew very nearly lit up the Liberty on 16 minutes, although his spectacular overhead kick attempt from Bidwell’s cross flew over.
The visitors then went close themselves as Tom McIntyre volleyed Michael Olise’s cross at goal from close range, but Freddie Woodman made a fine stop to ensure the game remained goalless.
Ayew continued to carry a threat in the Reading half, and he sent a fierce shot into the palms of Cabral midway through the opening half as Swansea won a succession of set pieces.
The Ghana international went even closer just after the half hour mark after a wonderful move involving Smith and Connor Roberts, but Cabral palmed away the 31-yearold’s header.
Swansea should have gone ahead soon after as Bidwell headed Matt Grimes’ corner towards Guehi, although the Chelsea loanee lashed over from around six yards out as he missed out on what would have been his first goal for the club.
Cooper’s men continued to push for an opener, with Smith failing to get a shot away from inside the box before Cabral made a routine save to deny Ayew as the hosts ended the opening half strongly.
Although after Jay Fulton had a shot blocked from a well worked corner routine, Reading broke, and Ryan Bennett was yellow carded for a cynical foul on Olise.
Sam Baldock had the chance to give the visitors the lead against the run of play from the resulting freekick, but Woodman dived to his left to keep it out as the game remained goalless at the interval.
Olise drilled a free-kick well over within a minute of the restart before Cabral cleared just as Roberts looked to head Bidwell’s cross home.
The hosts were dealt a huge blow eight minutes into the second half as Bennett was forced off through injury. And his replacement Latibeaudiere almost made a dream introduction as he headed Grimes’ cross at goal, only to be denied by Cabral.
Swansea remained in firm control as Bidwell had a header saved by Cabral before the Reading shot stopper pulled off a stunning save to keep out Ayew’s headed effort.
Cooper sent on Kasey Palmer for Smith with just over 15 minutes to go, but Reading had a decent spell late on, with Woodman tipping McIntyre’s header over his own crossbar.
Viktor Gyokeres replaced Jamal Lowe for the final stages, but they couldn’t find a late winner as Swansea had to settle for a point, although they have now kept six clean sheets in their last seven matches.
The Swans begin 2021 with a tough test against Watford at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
Woodman; Cabango, Bennett (Latibeaudiere 53), Guehi; Roberts, Smith (Palmer 74), Fulton, Grimes (C), Bidwell; Lowe (Gyokeres 86), Ayew. Subs not used: Benda, Manning, Routledge, Dhanda, Garrick, Cooper.
Reading: Rafael; Esteves, Holmes, Morrison (C), McIntyre, Rinomhota, Laurent, Ejaria (Richards 73), Olise, Semedo (Aluko 57), Baldock (Swift 67). Subs not used: Southwood, East, Melvin-Lambert, Dorsett, Watson. Referee: David Webb