Andy Carroll and Danny Drinkwater both score first Reading goals in win over Swansea

Championship side Reading are rolling back the years with Andy Carroll and Danny Drinkwater both opening their goal-scoring accounts for the club in a 3-2 win over Swansea.

Chelsea loanee Drinkwater set up Carroll’s go-ahead strike on the half-hour mark, before finding the net himself to win the game 20 minutes later.

Carroll joined Reading on a two-month deal earlier this month, and has now scored for the first time, coming in his third appearance for the club, and first start.

The strike in Wales marks Carroll’s first away goal since 2017, while the 32-year-old has now matched his scoring total for Newcastle last season.

Former England international Carroll spent the previous two seasons back on Tyneside, rejoining his boyhood club after stints away at Liverpool and West Ham.

Injuries and a lack of form ended the 6ft 4in striker’s time back at St James’ Park, with Reading since picking up the out-of-work forward for a free transfer.

His goal was set up by Drinkwater, who signed for Chelsea a year after winning the Premier League with Leicester in 2017.

The midfielder joined in a £35million five-year deal – which expires at the end of the season – but has spent the vast majority of his contract on loan, now at Reading.

Drinkwater’s assist was his first for the Royals, and he later went one further by bagging a first goal which turned out to be the winner.

Reading were recently dealt a blow with a six point penalty for breaching the EFL’s sustainability rules, and are desperately searching for points to pull them away from the relegation zone.

Not only do the three points against Swansea help them do that, but the victory is their first over the Swans since 2008.

Carroll and Drinkwater aren’t the only recognisable names in a squad that also features former Premier League regular Scott Dann and former Barcelona wonderkid, Croatian midfielder Alen Halilovic.