Reading 0 Wolves 1 (Wolves won 3-1 on aggregate)

READING'S Premiership dream is over - for this season at least - following a smash and grab victory by Wolves at Madejski Stadium on Wednesday night.

Royals pounded Wolves in one of their most impressive performances of the season and only cruel luck and some nervy finishing kept them from finding that vital equaliser.

Their hopes were killed off late on when Alex Rae came on to net after 82 minutes in a rare attack on the Reading goal by his battered team.

With key striker Nicky Forster absent with an ankle injury picked up in Saturday's narrow first leg defeat, Reading boss Alan Pardew surprised everyone by playing Andy Hughes up front on his own. Jamie Cureton played just behind him, while Glen Little replaced Luke Chadwick on the right after recovering from illness.

The changes worked better than could have been expected on the night. Royals ripped in to Wolves early on and Little's volley inside 40 seconds was nervously blocked by Matt Murray as the tone of all-out attack was set.

Cureton, Steven Sidwell and Darius Henderson all tried to break the deadlock but were unable to. And Henderson was amazed just before the interval when his firm header from close range, after a right-wing corner from Nicky Shorey, was brilliantly stopped on the goal-line by Murray.

After the break, Royals surged forward in similar style and the passionate home supporters did their best to help them find the net. Henderson was again denied by a fantastic save from Murray after he was slipped a superb pass in the inside-left channel. But his left-foot shot, heading sweetly towards the far corner, was expertly pushed away by Murray, to break Royals' hearts once more.

Then Little played his way into the box from the right but fired just wide as he came under heavy pressure, and Anthony Rougier shot poorly wide when well-placed on the left.

Then, on 82 minutes, Royals and their fans were stunned when Rae ruined their season with a goal out of nothing for Wolves.

He received the ball in a crowded box but cleverly turned in an effort to find space. He then struck a cool right-foot shot low into Marcus Hahnemann's right-hand corner, and with it went Royals' hopes.

It was a harsh end to an exhilarating night's play by Royals, and one which deserved the reward of victory.

But they can hold their heads high after out-playing Wolves in both legs and having produced a season of massive over-achievement.

Disappointed players they may be, but Pardew knows he has a fantastic squad that is more than capable of challenging again next season.

Reading (4-4-1-1): Hahnemann; Murty, Williams, Brown, Shorey; Little (sub Chadwick 85min), Sidwell (sub Watson 70min), Harper, Henderson (sub Rougier 64min); Cureton; Hughes. Subs (not used): Ashdown, Mackie.

Wolves (4-4-2): Murray; Irwin, Butler, Lescott, Naylor; Newton (sub Cooper 90min), Ince, Cameron, Kennedy; Miller (sub Rae 75min), Blake (sub Sturridge 85min). Subs (not used): Oakes, Pollet.

Att: 24,060.