Young Alex Pearce put in a top drawer display in the Royals' vital win over Wolves on Tuesday evening, and the centre back earned man of the match plaudits.

Pearce, 20, came into the starting eleven because of an injury to Ivar Ingimarsson, and then had to cope with a change of partner after Michael Duberry was forced off.

Alex remained unflappable despite all that was going on around him, and the Academy graduate kept Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and company at arm's length throughout.

He said, "It was a fantastic night for us. The result was the main thing, and getting that early goal gave us something that we were able to hold on to.

"We had an injury to Doobs, that could have set us back but luckily Cisse came in and did brilliantly. He helped keep the clean sheet which was vital for the team.

"From back to front, the entire team worked really hard. I thought we were tremendous all over the pitch and the lads further forward made it easier for us at the back.

"Psychologically the result was really important, the gap behind Wolves is down to top points now and hopefully we can just slide past them in the future.

"We showed the strength of our squad, people came in and did a job like that against the league leaders."

After such a good performance Alex deservedly let his guard down straight after the final whistle - celebrating with a clenched fist in front of the east stand.

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