Wolves seized the advantage in the race to make the Division One play-off final by coming from behind to beat semi-final first leg opponents Reading.

A topsy-turvy Molineux clash saw the Royals take a 25th-minute lead through Nicky Forster, only for Wolves to draw level thanks to a Graeme Murty own goal.

And the hosts' triumph was completed in the 84th minute when defender Lee Naylor stepped up to drill a free-kick past Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann.

Now, ahead of Wednesday's second leg encounter - Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United having fought out a 1-1 draw at the City Ground - Dave Jones' side will enjoy the psychological advantage of being nominal favourites to reach the play-off final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Monday, May 26.

Wolves had made plenty of the early running but Hahnemann was rarely required to extend himself, Denis Irwin blasting his free-kick high over the crossbar.

It was left for Colin Cameron to provide Hahnemann's first test of the evening but the midfielder's snapshot was directed straight down the keeper's throat.

Moments later, Cameron found himself in the thick of the action at the other end - much to his dismay - when an Andy Hughes cross from the right wing was inadvertently deflected goalwards.

Wolves keeper Matt Murray was forced into an ungainly save at his near post but the England Under-21 recovered his composure to rise above the throng and impressively claim the resultant corner taken by Shorey.

There was plenty of bluster but little in the way of lustre from the hosts who found themselves in arrears after Forster struck in the 25th minute, Shorey making tracks along the left wing and firing a cross low into the Wolves penalty box.

Reading's top-scorer was lurking unmarked at the back post and with Murray having been foxed by the ball fizzing off the slick surface, Forster took advantage to chest down and volley into the roof of the net.

Wolves striker George Ndah went close on 55 minutes when a booming effort on the run was touched around his right hand post by Hahnemann.

Reading suffered a big blow when Forster limped off just past the hour to be replaced by Nathan Tyson.

Wolves began to build up a head of steam and their industry was rewarded in the 75th minute after Ince appeared to have been felled in the Reading penalty area by Williams.

Referee Alan Kaye waved away appeals for a spot-kick but Newton pounced to hammer a low drive goalwards, which took a double deflection. The first one, off Shorer's knee, was taking the ball wide of goal, but a second deflection off Murty's arm, saw the ball flash into the net.

Naylor gave Wolves a 2-1 advantage with a low free-kick which arrowed underneath Hahnemann from a range of 20 yards after Brown was adjudged to have felled Ince.

And Reading's misery was completed in stoppage time when Tyson was sent off following a clash with Paul Butler who was stretchered from the field to be replaced by Ludo Pollet.

Teams

Wolverhampton: Murray, Irwin, Lescott, Butler (Pollet 90), Naylor, Ndah (Newton 66), Ince, Cameron, Kennedy, Blake, Miller (Sturridge 86).

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Rae.

Booked: Butler, Ince.

Goals: Murty 75 og, Naylor 84.

Reading: Hahnemann, Williams, Brown, Shorey, Murty, Hughes, Harper, Henderson (Cureton 84), Sidwell, Forster (Tyson 61), Chadwick (Newman 72).

Subs Not Used: Watson, Ashdown.

Sent Off: Tyson (90).

Booked: Sidwell.

Goals: Forster 25.

Att: 27,678

Ref: A Kaye (W Yorkshire).