17 May 2011

Swansea beat Forest

9:04 am on 17 May 2011

Swansea City have kept alive their hopes of playing in the English Premier football League next season by beating Nottingham Forest 3-1 on aggregate in their Championship playoff match.

After drawing nil-all in the first leg in Nottingham, Swansea made the most of home advantage and fired in two goals in four minutes in the first half to put themselves in the driving seat.

Former European champions Forest, aiming for a return to the top flight for the first time since 1999, gave themselves hope 10 minutes from time when substitute Robert Earnshaw pulled one back.

Forest hit the post in stoppage time, the third time they had struck the woodwork, but left themselves exposed at the back following a corner and Darren Pratley broke away to shoot into an open goal from his own half.

Swansea will face Reading or Cardiff City, who resume their tie tomorrow after a nil-all draw in the first leg, in the Wembley final at the end of the month.