Wolverhampton Wanderers have picked up just their second victory in nine Championship games courtesy of a 1-0 triumph over Reading at Molineux this evening.
The hosts almost took the lead in unorthodox circumstances after just 10 minutes when Dave Edwards blocked a clearance and saw the ball nearly rebound in, but they were soon hanging on themselves at the other end.
Carl Ikeme needed to come off his line to deny Matej Vydra when one on one, while Garath McCleary saw an effort cleared off the line by Conor Coady moments later before then firing a curling effort narrowly wide of the target during a period of dominance for Reading.
It was Wolves who took the lead just five minutes later, however, when Jordan Graham lifted a free kick into a dangerous area for James Henry to nod home from six yards.
Kenny Jackett's side continued to look dangerous as the first half progressed and had two more headed chances midway through the half as first Danny Batth and then Ethan Ebanks-Landell sent efforts over the crossbar.
They came within inches of a second shortly before the half-hour mark when Henry turned provider with a cross to Benik Afobe, whose flicked header came back off the far post and bounced into the arms of a grateful Jonathan Bond.
Reading struck the woodwork themselves after the interval as they came within the width of the post from levelling things up at the start of the second period when Oliver Norwood's 25-yard effort hit the upright.
The visitors looked increasingly dangerous, with Vydra, Hal Robson-Kanu and Michael Hector all threatening before Ikeme spilled Nick Blackman's long-range effort, fortunately wide of the post for the Wolves keeper.
All of Reading's pressure did not result in a goal, however, as the Royals slumped to a fifth defeat in six games to leave them now seven points adrift of the playoff places.
Barney Corkhill
