Match ends, Reading 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3.
ReadingReading3WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers3
Wolves and Reading scored five second-half goals as the crowd inside the Madejski Stadium were treated to a Championship thriller.
Reading took the lead in the first half when Michael Hector headed in Oliver Norwood's delivery.
Four second half-minutes saw James Henry sidefoot in and Lee Evans thrash home to put Wolves in front, before Jake Taylor slotted in an equaliser.
Dave Edwards headed Wolves ahead again, before Glenn Murray's late leveller.
No doubt visiting manager Kenny Jackett will rue not being able to hold on for the win after re-taking the lead, and having fought back so well after the interval.
Victory would have seen them join Norwich at the top of the table, but instead they are two points off top spot.
The Royals move up one place to 11th, but they showed enough quality in attack to suggest they will finish the season higher.
| Ex- Wolves & Reading player Mick Gooding on BBC Radio Berkshire: | |
|---|---|
| "Kenny Jackett will be delighted his team has scored three, but at 3-2 up Wolves had a short corner and got it wrong. They were trying to play the clock down but within a minute Reading had gone down the other end and scored the equaliser."They should have gone for the fourth because they were in the ascendancy. But it was a great game of football." | |
The pattern of play in the first half gave no indication as to what was to follow. There were only three clear-cut chances, with two coming inside the first 10 minutes.
Wolves midfielder George Saville's shot was saved by the legs of Adam Federici, before Reading's Simon Cox flicked a header wide at the other end.
The Royals opened the scoring when defender Hector, who has been on loan at 11 clubs since starting his senior career in 2009, bulleted a header just inside the near post from Norwood's cross.
Both defences had looked sturdy, with Wolves' record of just three goals conceded in eight games the best in England. But it was a very different display from both sides after the break.
In the 51st minute, Wolves equalised when Henry opened up his boot to sidefoot home Bakary Sako's fizzing cross, before Evans made in 2-1 after Jordan Obita's terrible attempt at a clearance landed in his path.
It was a sensational turnaround, but there was to be a further twist. Straight from the kick-off, Cox surged forward and played in Taylor, who coolly slotted past keeper Carl Ikeme.
Wolves retook the lead with six minutes remaining when substitute Edwards flicked in. Referee James Adcock paused before giving a goal after his assistant declared the ball had fully crossed the line.
But with a minute of normal time remaining, striker Murray, who had a quiet game, launched a fierce effort from the edge of the area that took a deflection off Danny Batth en route to the top corner.
Reading manager Nigel Adkins:
"We have played against a good side in Wolves. They are good in possession and had only conceded three goals this season.
"We responded well to get back in the game having gone behind so it's credit to the players.
"It was a good game of football, good entertainment on a hot day."
Wolves manager Kenny Jackett:
"When you've just scored you can't let a goal in straight away.
"We need to play with that heart and spirit and quality and then learn our lessons defensively.
"It was end to end, both sides attacked right to the death and for us it's an awakening to the Championship. A lot of games in the Championship can go either way and you have to get the detail right to make the difference.
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Federici
- 2Gunter
- 15Hector
- 5Pearce
- 11Obita
- 22Blackman
- 16AkpanSubstituted forGuthrieat 45'minutesBooked at 64mins
- 6Norwood
- 25TaylorBooked at 45minsSubstituted forKuhlat 73'minutes
- 10CoxSubstituted forMackieat 68'minutes
- 20Murray
Substitutes
- 7Pogrebnyak
- 8Guthrie
- 19Mackie
- 28Kuhl
- 31Andersen
- 32Long
- 35Cooper
Wolves
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Ikeme
- 2Doherty
- 6Batth
- 5StearmanBooked at 66mins
- 3Golbourne
- 11McDonald
- 14Evans
- 7HenrySubstituted forvan La Parraat 79'minutes
- 8SavilleSubstituted forEdwardsat 77'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 10Sako
- 9ClarkeSubstituted forMcAlindenat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Edwards
- 13McCarey
- 15Rowe
- 17van La Parra
- 20McAlinden
- 23Ebanks-Landell
- 27Jacobs
- Referee:
- James Adcock
- Attendance:
- 17,454
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamWolves
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home2
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3.
Post update
Attempt missed. Glenn Murray (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Lee Evans (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Glenn Murray (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Chris Gunter (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Liam McAlinden (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Michael Hector (Reading).
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Attempt missed. Danny Guthrie (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation.
Booking
Dave Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Dave Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Danny Guthrie (Reading) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Goal!
Goal! Reading 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3. Glenn Murray (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Jamie Mackie.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jamie Mackie (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Adam Federici.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Rajiv van La Parra.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Liam McAlinden replaces Leon Clarke.
Post update
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Alex Pearce.
Goal!
Own Goal by Nick Blackman, Reading. Reading 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3.
