by Matt Slater
Date: 25/04/2021
Venue: Madejski Stadium
Competition: The Sky Bet Championship
SWANSEA City are hoping to seal their fate with a spot in the playoffs as they face an out of sorts Reading.
Last time out, Swansea fell to a defeat at the hands of QPR after Lyndon Dykes found the back of the net in the 90th minute.
Whereas today’s opponents were held to a goalless draw by Luton Town.
The Swans come into the game with high hopes after the Royals are winless, and have just scored one goal, in their last three games.
But despite this advantage, Steve Cooper knows the job has not been done just yet.
“We will take nothing for granted, we have worked hard to get in this position, and we want to try and get the job done,” Cooper said.
“But you have to play the game and get the right result, they are playing for the same thing and they are a good side.
“We are in a different position, but we have to respect that and play the game for what it is.
“You always want to have momentum and be winning games and in good form. At some points of the season, it can be better than others, but we cannot assume anything.
“We have got a job to do, and we have to deliver when it counts on Sunday.
“We are not taking anything for granted. We are not in the play-offs yet, and we have to go and earn that.”
Mathematically, Reading are not out of the chase, but a loss to the Swans will put an end to their dream of returning to the Premier League.
“It gets much more difficult, but we will not give up and we have to be ready if things go well on the other side,” Reading boss Veljko Paunovic said.
“It’s definitely worth giving our best to the end and you never know in football.
“Things change very quickly, and we have to be ready to convert our opportunity.
“This is the last moment to understand how important this is – It’s not going to be easy or perfect opportunities at this point in the season and you have to be clinical.
“You’re going to have an opponent on top of your neck and you have to fight that but that’s what teams do. That’s what we have to do and get better at.”
In the reverse fixture, both teams were held to a goalless draw. But with Jamal Lowe netting four in his last five, it is hard to see that occurring again.
