Wolves needed two late goals to grab a last gasp home win in this first leg fixture - and they should be very worried about the return leg at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday night after Reading looked the better team for long periods of this game. In the end it was a game of two halves as Reading immediately rose to the occassion to practically dominate the first half before Wolves regained their composure late in the second half to steal the victory. Wolves now have just a single goal advantage to bring to the Madejski Stadium - and there's every chance that will be immediately wiped out. Reading were excellent today - all across the team. It the end it was disappointing to have lost out after leading for fifty minutes of the game and looking good for the win, but there were so many positives that we should now look to Wednesday and the massive game set to take place at the Madejski.

It would have been easier to come to Wolves and defend in an attempt to get a draw, but Pardew doesn't work like that and thankfully not as the travelling Reading fans were treated to a premier Reading performance that could have taken that win. Alan Pardew had clearly come to get the first leg advantage with a brave team selection that included both Henderson and Forster in the starting eleven, with Henderson playing behind Forster on the left. With a full strength defence in place, Pardew opted for Sidwell in midfield, who went on to have a superb game with some excellent tackles and some quality passing of the ball. The whole midfield put in huge levels of effort and it was only Chadwick that let it down with some careless passing that broke down some good moves. Otherwise we played some excellent passing football throughout the game that put Wolves to shame. Up front Forster had a blinder throughout the game as he twisted and turned through the Wolves defence causing problem after problem. Forster's match was brought to an early end just after the hour when he limped off through injury - lets hope it's not serious and he's available to play on Wednesday. Forster's replacement Nathan Tyson also suffered an early exit after a rash two footed challenge in injury time that saw the referee produce a straight red card.

It was clearly going to be a tight game from the early exchanges that saw both teams share the ball with a variety of solid challenges flying in. The referee was more than happy to accept the continual diving from some of the Wolves players and the continual awarding of bizarre free-kicks meant the game took a while to really get flowing. Reading started to play the ball around and pushed forward through the midfield. Henderson, who looked clumsy down the left to begin with, soon settled in and Reading were doing the majority of the running to bring the ball forward. The home side were obviously nervous and continued to make mistakes as they attempted to come forward as the Reading defence won absolutely everything that was put at them during the opening half. Wolves relied on their physical qualities more than their skill as Reading looked comfortable on the ball. The home crowd was quickly silenced as Wolves failed to generate anything and the Reading fans were in good voice under a sea of blue and white balloons.

Reading won the first corner of the game and saw the first proper shot on target as Nicky Forster hit an effort from distance that was easily saved. Wolves physical approach saw them pick up the first booking of the game after Sidwell was taken out in the middle of the pitch. Sidwell certainly wasn't backing out of any tackles today as he provided a real stoppage point for Wolves as they attempted to come forward. Reading were starting to get on top and went ahead on twenty five minutes after some excellent work by Shorey down the left. Shorey got nearly to the line and put over a fantastic cross for Forster who had somehow managed to break free in the area on the right. Forster controlled the ball a treat and smacked it into the roof of the net to put Reading 1-0 up. The away fans went mental and the home fans were silenced for the rest of the half. Reading continued to contain Wolves - they managed an effort way over the crossbar and a free-kick just outside the area was driven in the wall and cleared by the Reading defence. At half time Reading were looking very comfortable in front.

At half time we knew the game couldn't possibly be over. For Wolves to have any chance they needed to win the home leg and Reading had been so much in control in the first half that something had to change. However we briefly threatened to extend the lead when Forster broke into the area on the left and jogged past two defenders. Forster couldn't decide whether to shoot or cross - his shot was well wide of the right post from a tight angle and Chadwick was just inches away from sliding the ball into the empty net. The loss of Nicky Forster, for a reported ankle injury, just fifteen minutes into the half seemed to coincide with Wolves getting back into the game, however their come-back had already started by then. A powerful shot from well outside the area on 55 minutes looked to be heading into the top left corner of the net before Hahnemann made an excellent save to push it wide. The Wolves fans suddenly found their voices for the first time in the game and Reading were on the back foot. Newman came off the bench as Pardew looked to tighten things up. The substitution made loads of sense as Chadwick, who was struggling to make an impact, was replaced with a player who would help keep possession and the lead.

Wolves pulled level immediately after Reading were on the attack once again. Henderson broke down the left and went for a shot, which was prevent from finding the target by the boot of the full back. It was an obvious corner, but the referee gave the goal kick. The ball was played forward and into the Reading area from the left. A Wolves player went down inside the area and there were huge appeals for a penalty. The game seemed to pause for a second as the ball came loose to Newton well inside the area on the right. Newton appeared to drive it into the left side of the net - it later turned out it was going wide until a cruel deflection off Graeme Murty. At 1-1 Wolves had the upper hand all of a sudden and it was a case of survival.

Hahnemann was again at hand to keep the scores level when a low shot from outside the area saw the Reading goalkeeper get down quickly to his left to push it wide. After a solid period of Wolves pressure the home side stole the lead when Ince saw a Brown leg outstretched on the edge of the area and dived over it to win the free-kick. Moments later the free-kick was hit to the left of the Reading wall and into the corner of the net to Hahnemann's right. Cureton replaced Henderson immediately after the goal but I can't remember him really getting a touch as Wolves looked like they might get a third. A third would not have been justice and Reading may feel slightly hard done by to end up losing - however it was an impressive come back from the home side and hard to argue with the result. All that was left was for Tyson to get his marching orders for a challenge that saw the Wolves number six leave the pitch on a stretcher. The Reading players came over to applaud the fans - if only the Wolves fans could have been so gracious in victory.
Graham