Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Reading 0.
WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers1ReadingReading0
James Henry scored the only goal as Wolves beat Reading to win at home for the first time since 3 October.
The loss was Brian McDermott's first since returning as Royals manager.
Both teams had penalty calls turned down either side of Henry's winner against his former club, a header from Jordan Graham's free-kick.
Reading's Oliver Norwood hit the post and Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme spilled a fierce Nick Blackman shot in the second half but the home team held on.
Reading are 11th in the Championship, while the hosts moved up one place to 16th as they recorded their first three points at Molineux since winning 3-0 against Huddersfield.
The visitors thought they had won an early penalty when Dominic Iorfa looked to have blocked Garath McCleary's shot with his arm, but referee Simon Hooper waved play on.
| Wolves' festive form | |
|---|---|
| Wolves have now won their past three Boxing Day matches without conceding a goal, after losing the three beforehand and conceding seven in the process. | |
Benik Afobe had his own appeal for a penalty turned down after Henry's opener when he was brought down by Stephen Quinn, before the Wolves striker almost doubled their lead when he flicked Henry's cross onto the post.
Norwood almost restored parity in fine fashion soon after the break when his 25-yard strike cannoned off the upright, while Michael Hector took advantage of Wolves' hesitancy when he nearly levelled at the far post.
Some sustained pressure from Reading in the second half was very nearly rewarded when Blackman unleashed a fierce long-range shot that Ikeme spilled, but the ball somehow rolled narrowly wide.
Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett: "We got our noses in front for the third successive game but here we showed some desire and organisation to hold onto it.
"There was some spirit there as it has been a little bit of time since we have won at Molineux.
"Hopefully we can build on this and certainly show the desire, organisation and will to win that we showed in the second period.
"That has been lacking in recent games, certainly the last two when we conceded seven goals. That gives us no chance."
Reading manager Brian McDermott: "I think if we had gone 1-0 up it is a different game.
"We had lots of shots but maybe we need to work the ball into better areas, to get better crosses in and more quality.
"But you can see the talent. I thought that we passed it really well and we controlled the second half and they got the result.
"Obviously, the be-all and end-all is the results but sometimes you take something from the performance as well."
Line-ups
Wolves
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Ikeme
- 18IorfaBooked at 63mins
- 6Batth
- 23Ebanks-Landell
- 2Doherty
- 11McDonald
- 16Coady
- 7HenrySubstituted forByrneat 75'minutes
- 4EdwardsBooked at 45mins
- 24Graham
- 10AfobeSubstituted forHoltat 90'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Golbourne
- 12J Wallace
- 13McCarey
- 22Sigurdarson
- 25Byrne
- 27Holt
- 29Le Fondre
Reading
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Bond
- 2Gunter
- 5McShane
- 8Hector
- 21QuinnSubstituted forSáat 76'minutes
- 6Norwood
- 23Williams
- 22Blackman
- 7VydraSubstituted forJohnat 62'minutes
- 12McClearyBooked at 17minsSubstituted forTaylorat 62'minutes
- 9Robson-Kanu
Substitutes
- 3Taylor
- 10Sá
- 17Piazon
- 20John
- 26Al Habsi
- 35Cooper
- 41Liburd
- Referee:
- Simon Hooper
- Attendance:
- 21,147
Match Stats
Home TeamWolvesAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away24
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away3
- Corners
- Home9
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Reading 0.
Post update
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Orlando Sá.
Post update
Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Matt Doherty tries a through ball, but Grant Holt is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Grant Holt replaces Benik Afobe.
Post update
Attempt missed. Benik Afobe (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Dave Edwards following a fast break.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Dominic Iorfa.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Dominic Iorfa.
Post update
Attempt missed. Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Oliver Norwood.
Post update
Ola John (Reading) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Dominic Iorfa (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ola John (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrew Taylor.
Post update
Attempt missed. Danny Williams (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Nick Blackman (Reading) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hal Robson-Kanu.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Danny Williams (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Danny Williams (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Oliver Norwood following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Danny Batth.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Orlando Sá replaces Stephen Quinn.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Nathan Byrne replaces James Henry.
Post update
Attempt missed. Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Stephen Quinn.
