Reading's lack of good fortune continued in the play-offs tonight with a 0-1 home defeat in the second leg that saw the Royals beaten by two goals on aggregate over the two ties. At least this season we didn't have to suffer from the heartbreak of a play-off final defeat when we looked on our way to promotion. This time we were let down gradually over two games despite long periods of total domination across the two games. We can certainly hold our heads up very high after this play-off exit and after the entire season in general. We exceeded all expectations this season and continued through the play-offs. Despite being up against the odds against Wolves tonight we never stopped playing the way we play and continued to attempt to find a way through against a Wolves side that had come simply to hold on to their first leg lead. Reading were much the better side tonight and played all the football as they camped out in the opposition half with Wolves hardly touching the ball - but Wolves knew what they were doing and stuck to their job of determined defending before scoring the late goal against the run of play to finally kill off the fixture.

The lack of Nicky Forster, who limped off during the first game, was a big blow in the end. Jamie Cureton stepped into the side, in perhaps his last Reading game, and couldn't be faulted for effort. However, Cureton struggled against a powerful physical Wolves defence - he could do little with some of the hopeful balls played into the area and he couldn't twist and turn the defence in the way Forster had in the first leg. Andy Hughes was pushed into the centre forward role during the first half with Cureton just behind him, but that brave plan to little to confuse the Wolves defence. Glen Little was back in the starting eleven with Chadwick on the bench and little had an excellent game overall as did the entire midfield that had more of the ball than the rest of the two teams put together. I heard some fans after the game saying how poor Wolves were - but they'd actually done a job on Reading during this game after packing their defence and limiting the Royals chances as much as possible. We did have some good chances and probably should have scored, which would have changed the pattern of the game, but you would have expected more opportunities given our huge domination in terms of possession of the ball.

The game got off to a frantic start much like the first leg with plenty of challenges flying in and some good quality football from the Royals as they moved the ball around at speed looking to impose early superiority on the game. It seemed to work as the game quickly settled down to Reading in control passing the ball around and patiently looking for Wolves to slip up and expose a weakness at the back. Very early on we saw plenty of hope when the Wolves keeper spilled the ball from a Glen Little effort from the right side of the area and Cureton was nearly close enough by to take advantage. With nearly the entire ninety minutes ahead of us it looked very good indeed. Playing the way we were we felt that a goal had to come at some point. During an excellent spell towards the end of the half Reading won a whole series of corners and nearly converted one to a goal when the ball was crossed from the right and headed towards goal by Darius Henderson in the middle. Henderson's header was saved by the keeper who must have got down at amazing speed and the ball was hacked clear off the line at the far post.

After the half time break we stepped up yet again and Wolves appeared to defend with even more players behind the ball as they set about simply containing the Royals until full time. Hahnemann had almost nothing to do as the play was concentrated down the other end. Wolves managed one shot that was well wide of the target mid-way through the second half and it was the first time that Marcus had had to really focus on the game. Down the other end we were being continually frustrated as we attempted to break through. James Harper was running all over the pitch attempting to keep possession and threading the ball forward. However, as soon as the pass was made we were closed down at amazing speed as Wolves didn't give us time to think. We'd opt for the quick pass to keep hold of the ball but were struggling to find enough room. Every now and again we would try and go directly through the middle and Cureton found himself immediately surrounded by four Wolves defenders as he attempted to find space to shoot. Wolves would clear the ball and Reading would have to build again with time ticking away.

We nearly found the breakthrough down the left twice. Firstly Henderson was given the ball and cut into the area before putting a low shot towards the far bottom corner of the net. The keeper did well to get down quickly and push it wide for yet another corner. Little did well shortly afterwards when a quick exchange of passes with Cureton on the right side of the area saw Little somehow manage to squeeze past the defenders for a shot at goal - unfortunately his shot flew over the bar to the relief of the Wolves defence. With time running out Rougier and Watson were introduced and Reading started to lose their shape a bit. Rougier ran around a bit but failed to have any real impact. He had one chance that could have changed the game when we found himself with just the keeper to beat on the left side of the area. He could have and really should have scored, but tried to switch it to his good foot and instead toe poked the ball bizzarely in the wrong direction and wide of the near post. Reading had done all they can but just weren't getting the opening.

With Reading searching for new ideas and a way to somehow get that vital goal, Wolves scored and it was all over. A rare attack in the Reading half saw substitute Rae break into the area on the right and fire a shot from just inside the area across Hahnemann and into the bottom left corner of the net. The goal killed the game off with Reading one goal down on the night and two goals behind on aggregate. We'd certainly tried our hardest but it certainly wasn't going to happen. The atmosphere tonight was excellent - and the goal sparked some noise from the Wolves fans packed behing the goal in a capacity filled Madjeski Stadium crowd of 24,060. At full time most of the fans stayed behind to applaud the players off the pitch. The Reading team came over to the fans to take the applause for an excellent season. And what a great season it's been. Well done Alan Pardew and Reading Football Club - more of the same next season please.
Graham

Following from from John Wells
This evening Reading ended their season with a good performance against a resilient and experienced Wolves side. Over the two legs of this semi-final play-off Reading played more attractive football and enjoyed more possession than their opponents but ultimately failed to go through because of their inability to covert pressure into goals. The whole tie seemed to turn on the moment when Forster went off injured in the away leg. He was certainly missed this evening. However, as Adie Williams accurately concluded, "it was a disappointing end to a good season", and after the game I was more inclined to reflect on how well the Royals have competed in this division this season, than agonise over what might have been.

The atmosphere was fantastic before kick-off and Reading had a chance to go ahead in the opening minutes when a Little volley was fumbled by Murray and the Wolves defence had to react quickly to prevent Cureton from tucking away the loose ball. That seemed to set the pattern for the game, although apart from a save from a Henderson header which Murray knew very little about, most of Reading's strikes on goal were from well outside the box. Wolves were clearly not going to risk losing their first leg lead by committing players to attack. They rarely posed a threat even on the break. One good move which resulted in Williams making a superb last ditch block to deny Cameron was about their only serious attempt in the first half.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Reading might have taken the lead when Hughes slid a good ball through to Henderson who placed his shot well forcing a save from Murray, but a more powerful strike was required. As the time flew by a goal was looking increasingly unlikely, then with nine minutes left, substitute Alex Rae was given just a little too much time and space in the box and he fired a shot across Hahnemann into the corner of the net. Everyone knew that it was all over and the Wolves fans began to celebrate. Reading's substitute Rougier had an even better chance to score and bring Reading back into contention, but for some reason he decided to strike the ball with his right foot making it almost impossible to hit a decent shot from his position to left of the goal. Wolves saw out the remaining time with the the same dogged determination that kept them ahead all evening. After the final whistle both teams remained on the pitch to receive the deserved applause form their respective fans.

I enjoyed speculating about how we might have fared in the Premiership but I don't really think the club or the squad are quite ready for it yet. Reading are on an upward curve of development and tonight's defeat is not a major set back. We have a good squad with a nucleus of promising young players. Wolves on the other hand have put together a squad designed to get them up but it is not sour grapes that makes me say that they have not got a squad that can keep them there. Watching teams as good as Bolton and West Ham struggle this season clearly illustrates the gulf between the top of the first division and the bottom half of the Premiership. The Royals have had a fantastic season and I'm looking forward to the next one already.