Reading 0-2 Swansea: Alfie Mawson and Jordan Ayew strike in second half to book Carabao Cup last-16 spot

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The last time Wilfried Bony started a game for Swansea City, Ben Haenow topped the charts, Donald Trump's bid for the US presidency seemed little more than a stunt, and a 17-year-old Renato Sanches was preparing for Benfica B's clash with Sporting Lisbon.

Nine hundred and 96 days on, Sanches and Bony were named alongside each other in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, having taken different — if parallel — routes to the Madejski Stadium.

Since Swansea's clash with Liverpool in December 2014 both had earned moves to bigger clubs and both had failed to live up to lofty expectations. And in Tuesday night's third-round tie, neither offered much hope that a return to better days lies just around the corner. 

Jordan Ayew keeps his cool to score Swansea's second goal with a well-taken strike 

The former Aston Villa striker is congratulated by Tammy Abraham following his goal 

Alfie Mawson gets on the end of a Renato Sanches cross to break the deadlock on Tuesday 

Mawson is mobbed by his Swansea team-mates after opening the scoring at Reading

Instead it was Alfie Mawson and Jordan Ayew who earned the visitors a place in the last-16. Mawson put his side in front shortly after the break when he turned home Sanches' low corner before Ayew made the most of a late counter-attack to settle the tie.

In the end, it was probably as much as Paul Clement's side deserved. But it did not come easily against a much-changed but spirited Reading side.

Twenty-four places separated the two sides in the English football pyramid at kick-off but, despite making more changes than their top-flight visitors, it was Jaap Stam's side who settled more quickly in the early stages, with both Adrian Popa and John Swift wasting encouraging openings.

Swansea, for their part, were slow to find any rhythm. But the Championship club had only beaten Premier League opposition once in their last 10 League Cup matches before Tuesday night and their failure to make the most of their superiority nearly cost them before Mawson's opener as Luciano Narsingh went close three times in as many minutes.

Reading manager Jaap Stam pictured prior to the Carabao Cup clash 

Swansea's on-loan Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches (left) looks to burst forward   

Reading's Roy Beerens in action with Swansea City's Martin Olsson during the first half 

Midway through the first-half, neat interplay between Bony and Sanches helped release the winger through on goal, only for him to be flagged offside. Moments later the Dutchman had the ball in the net after finding himself in behind again, only for referee Andy Davies to blow up for a foul in the build up.

Remarkably Reading failed to learn their lesson and within a couple of minutes Narsingh was clean through once more. But with no flag or whistle to halt his progress this time, it was only the winger's weak effort that kept Reading on terms.

That was the closest either side came in a goalless first half that ended with a scuffle involving both sets of players. Martin Olsson and Swift were at the heart of a shoving match that roused the Madejski crowd, continued into the tunnel and earned Leroy Fer a yellow card. 

There were plenty of empty seats on show at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday evening 

The players were involved in a touchline fracas after an underwhelming opening 45 minutes

Swansea City's Martin Olsson clashes with Reading's Tiago Ilori as they walk off at half time

Roque Mesa of Swansea City (left) and Leandro Bacuna of Reading battle for possession

If the scuffle breathed life into the crowd, it seemed to have a similar effect on Bony, who worked his first real openings early in the second period. Twice in a matter of moments he worked space for a shot. Both were blocked, the latter behind. And it was from the resulting corned that Mawson put the Premier League side in front, courtesy of a deflection.

The goal helped settle Swansea, who nullified Reading's threat and created the better chances thereafter. Sanches grew into the game as it opened up and Bony somehow contrived to turn Ayew's cross past the post from inside the six yard box.

The substitute made no mistake with a chance of his own in the final 10 minutes, however. Again, Swansea benefitted from a bit of good fortune as a deflection off the referee presented Fer with a loose ball. 

The midfielder's pass set Ayew racing clear and the forward fired past Jaakkola to secure a place in the next round and, perhaps more importantly, a morale-boosting win for Clement's stuttering side. 

England Under 21 centre back Mawson points to the away fans following his second-half goal

John Swift, the Reading midfielder, reacts with disappointment after missing chance to score

Ayew celebrates scoring the Premier League side's late second goal with Abraham