We have now reached the stage of the season where every point is much more keenly contested, and tonight's game was a good indication of how tough it is going to be for everyone in the play-off zone. The Royals played superbly for the opening twenty minutes and could have scored three or four goals as they forced Wolves into some desperate defending. The visitors however weathered the storm and gradually eased their way into the game, and the goal they scored just before half time was enough to strengthen their claim for a play-off spot and send Reading down to fourth place.

Tyson got the home crowd going with a strong run into the heart of the Wolves defence in the first minute and a Wolves defender just managed to hook the ball away as the young forward shaped to shoot. Moments later he rattled the crossbar with a rasping drive following a cleverly worked free kick. The pace a the game was frantic and Reading were certainly creating more chances than their opponents. Murray made a fine save from a Chadwick header following a great cross from Shorey. Forster got behind the defence and whipped in a dangerous cross that Wolves did well to cut out. On sixteen minutes Forster beat the offside trap and with several better options in the box elected to try to beat Murray from an acute angle and sent his shot just wide of the far post.

Both sides were trying to get the ball forward quickly and pressurise the opposing defences but moves were breaking down as both teams closed down passing options quickly. Miller also found himself with a good opportunity on twenty minutes but Hahnemann stayed on his feet and saved with his face. As half time approached Wolves were looking more threatening. They took the lead on forty-four minutes when Miller reacted quickest to a shot which bounced back off the post leaving Hahnemann stranded and prodded the ball into an unguarded net.

There were fewer clear cut openings in the second half, with the two best efforts coming from Reading's central defenders, both headers from corners. Murray had to make a great save to tip over Brown's header from a well flighted corner from Harper and then Mackie had an effort cleared off the line with Murray beaten. As the game wore on Reading's chances of scoring looked increasingly unlikely and with Wolves looking very strong in the centre of defence the introduction of Henderson didn't offer much of a threat either. Nothing much seemed to be gained from taking off Harper and Sidwell. Salako flitted about but was not very incisive. Chadwick found it difficult to get going mainly due the speed in which the Wolves midfield and defence closed in on him as soon as he received the ball, and Hughes didn't really contribute much.

Wolves are a good side although I felt Reading could have beaten them. Miller looked very sharp, Murray had good game in goal, and they competed well throughout the side. Blake performed like a pantomime character, so it was fitting that he should exit before the end responding to a crescendo of boos with an obscene gesture and an antagonistically slow swagger towards the bench. It was quite an entertaining game but I was in no mood to appreciate it in the end because what I had really come to see was Reading pick up three points. Perhaps Palace will oblige on Saturday but I don't think it is going to be easy.
Report by John Wells.