If ever there was a game of two halves, this was it. Reading appeared to have the game won at the half time break after dominating the opening 45 minutes - but rather than finish the job off after the break they sat back and let Sheffield Wednesday come right back into it. Our second half display effectively saw us hand the three points back to Wedenesday thanks to a lack of concentration. Clearly the team thought they had done the job at half time and didn't need to continue in that manner in the second half - but there are no easy wins in this division, as this game showed when the home side came out with exactly the right spirit to fight and turn the game on its head.

If Reading had taken more of the massive number of chances created in the first half then perhaps our first half performance would have been enough - we went in 2-0 up at the break but it should have been a whole load more. Pardew critics will point to the missing Jamie Cureton as the reason we lost the game. Perhaps with him on the pitch we would have stuck away more of the chances and sealed the victory with a first half Cureton hat-trick? With Forster fully fit Cureton found himself dropped to the bench - and he remained there for the full ninety minutes despite Reading going full out attack towards the end of the game in a weak attempt to claw back a point. However, the front line combination of Butler and Forster looked impressive during the first half with both players grabbing a goal each. If that had been repeated in the second half no-one would have stood up and questioned Pardew's decision to leave Cureton out of the action.

Right from the start Reading looked like the team that were going to win the game, giving a demonstration of why they're so many places above Wednesday in the table. It took just nine minutes for Reading to go ahead. A Murty cross from the right saw the home defence frozen and confused and saw Forster have plenty of time to head the ball home to make it 1-0. Straight away it was nearly two as Reading kept the pressure up. Sammy Igoe was having another fantastic game for Reading and set up an excellent chance after winning the ball in midfield and pushing it forward to Forster. Forster took it past the keeper who nearly conceeded a penalty and crossed to Butler. Butler looked favourite to put it into the back of the net but was denied as the Wednesday defender came in just in time to block the shot with the goalkeeper stranded. Butler made up for missing that chance by putting the ball into the back of the net ten minutes later. Another piece of shocking Wednesday defending saw a loose ball played back giving Butler a chance to run onto it with the defence nowhere to be seen. This time he finished in style putting the ball under the keeper and just inside the post to put Reading 2-0 up.

Two goals up away from home with just twenty minutes on the clock and it all looked very good. Reading oozed confidence as they stroked the ball around and looked to increase the lead. Sheffield Wednesday were confused and disorganised and managed just a few long range shots that were easy for Hahnemann after a couple of breaks. With Igoe working hard to keep winning possession and lay the ball off Reading continued to dominate the game. Tyson was also working hard with slightly less success against his marker - but he managed a couple of good attempts on goal. Tyson had one shot well saved and followed it up with other powerful shot that saw the keeper push it out for a rebound chance that so nearly found Butler and Igoe - one of those ones that Cureton would have been there in the right place at the right time to blast it home. Butler had another effort which found the keeper rather than the net and Nicky Forster had another header saved as Reading were prevented from moving further ahead.

Wednesday came out a different side for the second half. They'd clearly taken the criticism of their home fans and the manager and were determined to do something about it. Reading on the other hand didn't expect a fight back and emerged with just ten players on the pitch. Hahnemann eventually appeared but it was an indication that Reading were taking the wrong approach to the game. Hahnemann ended up having one of his worst halves ever in goal with Reading as he conceeded the three goals that would see the three points going the other direction.

Just seven minutes after the break Wednesday scored from their first real chance of the game. The ball was pushed through the Reading defence and put past Hahnemann from close range. All of a sudden the game had a different feel about it. The home fans started getting behind their team for the first time and Reading started to look uncomfortable as Wednesday went on the hunt for the equaliser - which came on 69 minutes to undo all the good work of the first half. It was a very long range effort that must have caught Hahnemann off guard as it trickled into the bottom of the net with Hahnemann failing to make a save when he surely should have done. Just a couple of minutes later and Wednesday completed the job with an excellent shot that sailed over Hahnemann and into the roof of the net. 2-3 and it was all over for Reading who had their chance to win the game but had thrown it away.

With time running out Pardew stuck on Henderson and Hughes to make Reading's formation more attacking. Shorey and Newman made way as Reading appeared to be playing five players up front. There was no place for Cureton as Reading desperately attempted to find the equaliser from somewhere. We forced a couple of corners but didn't look as dangerous as during the first half. In the dying minutes it was nearly 2-4 as Mackie conceeded a free-kick that was driven against the top of the crossbar. And just after that came Reading's final chance when Butler was played through - but his shot was wide of the target and it was all over for Reading.