MOLINEUX’S NEW ERA GETS ITS LIFT-OFF
AGOAL either side of half time ensured the new dawn at Wolves got off to a flying start against Reading.
The West Midlands side were making their first league appearance at home since the £45million takeover by Fosun International, and the first with Walter Zenga at the helm.
Fans were given new clappers by the club, but it was the performance on the pitch that left the fans grinning ear to ear.
“The team has played very well,” Zenga said.
“The only thing that matters is three points, but the spirit of the team was excellent.
“We have a very nice group of players, they want to work and push, they prepared to win and they did.
“The support of the team was amazing, and we scored the goals at the perfect times.
“The team has played well, which means players play well.
“Teixeira arrived here, like me, 12 days ago. It was a fantastic position for him, but the team put him in that position to play.
“The result was never in doubt.”
The first chance fell on ten minutes. Joao Teixeira picked up the ball inside his own half and burst down field, before slipping in Joe Mason, who shot straight at Ali Al Habsi.
After several half chances, Wolves threatened again on the 21st minute, with Teixeira shooting wide.
A Yann Kermogant chance and a corner provided some brief respite for Reading, but Wolves’ verve and energy kept them on the back foot.
Then on 40 minutes, Reading’s passing game nearly came back to haunt them.
As Al Habsi and Paul McShane passed it between themselves, Teixeira raced to close him down. The Omanian keeper’s attempted clearance fell nicely for Teixeira, who squared it to George Saville, and his effort was superbly palmed over.
The resulting corner came to nothing, but Wolves didn’t have to wait long.The ball found its way to Matt Doherty, who after rounding Paul McShane, rifled in from 12 yards out.
It sent the home fans into raptures, and Wolves headed into the break 1-0 up.
The West Midlands side continued from where they left off in the second half.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson won a corner, which was floated in by George Saville, finding winger Joe Mason six yards out, who nodded home.
It should have been three on 69 minutes when after some dodgy defending from McShane under pressure from Bodvarsson, Teixeira raced on to a short back pass, before passing the ball back to Bodvarsson, who squared it to Mason who fired straight at Al Habsi.
Wolves saw out the rest of the game, with the fans leaving with an Icelandic thunder-clap ringing in their ears, thanks to striker Bodvarsson, who was denied twice by Al Habsi late on.
Reading manager Jaap Stam said: “I think we played well.
“If you look at the game, we made mistakes and the opponent took advantage of that.
“In these games you need to be focused, they were really up for it.
“They wanted to win every ball and go forward straight away.
“They did it well and because we didn’t do it well they had a lot of chances. If you are sharp and focused then that’s when you get results.
“We want to play a totally different style of football, and if you are sharp then you can do it.”