AL-HABSI ON TOP FORM TO HALT WOLVES
READING had to battle both Wolves and the testing conditions to earn a point at the Madejski Stadium and manager Brian McDermott revealed his appreciation for goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi.
In a game played in a swirling wind and driving rain, neither side managed to create many clear-cut chances.
But with both sides coming off of disappointing midweek results, there was reason to see the upside of a draw.
“It was a tough game, a real battle in horrible conditions,” said McDermott. “It was a typical February game in the Championship, one of the toughest leagues in the world to play in.
“Sometimes you get a clean sheet and a point and you take it.
“The conditions are what they are.You have to play the conditions sometimes. They got a lot of players behind the ball and set up that way with a holding midfielder.
“Ali Al-Habsi made a couple of really good saves, one from a freekick and the other a good block so we’re grateful for that.”
Al-Habsi had to move smartly off his line to deny former Reading wideman James Henry in the ninth minute.
Hal RobsonKanu then saw his shot from inside the penalty area blocked after a good run down the righthand side by Garath McCleary a minute later.
Carl Ikeme in the Wolves goal made the first real save of the game after 20 minutes, easily picking up McCleary’s tame effort from a short corner.
Bjorn Sigurdarson had a cross-shot from the left-hand side tipped over the bar by Al-Habsi just before the half-hour mark, while the goalkeeper also saved Henry’s 25-yard free-kick in spectacular fashion minutes later.
The best chance of the game fell to Henry just after half-time. Poor communication between Jake Cooper and Al-Habsi allowed the winger to get through on goal. He looked certain to score before AlHabsi managed to scramble back and keep the ball out of the net.
On the hour mark Oliver Norwood dragged an effort just wide after good work from substitute Ola John and Matej Vydra.
Conor Coady had a good chance for Wolves in the 66th minute, but pulled his shot horribly wide after a neat interchange between Henry and Matt Doherty on the left-wing.
Ethan Ebanks-Landell tried his luck on the 68th minute, his shot flying narrowly over the crossbar after a corner had broken down.
Into the last ten minutes Sigurdarson saw his goal-bound shot from just inside the penalty area blocked away for a corner.
Robson-Kanu saw an effort saved by Ikeme late on, while Reading had a penalty shout waved away by referee Tony Harrington in the last minute of normal time, debutant Deniss Rakels going to ground under pressure from Danny Batth.
Wolves boss Kenny Jackett admitted what while his side probably had the better chances to win it, a draw was not a bad result.
He said: “I felt from our point of view it was a good performance and we controlled long spells of the game for the away side.We couldn’t quite get the goal.
“The two best chances probably fell to James Henry. Ali-Habsi made two good saves, one from the freekick and one that wouldn’t quite come down for him.
“I felt it was a pleasing performance, a good clean sheet well encouraged by our good travelling away fans.
“We’re close to being a very good side. There are a number of sides in the middle of the table like that and we’re one of them.”