Disappointing loss for Wolves

Wolves had been building a good unbeaten run in recent weeks without playing that well, but thus was where the run came to an end as they were behind after 20 seconds and were second best for most of the rest of the game.

Thomas Kuszczak made his debut for Wolves in goal in place of the injured Ikene, and there were some surprises in the rest of the team selection with Iorfa, Golborne, Price and Dicko all being left out as manager Kenny Jackett stuck with his familiar 4-2-3-1 set up;

Kuszczak
Doherty, Batth, Stearman, Hause
McDonald, Evans
Van La Parra, Edwards, Sako
Afobe

And what a disastrous start it was for Wolves with Kuszczak picking the ball out of his own net just 20 seconds into his debut. The Wolves defence had not woken up when McLeary’s lob forward saw. I body take responsibility in the back line and Pogrebnyak turned it in.

It lead to a lively opening to the game with Sako prominent in the Wolves attacking and he hit one shot over the bar. It had become a fairly entertaining game with Reading looking a bright attacking team and Wolves trying to take the game to them without getting much in the way of goal attempts. But Wolves did draw level after 26 minutes with a fine goal. Van La Parra twisted defenders one way then the other before sending in an excellent cross that was headed in by Afobe.

The game wasn’t being helped by an over officious referee but Wolves had done well to recover from the early setback and a Sako cross found the head of Fobe but it was just too high for the striker to keep the header from looping over the bar. But it was Reading who had the last two attempts of the half with one shot blocked by Hause and another going over the bar.

Wolves start the second period well with Edwards heading wide from a Hause cross. But Reading were nearly back in front ten minutes into the half when Kuszczak got down well to foil a low shot from Cox, and then Hector headed just wide. Dicko replaced Evans after an hour but Reading are doing the running now with Kuszczak pushing a Norwood effort over his bar and from the next attack Williams shot over. And it was no real surprise when the visitors regained the lead after 70 minutes when a Robson-Kanu Crosd was laid back by McLeary to Williams who side footed in from the edge of the box.

It looks all over an away win now as Kuszczak is twice forced to save from Robson-Kanu. Afobe tried a solo run which took him past three players before losing it in the Reading area and the visitors break quickly down the left with Williams bringing another good save out of Kuszczak. Wolves almost rescued a point at the end as a Henry shot is mishit but Dicko flicks it on with his head but straight to the keeper.

Kuszczak 7 – couldn’t be faulted for the goals and made some good saves
Doherty 5 – steady enough but not able to get forward
Batth 5 – a far from easy game against the talented Pogrebnyak
Stearman 5 – not as convincing as in recent games
Hause 6 – probably the steadiest of the back four on the day
McDonald 4 – looks a shadow of the player of last season
Evans – 4 – no real impact on his return with some sloppy passing
Van La Parra 6 – had a lively first half with a fine cross for the goal but faded later
Edwards 4 – lets of running but little impact
Sako 6 – had some good moments but often crowded out by the Reading defence
Afobe 6 – took his goal well and had a few good touches but with little service
Dicko, Price and Henry all used as subs and dud ok without changing the flow of the game

Ultimately a poor performance by Wolves with a number of players failing to impose themselves on the game. And it was disappointing when Dicko came on that Afobe was withdrawn to play behind him to retain the same shape in the team. For a team losing for the first time in 8 games it seems unfair to be too critical, but this was a defeat that has been coming and Wolves are just not doing enough in midfield or the final third and a less cautious approach is needed if Wolves are going to push for a play off place.