Brian McDermott was full of praise for his players after watching them outplay Premier League outfit Wolves.

Reading took a 10th-minute lead through Gylfi Sigurdsson’s penalty after the impressive Jimmy Kebe had been brought down in the area, before substitute Michail Antonio made sure of the win 18 minutes from time.

David Jones pulled one back for Wolves, but it was too little too late as Royals held on for a fully-deserved win.

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McDermott said: “I have been pleased all pre-season since day one. Importantly the lads are looking fit and organised. There is a good shape to the team and some of the individual work was good.

“We couldn’t complain tonight against some top-class players from the Premier League – it was a great game for us.

“Jimmy (Kebe) has been smashing pre-season, they all have. Everyone has looked after themselves over the summer, come back fired up and looking forward to the season.

“We didn’t start well against Wycombe and they were good against us. We dropped our levels and didn’t play well in the first 45 minutes, but tonight we did.

“On Saturday we went a goal down but recovered to win the game and that was pleasing.  Tonight we won again.”

Former Reading striker Kevin Doyle received a standing ovation prior to kick-off and it was his side that created the first chance when Nenad Milijas’ 25-yard effort was hit straight at Adam Federici.

Jimmy Kebe was Reading’s most potent threat early on and it was from his persistence that Royals took a 10th-miniute lead.

The Mali winger latched onto Richard Stearman’s misjudged header and surged into the area, only for the defender to compound his error by pulling Kebe down.

It appeared to be a soft decision from referee Iain Williamson as there didn’t seem to be much contact, but that didn’t stop Sigurdsson from blasting the resulting spot-kick high to keeper Carl Ikeme’s  right.

It was a classy finish from the Iceland international, who kept his nerve, despite missing two of his last three penalties

Sigurdsson was also the next to test Ikeme, but his long-range effort was comfortably saved.

Wolves were struggling to create clear-cut chances, but did squander one opportunity when Guedioura fired past Federici’s near post after Royals failed to clear a Milijas corner.

Alex Pearce thought he had doubled Reading’s lead on the half-hour mark when he powerfully headed Sigurdsson’s corner goalwards, but Ikeme somehow kept the ball out and Pearce headed the rebound over.

Kebe was almost unplayable in the first half and the winger had a chance to extend Reading’s advantage, but he glanced a header wide after good work from Jobi McAnuff.

Wolves skipper Karl Henry volleyed over from distance with four minutes of the opening period remaining, but that was a rare attempt on Reading’s goal as McDermott’s side had controlled proceedings.

Wolves made five changes at the break with Doyle one of those to depart and the visitors came close to equalising a minute after the break.

Pearce failed to cut out Ebanks-Blake’s low cross, but Royals recovered in time to scramble Steven Fletcher’s effort behind for a corner.

Fletcher was proving a threat and he should have done better three minutes later when he headed over from close range.

Substitute Jake Taylor almost doubled Royals’ lead three minutes after his introduction, only for Ikeme to parry his curling effort behind for a corner.

Eighteen-year-old Taylor has really made an impression so far in pre-season, and he continued his recent good displays in a familiar attacking-midfield role.

And his manager has been delighted with the way he has acquitted himself this summer.

“I said to him (Jake Taylor) ‘can you go and play in your proper position tonight’ and he did that and it was nice for him,” said McDermott.

“He has played left-back, right-back, centre midfield and off the striker. He has shown he can play a number of positions and he is a good footballer.

“My feeling at the start of the pre-season campaign was to look at loaning him out, looking at him now I am not so sure.

“He is in and around our squad so we certainly won’t be looking to loan him out soon. We will keep our eye on that one.”

Meanwhile, the home side’s persistence was soon rewarded when long-term injury victim Noel Hunt made an instant impact on his return to action at Madejski Stadium.

Andy Griffin’s free-kick was cleverly flicked-on by the Republic of Ireland striker and Michail Antonio was on hand to stab home at the far post.

The goal sparked Wolves into life and they pulled one back with 10 minutes remaining when Matt Jarvis’ clever low free-kick was turned home by David Jones from the edge of the area.

But Royals comfortably saw the game out to seal a deserved victory over their Premier League opponents.

Reading: Federici (McCarthy, 76), Griffin, Pearce, Mills, Williams, Kebe (Antonio, 60), Gunnarsson (Tabb, 60), Karacan (Church, 76), McAnuff (Robson-Kanu 71), Sigurdsson (Taylor, 54), Long (Hunt, 71). Sub not used: Howard.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ikeme, Foley (Zubar, 46), Stearman (Hill, 61), Batth (Winnall, 82), Elokobi, Guedioura (Halford, 70), Henry (Davis, 82), Milijas (Jones, 46), Hemmings (Jarvis, 46), Vokes (Fletcher, 46), Doyle (Ebanks-Blake, 46). Subs not used: McCarey, Keogh.

Attendance: 6,628

Referee: Iain Williamson

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