Reading v Swansea
Npower Championship
Venue: Wembley Date: Monday, 30 May Kick-off: 1500 BST Coverage: Watch live on Sky Sports and highlights on The Football League Show; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website
TEAM NEWS
Reading are hoping winger Jimmy Kebe, who has missed their last six matches because of a thigh injury, can play a part at Wembley.
The Royals can call upon Hal Robson-Kanu, who has recovered from the groin injury he suffered during the semi-final against Cardiff.
Swansea City are able to recall defender Neil Taylor.
He was suspended for the semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest after being sent off in the first leg.
MATCH PREVIEW
Seventeen months after his brief and unsuccessful stint as Reading manager came to an end, Brendan Rodgers leads his Swansea team into battle against his former club for a place in the Premier League in a match worth around £90m to the winners.
Rodgers, who spent 14 years at Reading as a player, coach and manager, is aiming to become the first man since John Toshack to take Swansea up from the second tier. Their two seasons in the top flight after that promotion is the Welsh club's only spell there.
Reading have also had only two years among the elite. This is their second crack at the play-offs since relegation in 2008, and their third play-off final in all. They were beaten in their previous two, losing to Bolton at Wembley in 1995 and in the Division Two encounter with Walsall in 2001. Both matches went to extra-time.
Brian McDemott, formerly Rodgers' chief scout at the Madejski Stadium, has overseen a dramatic improvement in the Royals' fortunes. They were 12th in mid-February but stormed into the top six - and briefly challenged for automatic promotion - largely because of a sequence of eight consecutive wins, which was the Championship's best run of the season.
Reading head to Wembley having lost only one of their last 12 matches. They have kept clean sheets in five of their last eight outings and, at the other end of the pitch, have an in-form striker in Shane Long, whose semi-final brace against Cardiff took his tally for the season to 25. Only Watford's Danny Graham has netted more Championship goals this term.
Swansea, who are appearing at Wembley for the first time since 1997, are unbeaten in six and also boast an impressive defensive record. They conceded only 42 times during the regular season and have let in a total of two goals in their last six matches. They have also kept clean sheets in all but one of their last five games against Reading.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Reading have won 33 and Swansea 28 of the 73 previous matches between these clubs.
Swansea are unbeaten in their last five against the Royals, and have won their last two.
Reading
Reading have won three, drawn three and lost six of the club's 12 previous play-off matches.
They are aiming to become the seventh club to reach the Premier League via the play-offs after finishing the regular season in fifth place. The last was Burnley in 2009.
The Royals have conceded a total of one goal in their last four matches, and five in their last eight.
Swansea
Swansea have won seven, drawn six and lost three of their 16 previous play-off matches.
They are aiming to become the fourth club in the last six seasons to reach the Premier League via the play-offs after finishing in third place.
City have kept clean sheets in four of their last six games.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Reading
Long: 25 goals (21 league, 2 play-offs, 2 FA Cup);
Harte: 13 goals (13 league, includes two goals for Carlisle)
Swansea
Sinclair: 24 goals (19 league, 4 League Cup, 1 FA Cup);
Pratley: 12 goals (9 league, 1 play-offs, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
From BBC Sports
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