Swansea City have progressed to the Championship promotion playoff thanks to a 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest in the semi-final second leg tonight.
The Swans overcame a fairly tardy start to score twice in five minutes in the mid-stages of the first half, through Leon Britton (28') and Stephen Dobbie (33') before Darren Pratley scored late after Robert Earnshaw gave Forest some hope in the 80th minute.
A frenetic match, unlike the scoreless first leg on Thursday, saw the visitors hit the woodwork on three occasions but nonetheless, Swansea got through to the May 30 final at Wembley where they will meet either Cardiff City or Reading who clash in Cardiff tomorrow night.
Forest had some great chances early in the contest, particularly to David McGoldrick in just the fifth minute but his left-footed strike from a brilliant Nathan Tyson through-ball cannoned off the crossbar after beating Dorus De Vries in Swansea goal.
But Swansea were prominent in attack as well and had their own piece of bad luck down the other end in the 18th when Fabio Borini produced a neat turn before hitting the bar.
However, that lack of luck didn't last long as Britton opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a lovely piece of individual play outside the area which ended in a perfectly-placed left-footed shot, leaving Forest keeper Lee Camp rooted to the spot.
Five minutes later and Liberty Stadium was rocking when Dobbie made a jinking run into the area before pulling the trigger early in the box and getting a second shot past Camp to make it 2-0 heading into half-time.
Forest squandered an early chance in the second half when Tyson ripped down the left flank and then played an enticing ball for Marcus Tudgay but he inexplicably spooned his unmarked shot over the top in what was another wasted opportunity for Billy Davies' men.
Just before the hour-mark, Forest were again unlucky when Lewis McGugan hammered his rising free-kick into the crossbar just minutes before Swansea sub Darren Pratley missed the target from an unmarked header which would have sunk the Reds.
Both sides continued attacking each other's goals as the minutes ticked over and the 80th minute saw Nottingham get back into the contest when substitute Robert Earnshaw scored with a lovely finish just over two minutes after he entered the fray.
This gave plenty of hope to the travelling Forest faithful and in the first minute of injury time, Earnshaw almost came up with the answer but again the woodwork got in the way with his attempt beating De Vries but not the upright.
As Forest pushed everybody forward, Swansea countered with Pratley sending a long ball goalward from the halfway line which hit the target to make it 3-1, sending Brendan Rodgers and his men to Wembley Stadium.
