Swansea's winless run in the Championship now stands at eight matches after they lost 2-1 in a scrappy affair at Reading.
City went behind in the 27th minute when Andy Carroll smartly volleyed home, and could have fallen further adrift five minutes later.
Carroll was pulled over by Jay Fulton in the area but Yakou Meite thundered the resultant penalty high over the crossbar.
MATCH FACTS
Reading: Lumley, Hoilett, Yiadom, Holmes, Sarr, McIntyre, Ince, Hendrick, N'Diaye, Meite, Carroll. Subs: Long, Lucas Joao, Baba, Azeez, Guinness-Walker, Bouzanis, Salif.
Swansea: Benda, Cabango, Darling, Wood-Gordon, Sorinola, Grimes, Allen, Fulton, Manning, Oliver Cooper, Piroe.