Scott Sinclair scores at Wembley
A Scott Sinclair hat-trick at Wembley sent Swansea into the Premier League in a thrilling Championship play-off final.
The Welsh side looked to have it in the bag when they led 3-0 at half-time thanks to two Sinclair goals, one a penalty, and a wonder strike by Stephen Dobbie.
But Reading pulled it back to 3-2 through Noel Hunt and Matt Mills before Sinclair killed them off with a second penalty on 79 minutes.
Sinclair's treble saw Brendan Rodgers' men clinch promotion and the £90million prize that goes with it.
And it was sweet revenge for Swans boss Rodgers, who was sacked by Reading in 2009.
Ref Phil Dowd dished out three bookings inside 12 minutes as the match started at a high tempo.
Reading full-back Andy Griffin was shown a yellow card on seven minutes for a foul on Sinclair and a double booking followed five minutes later.
Swans striker Fabio Borini went into the book for a challenge on keeper Adam Federici, then Royals defender Zurab Khizanishvili followed him for reacting to Borini's offence.
Dowd's swift action calmed things down but Khizanishvili's next offence handed Swansea the lead.
The Georgian bundled over Nathan Dyer as the Swansea man was about to shoot and ex-Chelsea man Sinclair coolly fired past Federici from the spot to give the Welsh side a 21st-minute lead.
Swans fans argued that Khizanishvili was lucky to escape a second yellow — and a sending off.
But they were in dreamland just 76 seconds later when Sinclair doubled their lead.
Almost straight from kick-off, Dobbie raced down the right and powered in a wicked low cross which Federici could only palm into the path of Sinclair, who scored from close range.
Reading battled to get back into the match but their only reward was a third booking, this time for Jobi McAnuff for a 38th-minute foul on Leon Britton.
A minute later, it looked all over for Reading as Dobbie made it 3-0. Dyer made the running down the right this time before crossing to the unmarked Dobbie, who smashed his shot past Federici.
Reading's first half was summed up 30 seconds before the break when top scorer Shane Long missed an open goal from a few yards out.
Reading coach Nigel Gibbs was sent to the stands at half-time but manager Brian McDermott's pep talk fired up Reading.
Hunt met McAnuff's 48th-minute corner with a near-post header that went in off Joe Allen — and it was game on.
Dobbie had the chance to wrap up the match on 54 minutes but after beating two Reading defenders in the box, his shot veered wide.
Dobbie, who was subbed soon afterwards, had reason to regret that miss when Reading made it 3-2 in the 56th minute. Unmarked Mills soared high above the Swansea defence to head in from another deadly McAnuff corner.
Swansea were rocking and three minutes later Reading came heartbreakingly close to equalising when Jem Karacan's right-foot rocket from outside the box smashed against the foot of the post.
The Swans survived an onslaught and scored the killer fourth after Griffin fouled Borini in the box. Sinclair stepped up to nail his second penalty of the match and complete his hat-trick.
