Wolves were reminded there is still work to do as they lost their 100 per cent pre-season record at Reading.

Mick McCarthy’s mix-and-match side were ultimately second best to Championship opposition last night, who are a week ahead of them in their preparations.

On a ground that has thrown up some memorable encounters between these two teams in recent years, it was left to the crowd to sum up the mood.

While the Reading fans sung the expected ‘Premier League? You’re having a laugh,’ the 800-or-so Wolves contingent were happy to indulge in nostalgia as they dusted off their old Alex Rae classic, recalling the epic 2003 play-off semi-final at the Madejski Stadium when the Scot’s goal sent Wolves to the final.

But there were few bright spots for McCarthy’s 2010 version, save for reasonably solid outings from rookie centre-back Danny Batth, who was picked out by McCarthy as the outstanding performer afterwards, goalkeeper Carl Ikeme and a busy showing from midfielder Adlene Guedioura.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake continues to be Wolves’ most outstanding forward ahead of his second-half partner Steven Fletcher, while he edged out returning hero Kevin Doyle, who was described by Reading boss Brian McDermott as “one of Europe’s best strikers” afterwards.

But, after reeling off three straight wins, it was a night for the opposition to shine rather than Wolves.

Passes were misplaced or mistimed on occasions, while the most intriguing individual battle of the evening – between Reading winger Jimmy Kebe and Wolves’ left-back George Elokobi – was won by the Royals wideman.

Try as they might, Wolves just could not find the necessary fluency and struggled to create openings. But then again, that’s what pre-season is all about and Wolves will definitely get better.

McCarthy said: “There were some decent bits and pieces, but I didn’t think the game was going anywhere until we gave a penalty away because I thought we started alright.

“If we’d had got our goal in that 10 minutes at the start of the second-half when I made five substitutions, who knows?

“If we give a goal away in the Premier League, you can start chasing the game and you’re open to be caught on the break.

“I’ve looked at their second goal again on the DVD because I suspected Michail Antonio was offside and he was, unless there was one of our guys lying in the net who I couldn’t see.

“It was bad defending because they had just put two substitutes on and we stopped, which was disappointing. But Reading are a good side and they played well – they deserved to win.

“The game was a step up in quality, pace and power from the ones we had before, which I knew.”

Wolves had the first effort of the game when Nenad Milijas rifled a 25-yarder into the chest of former Wolves reserve Adam Federici after six minutes.

But the visitors contributed to their own downfall four minutes later.

Richard Stearman’s poor header back to Ikeme was easily intercepted by Kebe, who was then held back by Stearman as he tried to force the ball into the unguarded net.

Gylfi Sigurdsson needed no second invitation to stroke the ball high to Ikeme’s right from the penalty spot.

But Wolves gradually worked themselves back into the game, as they tried to get back on level terms.

Sam Vokes just failed to control Milijas’ chip at the end of a fine move between Guerdioura, Karl Henry and Kevin Foley down the right. Then Guedioura’s snapshot fizzed inches wide, after Vokes’ volley from a Milijas corner was blocked.

But Wolves almost fell further behind as Ikeme was forced into a point-blank save from Alex Pearce’s storming header from Sigurdsson’s corner on the half-hour, Pearce also heading the rebound just over.

Reading maintained their momentum and Kebe glanced wide after his opposite flanker Jobi McAnuff beat Milijas to cross from the left.

The first-half petered out with Henry volleying well over after Vokes headed back a left-footed cross from Guedioura, who had popped up on the left.

Wolves made five changes at the break and they looked to be for the better, as they started the second period with more of a spring in their step.

With Ebanks-Blake again looking a real livewire, Steven Fletcher and Matt Jarvis had efforts blocked in a scramble following Guedioura’s centre, before Fletcher headed powerfully over from a Jarvis free-kick.

But although Wolves had plenty of possession, Reading were always in the game and they forced Ikeme into another vital save, this time a full-length spring to his left to keep out Jake Taylor’s angled, curling effort following a rare misjudgement by Batth.

Worse was to follow for Wolves when they conceded a second goal in the 72nd minute.

It was a straight-forward one, too, as Antonio stabbed home from inside the six-yard box after Andy Griffin’s free-kick had been flicked on by Noel Hunt.

The goal seemed to spark Wolves into life again and only a superbly-timed tackle on Matt Jarvis denied the winger who was ready to score.

Soon after, the winger’s free-kick teed-up David Jones to reduce the arrears with an angled drive from 15 yards 10 minutes from time.

By Tim Nash