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Pardew Upbeat Despite Defeat
Nicky Forster's strike just after the half hour mark looked as if it would have been enough to win the game for the Royals but Wolves kept battering at the door and finally found their way through to win 2-1.
Alan Pardew was disappointed to have seen his side throw it away but admits the tie is by no means over.
"I felt we should have been 2-0 up and been really in the driving seat but if someone said at the start of the day you'd lose by one goal I would have taken it because our place is going to be a different game," said Pards in his post match comments.
"Before the game if someone had said we were going to lose by the odd goal I might have taken it, because I really fancy us at home. The supporters are going to be in for one hell of a night.
"We're in good form at the Mad Stad, we bashed Preston and beat Forest recently, and Wolves have still got a lot to do."
The Royals suffered a killer blow mid-way through the second period when Nicky Forster limped off with an ankle injury. The key striker faces a race against time to be fit for the second leg, a race that Pardew believes already looks like beating him.
"He's a bit sore and we think he might struggle, but we've got a little magician in Jamie Cureton waiting in the wings."
Despite the defeat Alan Pardew expects the whole of Reading to rally around his players before next weeks second leg as the Premiership dream is not yet dead.
"I'm looking forward to Wednesday and I hope the town's looking forward to it.
"We showed so much character today and dominated for long periods, so there is a tinge of disappointment. It won't take long to get it out of our system when we review the tape and see that we can pull them about."
Alan Pardew was disappointed to have seen his side throw it away but admits the tie is by no means over.
"I felt we should have been 2-0 up and been really in the driving seat but if someone said at the start of the day you'd lose by one goal I would have taken it because our place is going to be a different game," said Pards in his post match comments.
"Before the game if someone had said we were going to lose by the odd goal I might have taken it, because I really fancy us at home. The supporters are going to be in for one hell of a night.
"We're in good form at the Mad Stad, we bashed Preston and beat Forest recently, and Wolves have still got a lot to do."
The Royals suffered a killer blow mid-way through the second period when Nicky Forster limped off with an ankle injury. The key striker faces a race against time to be fit for the second leg, a race that Pardew believes already looks like beating him.
"He's a bit sore and we think he might struggle, but we've got a little magician in Jamie Cureton waiting in the wings."
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"I'm looking forward to Wednesday and I hope the town's looking forward to it.
"We showed so much character today and dominated for long periods, so there is a tinge of disappointment. It won't take long to get it out of our system when we review the tape and see that we can pull them about."