Two second half strikes saw Reading dumped out of the Carabao Cup against Premier League Swansea.
Royals matched their visitors during a goalless first half, but Alfie Mawson and Jordan Ayew both netted after the restart to send the Swans into round four.
In truth, Reading struggled to test the opposition goalkeeper throughout but did show some encouraging signs.
Jaap Stam made nine changes from the side which drew at Brentford on Saturday with only Chris Gunter and Liam Moore retaining their place. That meant first starts this season for Jordan Obita and Roy Beerens, who began up front, while John Swift also returned from injury.
Swansea also made numerous changes, but still named a strong side including Bayern Munich loanee Renato Sanches and striker Wilfried Bony.
Royals started brightly against their Premier League opponents with Adrian Popa using his pace to go round goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt before teeing up Swift, but his cross was blocked.
Beerens and Popa both curled shots over the bar before Swift almost rounded off a brilliant flowing Reading move with a goal, only to fire straight at the keeper.
But Swansea grew into the contest and thought they had taken the lead on 26 minutes when Angel Rangel threaded the ball through for Luciano Narsingh, who tucked into the bottom corner. However, referee Andy Davies spotted a foul by Narsingh on Jordan Obita and pulled the play back.
Narsingh got in beyond Obita again a minute later, this time there was no foul, but Anssi Jaakkola made a vital stop.
Chances died down as the intriguing battle continued with both sides determined to try and create a goal passing out from the back.
There was one big flashpoint before the second half resumed as players from both sides got into a scuffle as they were heading down the tunnel with Chris Gunter and Leroy Fer among those involved.
The deadlock was broken seven minutes after the restart in favour of the visitors. Royals were on the back foot as soon as Tiago Ilori was dispossessed by Bony on the halfway line and although Liam Moore got back to block, Swansea kept up the pressure with a Bony shot deflected behind.
In came Sanches’ low corner which was swept in by Mawson to put Paul Clement’s side ahead.
Reading responded with two changes in the next 10 minutes, bringing Liam Kelly and Tyler Blackett on for recently injured Swift and Obita.
In truth, chances were hard to come by as Swansea did well to restrict the Royals, even when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson was thrown on.
And the tie was killed with seven minutes to play when a Reading pass inadvertently struck the referee, setting up a Swansea counter which was tucked in by substitute Ayew.
Leandro Bacuna and Pelle Clement tried their luck in the closing minutes, but Royals left the game without a goal.
READING: Jaakkola; Gunter (c), Ilori, Moore, Obita (Blackett 62); Bacuna, Evans, Swift (Kelly 54); Popa (Bodvarsson 74), Clement, Beerens.
Subs not used: Legg, van den Berg, Rinomhota, Bodvarsson, Smith.
Yellow card: Bacuna (42)
SWANSEA: Nordfeldt; Rangel (c), van der Hoorn, Mawson, Olsson; Mesa, Fer, Sanches; Narsingh (Fernandez 70), Routledge (Ayew 62), Bony (Abraham 81).
Subs not used: Mulder, Naughton, Britton, Fulton.
Goals: Mawson (52), Ayew (83)
Yellow cards: Fer (45), Olsson (56)
Referee: Andy Davies
Attendance: 8,729 (inc 968 away)
