JOHN Swift gave Jaap Stam and Gareth Southgate plenty to smile about with a starring role for 10-man Reading FC in a 2-1 win at Barnsley.

Swift won an early penalty which Garath McCleary tucked away on the rebound before being sent off for violent conduct with 35 minutes gone.

And before Royals had been reduced to 10 men, Swift scored a sensational second to the delight of Stam and watching England Under 21 boss Southgate.

Swift was chomping at the bit to get back in the starting line-up after Stam chose to ease him in gently following a hamstring strain.

The injury had forced Swift to start the last three league matches on the bench and to pull out of the England Under 21s squad that went on to beat Norway 6-1 last week.

But the summer signing from Chelsea was in sensational form against high-flying Tykes as Royals became the first team to triumph at Oakwell this season, extending their own unbeaten run to six in all competitions in the process.

However, the victory was marred by McCleary's sending off in the first half.

Royals were in control when the winger saw red for shoving Tykes skipper Conor Hourihane after a nasty challenge on Danny Williams.

McCleary had been having an excellent afternoon and was tormenting the Tykes defence, but he will pay the price with a three match suspension, ruling him out of league clashes against leaders Huddersfield and Brentford and a league cup clash at Brighton on Tuesday.

Luckily, McCleary's teammates saved his blushes with a gutsy display from there on, rendering Adam Armstrong's 82nd minute volley a mere consolation for Barnsley.

There were two changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Birmingham City at home on Tuesday night.

Tyler Blackett returned in place of Jordan Obita and Swift got the nod ahead of Stephen Quinn.

Barnsley, meanwhile, were unchanged from the side that secured an impressive 4-0 win at Wolves in midweek.

Royals burst out of the traps and almost took a second minute lead when McCleary broke down the right and found Yann Kermorgant.

The Frenchman hit a powerful shot on the turn, but the ball deflected off Angus MacDonald and flew behind for a corner.

However, Paul Heckingbottom's hosts went even closer two minutes later when Ryan Kent beat three players before thumping a left-footed drive against the crossbar, with Ali Al Habsi well beaten.

Yet the deadlock was broken nine minutes in.

Barnsley botched up a corner routine, Royals broke upfield with McCleary who then sent Swift racing clear with a smart pass.

Swift timed his run perfectly and got to the ball a moment before Barnsley keeper Adam Davies, who brought him down in the area.

Referee David Coote pointed to the spot and although Davies guessed right to save McCleary's spot-kick, the Reading winger slammed home the rebound for his second goal in as many games.

Royals kept their foot on the gas as Chris Gunter bombed forward but scuffed his shot from a decent position.

Barnsley had rarely been under so much pressure this season, and Tykes boss Heckingbottom made a tactical change with 16 minutes gone by replacing Aidy White, who was given the run around by McCleary, with Cole Kpekawa.

McCleary, though, remained a threat and he almost snatched a second with a clever first-time shot from a Roy Beerens assist that bounced a foot wide.

The hosts fought back and almost grabbed an equaliser midway through the first half, but Adam Hammill shot over from eight yards after an excellent run by Kent.

It proved a costly miss as Reading, after seeing a Beerens volley well saved by Davies, doubled their lead in the 27th minute.

Swift had plenty to do but, with Barnsley's defence stepping off, he strolled forward before bending the ball into the top corner from 25 yards out.

It was no more than Reading deserved after a dominant display.

But they needlessly gave Tykes a lifeline when McCleary's stupidity resulted in a red card.

The Jamaica international reacted badly to a poor tackle by Hourihane on Williams by racing over and shoving him to the ground.

McCleary was clearly trying to protect his teammate, but Coote deemed he had gone too far and produced a straight red.

At that stage the game threatened to boil over as a flurry of yellow cards followed.

As Royals struggled to regain their composure, Tykes went close twice when Hourihane fired over before Josh Scowen forced a fine save from Al Habsi just before the break.

The theme continued after the restart with Sam Winnall and then Scowen heading over from good positions when they should have done better.

When Swift picked up a booking for a cynical foul on Kent, it was time for Stam to make a defensive change by replacing him with Obita.

Yet the home side continued to press for a route back into the game with Hammill firing over from a corner routine in the 66th minute.

A rare Reading attack threatened a third, but Kermorgant's piledriver went straight down Davies' throat before the home side made a double change.

Then Al Habsi came to Reading's rescue by palming a deflected effort from Newcastle loanee Armstrong out for a corner which Kermorgant headed clear with 20 minutes remaining.

But Armstrong did find the net with eight minutes to go with a sweetly-struck volley from substitute Tom Bradshaw's nod-back after a hopeful ball into the box.

It set up a nervy finish for the visitors who then saw Hammill shoot wide and Armstrong miss the target with a header for the hosts.

And when it looked like Scowen would earn Barnsley a point deep into injury time, Al Habsi produced a stunning save to push the ball out for a corner which they survived to secure an outstanding win for Stam's improving side.

Reading, who moved up to seventh in the Championship table, travel to Brighton on Tuesday in the EFL Cup third round (7.45pm ko).

Barnsley: Davies, Yiadom, Roberts, MacDonald, White (Kpekawa 16), Hammill, Scowen, Hourihane (c), Kent (Janko 66), Winnall (Bradshaw 66), Armstrong. Subs not used: Townsend, Morsy, Jackson, Watkins. Booked: Hammill 33, Hourihane 35, Armstrong 63.

Reading: Al-Habsi, Gunter, Blackett, McShane (c), Moore, Evans, Swift (Obita 52), Williams, Beerens (Quinn 72), McCleary, Kermorgant (Mendes 87). Subs not used: Jaakkola, Harriott, Quinn, Watson, Kelly.Booked: Kermorgant 42, Williams 45, Swift 50, Blackett 60. Red card: McCleary 34.

Referee: David Coote.

Attendance: 12,675.