Jason Scotland scored one and created another as Swansea further enhanced their Coca-Cola Championship play-off credentials with a deserved victory at the Liberty Stadium.

The in-form front man gave the hosts the lead on the stroke of half time when he found half a yard in the penalty area before drilling home a low shot to notch his 12th goal of the season.

And the three points were secured when he slid the ball to substitute Andrea Orlandi, who calmly sidefooted into the bottom corner in the 89th minute.

Reading, who eased to a 4-0 victory in the reverse fixture at the Madjeski Stadium, were second best throughout and knew it was not their afternoon when Liam Rosenior was shown a red card for two frivolous yellow cards late on.

The Swans are now unbeaten in their last 10 Coca-Cola Championship matches and this victory, over a Reading side seemingly set on promotion, further enhances their play-off potential.

Despite the loss Reading remain ahead of automatic promotion rivals Birmingham in the league after they drew 1-1 at home to Cardiff.

Swans boss Roberto Martinez handed winger Nathan Dyer his full debut since his loan move from Southampton in one of seven changes to the side which beat Histon in the FA Cup last time out.

Reading, who went into the game as the country's top scorers with 57 league goals, were unchanged from the 4-0 victory over Watford last Friday.

And they were soon on the front foot with Stephen Hunt and James Harper looking to plough their way down either flank as both sides looked to gain an early initiative.

The Swans, who have lost just one league game at home all season, also started at a high tempo with Dyer in particular looking dangerous.

But it was good move from fellow midfielders Jordi Gomez and Angel Rangel which carved out the first opening of the match after 15 minutes.

The pair exchanged passes down the flank before Rangel swung in a dangerous cross towards Scotland, but the striker put a weak header wide.

Mark Gower then went close with a 18-yard shot which Adam Federici easily gathered before the Royals stopper saved a Gomez free-kick.

But Federici could do nothing about Scotland's strike in the 45th minute following good play from Alan Tate.

The visitors did improve after the break but, with Swansea content to sit on their lead, goalmouth chances were few and far between.

Doyle, however, will feel he should have done better with a header from six yards which he could only head wide.

Royals manager Steve Coppell introduced Marek Matejovsky on the hour mark to try to shake things up but his side were uncharacteristically careless in possession and lacked any inventiveness in the final third.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors as they were reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute as Rosenior was dismissed for a foul on Dyer after he had been shown a yellow card for kicking the ball away.

And Orlandi sealed the victory just before the full-time whistle.

Teams:

Swansea De Vries, Rangel, Williams, Monk, Tate, Gower (Orlandi 72), Pratley, Gomez, Allen, Dyer (Pintado 82),Scotland.

Subs Not Used: Tudur-Jones, Serran, Bauza.

Booked: Tate.

Goals: Scotland 45, Orlandi 89.

Reading Federici, Rosenior, Ingimarsson, Duberry, Armstrong, Kebe (Lita 82), Cisse, Harper (Gunnarsson 81), Stephen Hunt, Doyle, Noel Hunt (Matejovsky 62).

Subs Not Used: Andersen, Long.

Sent Off: Rosenior (81).

Booked: Rosenior, Stephen Hunt.

Att: 15,197

Ref: Fred Graham (Essex).