Reading FC v Wolverhampton Wanderers Preview: Opposition View on Adam Le Fondre, Benik Afobe And More

You were looking shaky just before we visited Molineux on Boxing Day has that win sparked you back into life?

Yeah, we scrapped out four wins in a row somehow, including that Boxing Day victory over your lot. The team discovered some defensive resilience and we had Jordan Graham doing the business at the other end. Things were looking up until Graham got injured, Afobe got sold and the club didn't reinvest the dosh that generated.

What did you make of Reading that day?

You were incredibly dangerous going forward early doors and should have been ahead before we got the only goal. Blackman, Vydra, Robson-Kanu and McCleary all impressive. I was thinking there was enough attacking talent there to be top six. But once we went ahead and retreated you struggled to break us down or even create much of note.

Benik Afobe departed the club not long after, how big of a loss has he been?

Pretty significant because we haven't bothered replacing him. Joe Mason has come in from Cardiff but he's not an out and out striker or anywhere near as good. After failing to beef up the attack in January we're all hoping for a good loan signing. I'd like to see some pace.

Has former Royal Adam Le Fondre stepped up?

No. I haven't been impressed. That said, there's some merit to the argument he's not really suited to our system (one up front) so we're not playing to his strengths.

Any other notable signings in January?

Mason was the big signing and instinctively I don't think he's much of an improvement on what's here already. We also got Mike Williamson from Newcastle who impressed when on loan earlier in the season and brings much needed experience to the back four. Polish winger/forward Michal Zyro arrived and scored a few goals, but then got crocked.

Finally what's your score prediction?

We were awful against Bolton in midweek and the team is looking increasingly hotchpotch due to injuries. I think we're going to struggle for the remainder of the season. We're better away than we are at home and can still grind out results, but a narrow Reading win seems the most likely outcome to me - 2-1.