After all the hype and the post match jibes from Reading, this second leg fixture was not going to be one for the faint hearted.

Wolves players (and fans alike) were going to need all of their physical and mental energy to get through the game; and as it turned out neither were going to be disappointed.

Wolves were desperate for a win, not only to alleviate the terrible disappointment of last year, not only to repay Sir Jack for his generosity and patience, but also to slam Alan Pardew's dummy down his throat - the one that he had been throwing out of his cot for the past two weeks!

Pardew's arrogance and childishness can only really be matched by the ginger whinger Smegson, his approach to this game was bitter to say the least. I can only put down to jealousy!! And where has it got you Pardew?

Reading were forced to make changes with Tyson's sending off and the injured lone striker Forster. With Reading needing to score the formation changed from the usual attacking 4-5-1, to the do or die formation of 4-4-1-1.

Wolves only change was to bring in Newton for the injured Ndah, who didn't even make the bench. This meant that Wolves returned to their "normal" formation and not the ill-fated one from the first leg.

From the kick off, Wolves looked nervous. Blake's attempted pass from the kick off was easily blocked and put Reading on the attack. The cross lob/hoof came over and saw Murray fumble the bibbly bobbley shot on goal, and Lescott needed to boot clear. All after only 45 secs - and Blake gets an earful from the rest of the team!

This spurred on Reading and sensing hesitation and nerves in the Wolves team, they pressed for that all-important equaliser. Jamie Curtains replaced the injured Forster, and seemed like a demented skool kid on speed as he desperately looked for a goal. Luckily Wolves regained some composure and limited Reading mainly to long-range shots. In between Reading's attacks Wolves too had chances, but Blake seemed too intent on being selfish (and looked very tired) to make too much impression on the Reading defence. Wolves tried continually to hit Reading on the break and almost got the break they needed, when an excellent through ball by Newton found Cameron in the box. However the in-form Scot couldn't quite get the ball under control, which gave enough time for the ex-Wolves man, Williams, to get a toe in. (Where was Williams when we needed him at Molineux?? - on the injury table!).

Miller too seemed very subdued and looked tired, so much so that at one point he knocked the ball past a defender and instead of running past him, jumped on his back as if he was looking for a piggy-back! Now that would have been a cheeky goal!! Reading almost got the goal they longed for with 5 mins left of the half. A vicious shot from one of them, saw Murray parry the ball on the goal line and for "Nayls" to finish the job off with a fine clearance.

HT Reading 0 Wolves 0

The second half carried on the same with Reading doing most of the pressing. After an initial 10 mins, the momentum died a little and it seemed as if the Wolves players were asking "is that all you can do?" Nerves had settled and although - as expected - Reading had most of the play, they could not get past the now impressive Murray and the rest of the defence. Reading made some changes but still could not find a way through, not even to edge through with Sidwell's elongated snout.

On 60 mins a fine move put one of them free in the box, but Murray was more than a match for the shot and somehow manage to spoon the ball around the post. This deflated Reading even more, as their fans became strangely silent. As the game drew to an end, on 75 mins Rae replaced Miller, presumably to "shut up shop", however it proved to be a match-winning substitution. Just 6 mins later Newton found Cameron in a neat passing move deep in the right hand corner of Reading's half. Cameron passed to Rae, who on the edge of the "D", sweetly rolled the ball under his foot to control it (not like at Sheffield two weeks earlier), dummied past a defender and placed an excellent right foot shot through Williams' legs and into the corner of the net. Reading 0 Wolves 1

This sent Rae on a crazy dance and players and fans alike in to rapturous applause. With only 9 mins left and Reading needing two goals to take the game into extra time, the home fans were silenced with Wolves fans in full song. Further substitutions were made to wind the game down and then that estatic final whistle.

If QPR had won their respective second leg game by a Furlong, then Wolves had their own Rae of light leading them to Cardiff (!) This was a massive game, hyped out of proportion, but Wolves' strength bulldozed them through to the final. This in some ways goes to repaying a little of the debt owed from last season, and shows the strength of character flowing through the club at the moment. We have the momentum, we have the team all we need is a little luck and we can then prove to the money bags in the Premier just what we can do.

I have been very critical of DJ (not even mentioning the Smiths "Panic" - hang the DJ) and still believe that he is not the kick and run manager needed in the Nationwide, but WILL do a good job in a decent league. Sorry DJ and will hopefully eat my words on Bank holiday Monday!!!!!

So one last effort and the dream will be ours!!

Cardiff, Cardiff here we come................

FT Reading 0 Wolves 1

ps can all you glory hunters, who haven't been to a game this season wait until I have my ticket first before bribing someone to get one for you. Cheers