COLLINS TOP OF THE COPP; ALL LAST NIGHT'S CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION Coca Cola CHAMPIONSHIP Steve's joy as Royals grab own goal lift Reading 1 Wolves 0.

AN own goal from Wolves defender Neill Collins after just 58 seconds gave Reading a dramatic victory over title rivals Wolves.

Collins inexplicably headed Chris Armstrong's early cross past his keeper Wayne Hennessy and capped a miserable night by being sent off for foul and abusive language in injury time.

Mick McCarthy's Wolves were looking to consolidate their five-point cushion at the top of the Championship, but also had revenge on their minds after seeing their unbeaten start to the season ended by Steve Coppelll's side in September.

On that occasion an early own goal by Hennessy had set Reading on their way to a 3- 0 victory.

Reading were snapping at Wolves from the first whistle and Kevin Doyle's determination to keep the ball in play caused Wolves to rush their clearance and allow Stephen Hunt to send in a cross which should have been routinely dealt with. Instead Collins, under pressure from Noel Hunt, attempted to head the ball back to Hennessy but found his keeper in no man's land and could only look in horror as the ball looped over Hennessy and in.

The home side should have doubled their early advantage when Stephen Hunt's corner found his younger brother unmarked in the box, only for Noel to spoon his header high and wide.

In fact, it was a first half of red faces all round, not least for Reading defender Michael Duberry, who left with his face covered in blood after a clash of heads with Andy Keogh. It was a setback Reading could ill-afford, having lost first-choice centreback Ivar Ingimarsson to a knee injury during the week, leaving young defender Alex Pearce and central midfielder Kalifa Cisse plugging the centre of defence.

Keogh added to the red faces when the striker fluffed Matt Jarvis's low cross in front of goal and was relieved to see a linesman's flag spare his embarrassment.

And McCarthy was glowing with rage on the touchline at Wolves' stuttering response to their setback.

But it could have been worse for the visitors had James Harper not side-footed straight at Hennessy.

Then Hennessy came to Wolves' rescue with a fingertip save to keep out Noel Hunt's stinging free-kick.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake headed the ball down into the path of the lively Jarvis, only for the winger to lash his shot horribly wide, which summed up the visitors' night.

Doyle, the Championship's top scorer, had a chance to settle the Royals' nerves and put the game out of Wolves' reach, but blazed over with the goal at his mercy ten minutes from time.

CAPTION(S):

OH BROTHER Stephen Hunt battles for the ball (above) and Noel Hunt (left) celebrates