Having missed the best opportunity of the game so far, Ollie Cooper is booked for bundling Yakou Meite over.

A tad harsh, perhaps.

Now Swansea create an opening - and they really should be ahead,

Matt Grimes' free-kick causes Reading a problem and, though Joel Piroe is well challenged, the ball rolls to Ollie Cooper only for him to shoot straight at Joe Lumley.

The rebound falls for Ryan Manning but he shoots wide.

Swansea are back controlling the ball - but as yet there is little sign of the visitors doing anything with it.

Reading, meanwhile, will fancy their chances of striking on the counter whenever they turn over possession.

We have our first chance of the evening.

Reading break all too easily from Swansea's perspective, as Tom Ince races onto a ball over the top and centres for Andy Carroll.

The big man is unmarked but heads straight at Steven Benda.

Reading were 3-0 down at half-time in their last game, a 3-2 defeat at Birmingham.

Swansea also found themselves 3-0 down last time out, at Coventry, before fighting back for a 3-3 draw.

Neither side has looked like conceding so far here, however.

Mick Gooding
Ex-Reading player/manager on BBC Radio Berkshire

Reading really have to try and concentrate because Joe Allen and Matt Grimes are very good on the ball.

Swansea have a free-kick in a dangerous position, but Ryan Manning puts too much on it and Reading's rearguard can relax.

Mick Gooding
Ex-Reading player/manager on BBC Radio Berkshire

The last couple of minutes Swansea have started to get a grip on the game, Reading started really well pressing Swansea high up the pitch.

Swansea are beginning to control the ball for the first time, which we should probably expect.

Russell Martin's team have averaged the most possession in the Championship this season, while Reading have had the least.

The last four meetings of these two clubs have produced no fewer than 22 goals.

Surely, therefore, we can expect some festive entertainment this evening... can't we?

Swansea for a moment show a little more composure, only to give possession away near halfway.

Yakou Meite drives forward but his low cross is cleared by Harry Darling.

It's a sloppy start from Swansea, not for the first time in recent weeks.

Reading are pressing high and asking early questions.

Swansea get us under way in Berkshire.

Image source, Getty Images

This is not the only game in the Championship this evening, with leaders Burnley hosting mid-table Birmingham City later.

The Clarets are top on goal difference after Sheffield United's win over Coventry yesterday, with Blackburn, Watford, Norwich and Millwall making up the top six.

The Lions, who won at Watford, are just three points better off than Reading and Swansea.

Huddersfield, Wigan and 22nd-placed Blackpool - who are seven points worse off than the Royals and Swans - make up the bottom three.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

We mentioned Swansea's habit of falling behind in games, which is exactly what happened when these two clubs last met, in south Wales on 18 October.

Reading went 2-0 up that day thanks to goals from Yakou Meite and Tom Ince, but Swansea hauled themselves back into the contest before half-time thanks to Harry Darling's header.

Ollie Cooper and Jay Fulton then scored after the break to give Swansea a memorable comeback victory.

No Championship side have more points from losing positions than the Swans this season, so perhaps Reading should not celebrate too soon if they go in front this evening.

Russell Martin, of course, would be delighted to see his team win a game without falling behind.

Image source, Getty Images

It has been a season of inconsistency thus far for Reading, who surprised many with a flying start to the campaign - they won seven of their first 11 league games - but have since claimed only three victories in 12.

They lost last time out, at Birmingham City, but are looking for a third win in four Championship outings this evening having beaten Hull City and Coventry City either side of the World Cup break.

Reading's treatment room is also looking quieter than it has for some time, giving Paul Ince's men grounds for optimism as the second half of their league campaign begins.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Swansea were fourth in the Championship after their south Wales derby victory over Cardiff City in late October.

Since then, however, a run of seven games without a victory has seen them slide down the table.

It should be said that Russell Martin's team have actually played some decent stuff during the winless sequence, which has included five draws.

But they could do with a victory nevertheless. A good start to a game might help, given that Swansea have conceded the first goal in eight of their last 10 games.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Swansea head coach Russell Martin had hinted that changes could be on the way after the 3-3 draw with Coventry 10 days ago, and he has made four.

Joe Allen starts a club game for the first time since 17 September after his hamstring issues, while there are also recalls for Matty Sorinola, Harry Darling and Ollie Cooper.

Kyle Naughton, Joel Latibeaudiere, Jamie Paterson and Olivier Ntcham - who is not involved - are the players to drop out. Michael Obafemi is once again absent.

Swansea: Benda, Wood, Darling, Cabango, Sorinola, Grimes (capt), Allen, Manning, Fulton, Cooper, Piroe.

Subs: Fisher, Naughton, Latibeaudiere, Oko-Flex, Cundle, Paterson, Cullen.

Former England striker Andy Carroll - who has had plenty of joy against Swansea for various clubs over the years - starts for Reading in one of three changes to the side beaten at Birmingham 11 days ago.

Junior Hoilett and fit-again vice-captain Tom Holmes are also recalled as Amadou Mbengu, Baba Rahman and Shane Long drop to the bench.

Reading: Lumley, Yiadom (capt), Holmes, Sarr, McIntyre, Hoilett, Hendrick, Loum, Ince, Meite, Carroll.

Subs: Bouzanis, Rahman, Mbengue, Guiness-Walker, Azeez, Long, Joao.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency