THAT WILL DOH NICELY
Matt at the double
WOLVES got back to winning ways in emphatic style last night.
Two goals from Matt Doherty and a long-awaited home strike from Benik Afobe eased the Championship leaders’ nerves as they recovered from Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to promotion rivals Aston Villa.
Wolves dominated the first period, despite being rocked by the loss of Diogo Jota midway through the half.
He was forced off with what appeared to be an ankle injury in the 23rd minute after a clash with Pelle Clement in midfield.
Helder Costa had the first chance when he unleashed a left-foot drive from 25 yards, forcing keeper Anssi Jaakkola to parry.
From the rebound, the loose ball hit Jota and bounced wide.
That was the last meaningful contribution of the on-loan Atletico Madrid forward before he was forced off and replaced by Ivan Cavaleiro.
Wolves seemed to recover from the blow of losing Jota and Afobe’s twisting header saw Jaakkola flying into an acrobatic save.
Any tension that had been building around Molineux dissolved in the 40th minute when they took the lead.
Costa whipped in a cross from the right, Barry Douglas nodded it across and right wing-back Doherty headed home his third goal of the season, and his second against Reading.
Wolves should have doubled their lead after 48 minutes when Doherty picked out Afobe unmarked, but the striker scuffed wide. Douglas was inches away from making it 2-0 when his curling free-kick flicked off the defensive all and dropped just wide.
The second goal Wolves had been threatening duly came in the 58th minute.
A long pass from Ruben Neves split the defence for Costa, who unselfishly teed up Afobe to net his first Molineux goal since December 2015.
Wolves looked back to their old selves and Cavaleiro saw a fierce shot blocked with Costa again the supplier.
Reading failed to create anything in the first hour with keeper John Ruddy a spectator.
Doherty added his second and Wolves’ third goal, sweeping home Cavaleiro’s squared pass in the 73rd minute.