Match ends, Reading 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2.
ReadingReading0WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers2
Wolves returned to the top of the Championship with victory at Reading despite late pressure from the hosts.
Goals from Ivan Cavaleiro and Matt Doherty helped restore Wolves' two-point lead at the top after Sheffield United had temporarily replaced them at the summit on Friday.
Cavaleiro rounded Vito Mannone for the visitors' opener in the first half.
John Ruddy made several saves to deny Reading late on before full-back Doherty fired in from inside the box.
Ruddy had already pushed an early long-range effort from John Swift onto the post before denying Mo Barrow, Leandro Bacuna and Sone Aluko as the Royals pressed.
Having also survived several goalmouth scrambles, Wolves' first victory at the Madejski Stadium since 2005 was wrapped up by Doherty's late second.
Reading were boosted by last season's top scorer Yann Kermorgant making his first start of the campaign, but Wolves' stout defending and clinical finishing prevented them from notching a third successive league win.
Wolves have won 12 of their 17 league matches so far this term, while Reading's eighth defeat of 2017-18 leaves last season's play-off finalists five points above the relegation zone.
Reading manager Jaap Stam:
"Did we deserve more from the game? We should have got at least a draw. We started the game very well and could maybe have scored that first goal, but we didn't do it.
"Then, after a while, you knew that Wolves were going to be taking part in this game as well and go forward. They have got a lot of ability and quality in their team. Everybody knows that and we knew that.
"In the second half, we totally dominated the game. We created opportunity on opportunity but didn't score."
Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo:
"We know that we played a good team who caused us a lot of problems. We had to find solutions against them and that meant we had to defend well, which we did.
"When you see a player throwing his body in front of the ball, then you know that you can count on your players. We played well in the first half but, after that, we knew that Reading would come forward at us.
"We had to recognise that and work hard, but we still had moments to try to get a second goal. It would have been nicer if it had come before the 88th minute, but we are happy."
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Mannone
- 5McShane
- 20IloriSubstituted forEdwardsat 31'minutes
- 6Moore
- 19BacunaBooked at 20mins
- 4van den BergBooked at 56mins
- 10Swift
- 2Gunter
- 7BeerensSubstituted forBödvarssonat 81'minutes
- 18KermorgantSubstituted forAlukoat 66'minutes
- 17Barrow
Substitutes
- 14Aluko
- 16Edwards
- 22Clement
- 23Bödvarsson
- 24Blackett
- 31Jaakkola
- 50Richards
Wolves
Formation 3-4-3
- 21Ruddy
- 5BennettBooked at 64mins
- 16Coady
- 15Boly
- 2DohertyBooked at 59mins
- 27Saiss
- 8Neves
- 29Vinagre
- 7CavaleiroSubstituted forA N'Diayeat 79'minutes
- 33BonatiniSubstituted forEnobakhareat 72'minutes
- 18JotaSubstituted forHélder Costaat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 4A N'Diaye
- 6Batth
- 17Hélder Costa
- 19Price
- 25Miranda
- 26Enobakhare
- 31Norris
- Referee:
- Roger East
- Attendance:
- 20,708
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamWolves
- Possession
- Home61%
- Away39%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home6
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Paul McShane (Reading) header from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sone Aluko with a cross following a set piece situation.
Post update
Sone Aluko (Reading) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Rúben Vinagre (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Post update
Attempt missed. Modou Barrow (Reading) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Leandro Bacuna with a cross.
Post update
Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Bright Enobakhare tries a through ball, but Romain Saiss is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Leandro Bacuna (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Willy Boly.
Goal!
Goal! Reading 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2. Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Hélder Costa.
Post update
Chris Gunter (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Bright Enobakhare (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Post update
Attempt saved. Sone Aluko (Reading) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Paul McShane.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Hélder Costa replaces Diogo Jota.
Post update
Foul by Paul McShane (Reading).
Post update
Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Leandro Bacuna (Reading) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Joey van den Berg.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Paul McShane (Reading) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Sone Aluko with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Jón Dadi Bödvarsson replaces Roy Beerens.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Willy Boly.
Comments
Join the conversation
Unless the rules have changed, the division winners and the runners up *will* be promoted along with the winners of the playoffs. If Wolves are one of those three teams , it will be on merit. If it is as champions, all the better.
So? Womens football at 1st level is about on a level with mens at the 8th level. I see no stories on mens 8th level football either. And the other reason would be that hardly anyone is interested.
No competition?..Nothing like over confidence..a long way to go,but you are in good shape ..United,Cardiff,Villa and Bristol City all well in with a shout..No outstanding team for me.
sick of these mickey mouse Southern League clubs like Watford Palace Bournemouth etc in the Premier League...its not right.
Let's get over the Xmas period then see how we stand. Difficult to stop us if we're still top into the new year.
CumOnYouWolves.
Please please please let the football gods give us Sand well Town in the FA Cup.
Let's see who is proud then.
Enjoy the rest of season
COYW
1920 is such a long time ago.
Wolves - 'In one of the lower leagues.'