CAV-A-GO HERO RESCUES TOP SPOT
McGregor; Aina, Dawson, Hector, Tomori; Stewart, Larsson (Meyler 81st); Grosicki (Irvine 68th), Henriksen, Bowen; Dicko (Diomande 89th) IVAN CAVALEIRO and Matt Doherty struck to take Wolves back to the Championship summit.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side had been kocked off top spot by Sheffield United’s 3-1 win at Burton on Friday night.
But after a slow start and two early scares at the Madejski, they finally showed their teeth to secure a vital victory.
And Santo praised his team’s commitment, saying: “When you see a player throwing his body in front of the ball, then you know that you can count on them.
“It would have been nicer if the second goal had come before the 88th minute, but we are happy.”
Wolves went into the match with seven wins from nine league matches but Reading had also been in fine fettle recently, winning three of their last five games. And it was the Royals
Bialkowski; Spence, Chambers, Webster, Knudsen; Skuse, Connolly (Bru 80th); Garner, Waghorn (Ward 80th), Celina; McGoldrick (Sears 86th) who started stronger as they almost went in front in the first minute.
John Swift tried an ambitious effort from 30 yards that bounced awkwardly in front of John Ruddy and rebounded onto a post.
Ruddy had another let-off when he tried to clear a back-pass from Conor Coady. The ball struck Mo Barrow and ricocheted just wide.
Wolves were fortunate but settled themselves and went ahead in the 16th minute.
Diogo Jota’s superb pass found Cavaleiro who rounded Vito Mannone before tucking into an empty net. The Reading keeper denied Nouha Dicko D Coote Cavaleiro a second soon after before Yann Kermorgant jabbed wide at the other end.
Wolves needed good luck again as the Royals launched a fierce late onslaught.
But they held firm after Ruddy saved well from Barrow and Willy Boly cleared off the line from Sone Aluko’s follow-up shot.
Full-back Doherty then sealed it in the 88th minute with a low, angled drive.
Reading boss Jaap Stam lamented: “You could say that we deserved more, but we should have done better ourselves. We played very well but the result is not there.”
(KO 3pm unless stated)
PREMIER LEAGUE
LWDdDW ........................... Burnley Arsenal ................................ dWLWWL
(Playing Sunday, 2pm)
WLLWWD ............... Crystal Palace Stoke ..................................... LDLLLW WdDLWW ................... Huddersfield Man City .......................... WWWWWW
(Playing Sunday, 4pm)
WDDdWW ....................... Liverpool Chelsea .............................. WWWLWL
(5:30pm)
WWWWWW ..................... Man Utd Brighton ............................... dLdLWW DWWDWL ..................... Newcastle Watford .............................. WWWDLL LLLDWL .................... Southampton Everton .................................. LLDLLL
(Playing Sunday, 1:30pm)
LLWLLL ........................... Swansea AFC Bournemouth .............. WLLLWW WWWLWW ...... Tottenham Hotspur West Brom ............................ WLLDLL
West Ham v Leicester (Friday 8pm)
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP dLWWWL ....................... Aston Villa Ipswich ................................... LLLLWL DWLLLL .................... Burton Albion Sunderland ........................... DLLDDL DWDDDL ............................ Fulham Millwall ................................... LDdLdL WDLWLL .................................. Hull Bristol City ........................ WDdWWW dWLDLW ................ Middlesbrough Derby ................................... LLDdWW WddDLL ............................ Norwich Preston North End ............... dWWDLL LLLWWW ................... Nottm Forest Cardiff .................................. DLWLWL
(Playing Sunday, 1pm)
LLDLLW ............................ Reading Sheff Wed ............................. DDLLLW WLWWWW ...................... Sheff Utd Birmingham ............................ LLDLLL
(5:30pm)
DdWWWW ............ Wolverhampton Bolton ..................................... LLLLDD
Barnsley v Leeds (12:30pm), QPR v Brentford (Monday 7:45pm)
SKY BET LEAGUE ONE
WWLLWD ............. AFC Wimbledon Walsall ................................ WLDWLW WLDWDW ...................... Blackburn Bristol Rovers ........................ LWLLLL WWWLDD ..................... Doncaster Milton Keynes Dons ........... WWLLWW WLLWDW ............. Fleetwood Town Blackpool .............................. LLWDLL LDLWWD ....................... Gillingham Oldham ............................... LWWDDL LLLWdD ..................... Northampton Bury ..................................... WLLLDD WWLWWL ................... Portsmouth Plymouth .............................. dLLDWW dLDWWD ......................... Rochdale Peterborough ....................... DLDLWD WWWLWL .................... Rotherham Wigan .................................. LWLWDW WLDWWW .................. Scunthorpe Charlton ............................. WLDWDW WWWWWL ................. Shrewsbury Bradford ............................ WDWWLW WWWDWW .................... Southend Oxford Utd ........................... LLWWLL
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO
LLdDDL ............................... Barnet Grimsby ............................... LWWdLL LWWWLd ............... Cambridge Utd Stevenage .............................. LWdLLL LDDWLW ............................ Carlisle Morecambe ........................... DLLLWL WLdWWL ........................ Coventry Crawley Town ....................... WLWddL LWWLWL ............................. Crewe Luton .................................. dWWdWD LWLLWW ............................. Exeter Accrington Stanley .............. WLWdWd LLLWLW .................... Forest Green Cheltenham ........................ LDWLDW WWdWdW ................... Lincoln City Port Vale ............................. LDLWWD WDWLWW ................. Notts County Colchester ........................... DWWdLW LWLWWD ......................... Swindon Newport County .................... LLWLWL WLWWdD ....................... Wycombe Yeovil ..................................... LWLLDL
Mansfield v Chesterfield LADBROKES SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP
LWDWDL ............................... Celtic Par tick ................................... WLDLdL LLLLdD ............................. Hamilton Hibernian .......................... DDWDWW WDdWLL ............................. Hearts Ross County ........................ WLLWdL LLDDLL ........................ Kilmarnock Aberdeen ........................... WdLWWD
(Playing Sunday, 12:30pm)
WWWLWL .................... Motherwell St Johnstone ......................... WDLLLL
Dundee v Rangers (Friday 7:45pm) LADBROKES SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP
LDLLLL ............................... Brechin Dundee Utd .......................... LLdWLW WWWWLW ................. Dunfermline Dumbar ton ........................... DLDLDW
Falkirk v Morton, Inverness CT v St Mirren, Queen of the South v Livingston