It may have taken 13 years but on Saturday, Reading finally beat Swansea City. 16 consecutive games against their Welsh foes without a win. And perhaps it couldn’t have come at a more unlikely time.

History and the form guide thrown in the trash. So just how did Reading earning their triumph in the home of the Swans? And what can Velijko Paunovic take from this performance?

This three-part series looks at just that. 

Read More: Part 1 - Defending The Box

A victory that was built on the back of Reading’s impressive defensive rearguard - discussed in Part 1 of this conversation - would have likely failed without an equally effective outlet. Tom Dele-Bashiru was able to dribble his side out of bad situations on a few occasions but by large, Reading’s relieved the constantly building pressure by playing directly to their big man up front, Andy Carroll.

Reading Chronicle: Andy Carroll celebrates his first Reading goal. Image by: JasonPIX.Andy Carroll celebrates his first Reading goal. Image by: JasonPIX.

Starting for the first time in a Reading shirt, Carroll looked every bit the player who was once plundering Premier League goals as he simply bullied the Swansea defence and made every seemingly lost cause pumped up to him count. Even ignoring his goal, Carroll was the key to making Reading’s system work.

From the offset Paunovic’s side looked to release Carroll early and often, the experienced centre-forward able to repeatedly take advantage of Swansea’s naively high line.

Carroll only touched the ball 21 times, but 17 of those touches occurred in Swansea’s half as Reading managed to spring the home side's offside trap with regularity. Repeatedly when one of Reading’s midfielders received the ball in a pocket space, they immediately looked to launch it forward.

In the below image, Josh Laurent has the ball at his feet with space ahead of him. Capable - and usually willing - to drive forward when presented with the opportunity, Laurent instead looks up without hesitation and sprays a pass over the Swansea defence for Carroll to run onto. The offside flag does eventually go up, but you’ll notice that the location he picks the ball up at is rather familiar.

Reading Chronicle: In space, Laurent immediately looks to play long.In space, Laurent immediately looks to play long.

 

Reading Chronicle: The ball falls to Carroll running in behind, but he's deemed offside.The ball falls to Carroll running in behind, but he's deemed offside.

Just 14 minutes later the ball drops out of the sky and onto Carroll’s foot in almost the exact same spot, this time Danny Drinkwater the provider. And this time the flag stays down, despite Russel Martin’s vocal complaints, as Carroll bears down on goal, cuts back on his left foot, and finishes into the bottom corner.

The game plan executed to perfection, Drinkwater looks up and spots Carroll's run long before Alen Halilovic's back-heel even reaches him.

Reading Chronicle: Drinkwater looks to find Carroll's run before the ball even reaches him.Drinkwater looks to find Carroll's run before the ball even reaches him.

 

Reading Chronicle: This time Carroll stays onside.This time Carroll stays onside.

It was to be Carroll’s only goal of the day but he did break free for another chance in the second half, again springing Swansea’s offside trap. While the quick through ball from John Swift helped, this piece of play is all about Carroll’s movement. Initially offside, Carroll bends his run back inside, getting himself level just in time to beat the trap and run through on goal, before flashing his shot wide of the far post with the angle against him.

Reading Chronicle: As Reading get on the ball, Carroll starts to retreat from an offside position.As Reading get on the ball, Carroll starts to retreat from an offside position.

 

Reading Chronicle: Now onside, Carroll latches onto Swift's through ball.Now onside, Carroll latches onto Swift's through ball.

Reading’s use of their new star striker made their approach tick. Carroll allowed them as a team to drop back and defend their box in numbers while still having a dangerous outlet to carry a threat of their own and relieve the frequent pressure.

When Carroll was eventually replaced by George Puscas with nine minutes of regular time remaining, the reception he received said everything about his performance. The corner of Reading supporters sung his name with vigour while the rest of the stadium booed his every step - not that Carroll would have cared one bit.

From one former Premier League star scoring their first Reading goal to another, Danny Drinkwater features in Part 3 of this tactical breakdown alongside his equally impressive central midfield partner Josh Laurent.