The Greatest Manager of All time

At the start of the second half, the momentum created by the Swansea fans in the stands completely overwhelmed the home crowd!

The Reading fans were already beginning to feel anxious.

If their team lost to Swansea at home, then it would basically mean they had no chance of taking the league leader's position away from Swansea.

That was a gap in strength!

And it was not something they could comfort themselves over by saying there were still twenty-three league rounds left.

After the second half began, Reading first focused on defense. Their back line paid even more attention to marking Swansea's wingers on the outside.

In the 47th minute, after Cromwell and James Cook combined through the middle, James Cook sent an over-the-top through ball toward the byline on the flank. As Villa sprinted forward to attack the space, Nicky Shorey clearly pulled him back and delayed his speed, preventing him from reaching the ball. The referee's whistle sounded, and Nicky Shorey was penalized for a foul!

Alan Pardew was furious on the touchline. He shouted at the fourth official, "How is that a foul? Their own pass was overhit!"

Facing Pardew's side, Lynn sneered and said, "If you were the one chasing that ball, then of course it would be overhit!"

Alan Pardew roared toward Lynn, "Shut your fucking mouth!"

Lynn showed a contemptuous smile.

Nicky Shorey was shown a yellow card by the referee. Swansea took the wide free kick in the attacking third, but it failed to create a threat.

Perhaps because Reading placed more focus on defense in the second half, their attacks were clearly no longer smooth. If Kevin Watson had support from the two defensive midfielders behind him, he could still organize effective attacks and play several passes in the front field. But if the defensive midfielders did not step up, it became very difficult for him to perform the role of an attacking midfielder.

Swansea, meanwhile, remained firm in attacking down the flanks.

In the 53rd minute, Cromwell pushed forward into the front field. After receiving Balitsch's pass from the flank, he dribbled forward two steps, changed direction in front of Newman, opened space, and sent a direct pass to Ibrahimović.

Ibrahimović protected the ball steadily on the edge of the penalty area. After pulling back one step, he knocked the ball sideways to Villa, who had cut inside from the flank to support him.

Without stopping the ball, Villa sent a diagonal cross toward the far post.

It was Tobias Rau again!

He shook off Graeme Murty and cut into the penalty area, meeting the cross directly with a header!

Unfortunately, the ball went over the bar!

"Tobias Rau is extremely active today! If not for the referee's misjudgment, he would already have scored two goals. He just met Villa's cross, but this time he didn't execute well. The header going off target is disappointing, but it cannot hide how brightly he has shone in this match!"

Twenty-six-year-old Graeme Murty was slightly slow. When the crucial moment required explosive acceleration, he clearly could not keep up with Tobias Rau's rhythm.

That was also the main reason Lynn had changed formation in the first half. Once Swansea brought out the speed advantage of their wingers, they became like a pair of twin blades, with both wings ready to pierce Reading's heart at any moment!

Alan Pardew watched with his heart pounding. Although his half-time adjustment had produced some effect, it was not enough!

Clearly not enough!

Swansea still held the advantage on the pitch, making Reading struggle to cope.

In the 57th minute, Swansea organized another attack and once again arrived at the gates.

Tobias Rau carried the ball from the left flank into a dangerous attacking area. In front of Murty, he suddenly knocked the ball forward, changed direction, and cut horizontally toward the middle in front of the penalty area. After drawing defensive midfielder Ingimarsson toward him, he passed the ball diagonally behind Ibrahimović, who was moving inside the box.

At first glance, it looked as if Swansea's combination had gone wrong and Ibra had run too early. But while moving, Ibrahimović directly used his heel to knock the ball diagonally backward.

Cromwell followed from behind. Newman immediately slid in to block, but Cromwell got there first and gently nudged the ball to the right with the outside of his foot.

In the area in front of the penalty box where no one was defending, James Cook charged forward and met the ball with a furious shot!

The ball flew toward goal with a subtle spinning curve!

Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann's vision was blocked by Williams. By the time he saw the ball flying toward him, he could only pray to God in his heart.

He turned his head toward the top right corner of the goal and saw the ball smash hard against the frame before bouncing out!

Bang!

That sound made every player in Reading's back line feel their heart and courage split apart!

But they also felt lucky to have survived the disaster.

In the panic, Brown headed the ball out for a corner.

"Swansea are so unlucky! James Cook's curling long shot was only inches away from becoming a world-class goal! The post denied him! What a shame!"

It was indeed a shame, but Swansea's morale remained high.

After Reading voluntarily shrank their formation, Swansea's long-range shots in front of the box increased.

Cromwell and James Cook's frequent long shots left Reading's back line terrified.

On the touchline, Alan Pardew felt cold sweat breaking out on his forehead!

This was the middle of winter!

Swansea's attacking firepower was simply too powerful.

He examined the situation on the pitch. If he strengthened the wide defense, Swansea would use the space in front of the box for long shots.

If he strengthened the pressing in front of the box, Swansea's wingers cutting into the area would instead create more direct threats.

Alan Pardew could not understand why Lynn's formation change had become so powerful!

Standing calmly on the touchline, Lynn did not see Reading producing any effective defensive strategy.

In reality, unless the entire opposing team participated in defense, it might be possible to suppress Swansea's attack.

But Reading's squad was older overall, and they did not have many pacey players. If they solved the defensive issue but found themselves too far from Swansea's goal, then their own attacking organization and forward progression would lack speed, which would create another problem.

Attack and defense could never be separated and treated alone.

Now Reading were in the awkward position of being unable to take care of both head and tail, leaving Alan Pardew overwhelmed.

In the 68th minute, when James Cook once again shaped as if he was about to shoot from outside the box, Icelandic defensive midfielder Ingimarsson immediately rushed forward to block him. He looked as if he wanted to use his body to stop James Cook's shot, but he never expected James Cook to gently knock the ball diagonally to Cromwell!

Then James Cook continued running forward, brushing past Ingimarsson.

Ingimarsson stopped sharply and turned to chase, but it was already too late.

His position was lost. James Cook, moving forward, received Cromwell's return pass.

Newman rushed toward him again, and James Cook passed sideways once more into Cromwell's forward running path.

This time, Cromwell was closer to goal, with no opponent directly blocking him. Three yards outside the penalty area, he swung his foot and shot!

A low, fast strike thundered forward. The ball was less than half a meter above the ground, but its speed was astonishing. Carrying the force of rolling thunder, it shot into the bottom left corner!

After scoring, Cromwell turned and embraced James Cook. Each of them raised a fist. They laughed loudly, extremely excited.

"Swansea's Welsh twin stars have combined for a brilliant move!

"Through continuous wall passes in front of the penalty area, James Cook assisted Cromwell, who scored from distance outside the box!

"3–1!

"Swansea lead Reading 3–1 at the Madejski Stadium!"

Alan Pardew, furious and flustered, shouted at his players, telling them to become tougher and put pressure on the opponent!

Lynn's smile was wild and arrogant. He ran back and forth in the technical area, his swinging coat making him look incredibly excited.

Reading's players began to lose morale. They also knew that their current defense could not stop Swansea, so their two wide midfielders voluntarily came back to help defend. Watson also dropped back into a central midfield position. As a result, forward Forster was isolated in the front field, and Reading's attack became even harder to discuss.

On Swansea's side, Lynn began making proactive substitutions.

First, he used Poulsen to replace James Cook.

After coming off, James Cook hugged Lynn. Lynn praised him beside his ear, "You performed well today. It's just a shame that shot hit the post instead of going in."

James Cook smiled. "It would only be a shame if we fail to win in the end."

After he went off, Poulsen came on and strengthened Swansea's control of midfield. In defense especially, his physicality was stronger than James Cook's, and his defensive positioning was also better.

Reading had lost control of midfield ever since Swansea changed formation. After Lynn sent on Poulsen, they found it even harder to move an inch through the middle!

In the 70th minute, Lynn gestured for the team to focus their attacks down the right!

So the team frequently created chances for Villa on the right.

Nicky Shorey could not mark Villa, who was flexible in his movement, fast, and explosive.

And most importantly, Nicky Shorey already had a yellow card!

In the 78th minute, Tobias Rau sprinted past Murty on the left side of the front field. He received Grosso's direct pass from the back and controlled the ball on the flank.

Murty hurriedly rushed over to press him. Tobias Rau flexibly dragged the ball back in the opposite direction, causing Murty to charge into empty space. Then Tobias carried the ball into the box. When Brown and Ingimarsson moved toward him and formed a blocking line, Tobias Rau knocked the ball back.

Cromwell, following from behind, sent a diagonal ground pass across without stopping the ball.

Villa cut inside from the right toward the front of the penalty area. After taking a touch, he directly charged into the box. From the diagonal rear, Shorey came in and chose to slide!

Villa's forward-driving foot was tripped by the opponent, and he fell heavily inside the penalty area!

The referee's whistle sounded, and boos from the home fans echoed around the Madejski Stadium.

Naturally, the Reading fans wanted to pressure the referee, but surrounded by Reading players, the referee still decisively awarded the penalty and showed Shorey a second yellow card!

Two yellows became one red. Shorey was sent off!

"After receiving Cromwell's pass, Villa carried the ball into the penalty area. Just as he was about to shoot, Nicky Shorey's rash sliding tackle handed Swansea a penalty. There is no problem with this decision. Villa's foot was indeed touched by Nicky Shorey. Now Nicky Shorey has received a second yellow card and has been sent off!"

Alan Pardew was furious on the touchline. He believed the referee was trying to balance things out!

Everyone understood in their hearts that the referee's decisions in the first half had benefited Reading. It could be said that two misjudgments had made the situation before the 40-minute mark extremely favorable to Reading.

During half-time, the referee must have also learned that he had made mistakes in the first half. In the second half, he might compensate Swansea for the benefits they had been denied!

Alan Pardew roared at the fourth official, "The referee has already given Swansea a damned penalty! Why does he still have to send off my player?"

When Lynn heard Pardew's words, he immediately became dissatisfied. He walked toward Pardew, his face full of anger, and said loudly, "Go fuck yourself! This is a penalty. How is it being given to us? Your player fouled with a tackle, so he fucking deserves to be sent off! What is there to argue about?"

Alan Pardew had nearly lost his mind. He moved toward Lynn as Lynn walked over, then shoved him hard in the chest, pushing Lynn back several steps and almost making him fall.

Lynn nearly lost control of his emotions in that instant.

Just as he steadied himself, he saw someone beside him rush forward.

Joseph Levin!

From before the match even began, Joseph Levin had smelled the gunpowder in this game.

Alan Pardew's provocation had also made him very unhappy.

He believed that whether Lynn felt disdainful annoyance toward Alan Pardew or anger after being provoked, Lynn must have also wanted to deal with the man.

But he could not let anything happen to Lynn.

Lynn was the team's manager. If Lynn acted with his hands, then he would not merely possibly be banned—he would definitely be banned!

And the nature of the incident would be extremely serious.

After all, Lynn was the king of Swansea!

People would not want to see Swansea's king become a thug who started fighting the moment words failed.

As the team's gold-medal gofer, Joseph Levin felt great sympathy for Lynn: he could not freely do whatever he wanted!

If Alan Pardew was unpleasant to look at, then if you were a man, you beat him!

But Lynn could not. As the team's manager and owner, there was also a Sword of Damocles hanging above his head. He could not willfully do whatever he wanted.

So while Joseph Levin sympathized with Lynn, he had also made preparations!

No matter what, Swansea's manager could not be bullied by others!

If Lynn was bullied, then the entire club would lose face. Everyone would be humiliated, including Levin himself.

So he had prepared himself. Whether it was to defend the club or protect his own pride, in this situation where glory and disgrace were shared together, he would be the villain!

He wanted to tell the entire world that nobody should even think about touching Swansea's people!

Under everyone's astonished gaze, Joseph Levin rushed forward. Even Alan Pardew had not expected that an unknown little nobody beside them would be the one charging over to deal with him!

He had been staring at Lynn the entire time, prepared to deal with Lynn's next reaction. But Joseph Levin charged in and caught him completely off guard.

Joseph Levin rushed over and directly pressed his right palm onto Alan Pardew's face, shoving him backward hard.

Alan Pardew staggered back two steps before falling to the ground!

Lynn stared in shock at Joseph Levin's back in front of him.