Wolves 0 – 1 Reading – Bugger.

By: Toby | January 27th, 2009

I was so excited about this game, I had been waiting since the debacle of the FA Cup rolled past, really, I’ve been waiting for this game since our last meeting. And what was I rewarded by? An own goal, not only an own goal but an own goal in the first minute. What a way to piss on my proverbial chips that was. It didn’t help that it was Collins who netted past a bemused Hennessey, who’d hardly had time to the do the ubiquitous goalkeeping ritual of kicking each post in a very serious way indeed. “None the less!” I thought, they surely can’t keep up that ratio, 90-0 plus injury time goals would have been quite dreadful, and while Wolves did firm up significantly after that goal, we didn’t do much to challenge Reading’s goal in the first half, needless to say I was disappointed, my wonderful evening of meticulously planned football was being cast asunder before my very eyes.

On a side note, Wolves lined up a little bit like this –
————-Hennessey—————–
Foley—Collins—Stearman—Ward
Kightly—Quashie—Henry—-Jarvis
——–Keogh—-Ebanks-Blake——

So Quashie got his debut, which was relatively solid to begin with, nothing spectacular, yet he’s not a spectacular player, a few long range pops, which pretty much summed up most of our chances in the first half and the early stages of the second. The second half started with Wolves looking far more sprightly, Reading seemingly happy to let Wolves come and attack them, which Wolves seemed to be slightly reluctant to do, much to the fan’s fury at times. Wolves were looking quite flat, dangerous at times yet lacking that killer last ball, the game was tight, tighter than we’ve seen in a lot of games this season. To be fair to both Reading and Wolves, it was clear why these two teams were occupying the top two places of the Championships, you don’t get to where we both are by having shot shy strikers, or calamitous defenders….though I do wonder at times I’ll be honest.

Iwelumo made his bow on the 60th minute, Keogh making way for the big man, Keogh yet again running tirelessly, yet not able to turn that industry to goals, I love the guy, if he had goals he’d have a very complete package, there are strikers who score more than Andy does who don’t try half as much, it’s very frustrating. Iwelumo almost made an instant impact, only his inability to hold his line against the Reading defence the only reason he didn’t get his name on the score sheet.

So there it was, we lost, again. Compiled with the fact that Birmingham won….and er…Reading did too, that means our lead is looking extremely shaky. Which is worrying.

Collins’ didn’t have the best day at the office it must be said…an own goal and a Red Card is pretty much the worst day a defender can have I suppose? If he had a dunces cap, he’d be wearing that on the coach home for me tonight.

All this means that the game at Molineux on Saturday against Watford becomes a must win, and I don’t usually say that. It’s a must win. We’re still 4 points clear of third? For the optimists amongst us, that’s something to hold onto, but I’ll be honest, as every week passes, there are less and less things to be confident about going into games. Let’s hope we can get someone in before the end of the transfer window, give us that shot in the arm I think we’re beginning to desperately need.

Highlights up tomorrow!

Tarra-a-bit!