Well it wasn’t pretty, it was dogged, resilient, lucky at times and ultimately ecstatic but we’ve prevailed and are now on our way to South Wales on Bank Holiday Monday.
Perhaps after so many attempts and near misses, we finally got the bit of luck that had deserted us previously, and rode out the Reading storm to snatch victory near the end.
To get the goal, with 10 minutes to spare, was awesome. It gave us the chance to sing our hearts out safe in the knowledge that we were through to our first Division 1 play-off final.
Reading, like in the first game, had possession but failed to convert this into goals. Two great saves from an otherwise wobbly Murray, denied the hosts at crucial times. I sent a text to my sister after 60 minutes stating that 0-0 was the best we could hope for as we were pinned into our own half.
I think Reading ran out of steam and any self-belief they had and Wolves started to break more menacingly before Rae’s goal. Perhaps the home side also lacked that bit of quality and experience where it mattered.
There was no denying the heroes of the show. The defence coped with all that was thrown at them.
Butler for me, and my travelling mates, was THE MAN.
He missed nothing and was there, every time, in the right place to intercept or clear. Since being stripped of the captaincy and getting back into the team there is no doubting his contribution to the back four. Also Irwin was awesome getting nearly every header he went for.
Disappointing contributions from Newton and especially Kennedy did seem to be undermining our effort as we failed to hold or clear the ball and ease the pressure at times.
Blake and Miller did little up front, but had no support and even worse service but it worries me that they both appear so off-form with the final around the corner.
However, looking at the scoreboard behind me in the ground told the story – Reading 0 Wolves 1.
I still had to see it on the text when I finally got in at 2 a.m to believe it!
Reading can count themselves unlucky but we played our ‘get of jail’ card at the Molineux on Saturday to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Last night we did a professional job on them frustrating in the main, which worked eventually.
However, as the reality sinks in, we are now set for a fantastic day out at the Millennium Stadium.
Personally I’d prefer to play Forest in the final as I think it would be a more open match, but I’ll take whoever wins tonight’s second play-off final.
We have the luxury of sitting back and watching who will join us for the party in the Cardiff.
Well done the lads!
E-mail me with any comments/feedback to: dave@wolves-mad.co.uk