Reading 2-0 Hull City: Player Ratings
Ross’ ratings as the Royals sign off preseason with a comfortable win over the Tigers.
Joel Pereira: 7
Alert in the first half and moved around his box well. Strode out of a difficult melee from a cross with the ball particularly well at 16 minutes in. Didn’t have to make too many saves, but made a few vital punches at key moments.
Had to deal with an aerial assault from Hull City’s right side in the opening half hour, and slid in bravely to cut out a few chances
Made the bravest of the bunch in the second half’s opening stages, diving to cut out both the ball and the weighty number 19 of Hull. Went down in pain but was back up and crashing into centre-forwards at corners within 15 minutes, so should be good to start at Birmingham City.
Michael Craig: 7
Reading continued their use of players who typically play centre-midfield in the right-back spot, with Craig retaining the role he started in against Cardiff City in midweek. In the combined role, Craig moves forward when Reading have possession, providing another option in the midfield.
He didn’t see too much danger out of possession in the first half as Hull repeatedly attacked on the other flank, but any central midfielder playing right-back will need to be careful not to be caught too far forward in the combined role, as Craig getting caught out did lead to Mbengue needing to give a free-kick away just outside the box at one point.
Craig seized his big moment in possession in the first half by driving Reading forward out of their half with his legs, then springing the ball forward through a tight gap to drive the counter-attack. Capping it off, Craig made a tidy dummy in the box to fool the Hull defence and buy Elliot time for his goal.
Amadou Mbengue: 7
Had a lot to deal with in the first half with Hull attempting a lot of crosses into the box, and mostly managed to squeeze out the larger body of Hull’s centre-forward, conceding a few headers in the box, but often doing enough to at least distract him in the process of the finish.
Pushed forward with his legs a few time to create overloads in midfield with his legs, but couldn’t quite connect with a few opportunities to play the ball over the top of the Hull defence. Still, in Bindon’s absence during pre-season, Mbengue has done well to act as a primary ball progressor out of defence for Reading (alongside the deep-lying Lewis Wing).
Abraham Kanu: 7
Stepped forward nicely a few times early but often had to do a lot to support Garcia on the left side.
To use some basketball parlance, Kanu “got into foul trouble” in the second half, giving away a few set pieces outside of the box. Stepped up well to defend them though, and got more comfortable with balls into the box as the second half went on.
Particularly excellent defending one-on-one with a Hull player on his back, using his already impressive frame to shield the ball. Has room to improve his passing in buildup but has set himself up well for a good season in the first team.
Andre Garcia: 5
The 16-year-old experienced a tricky opening half, as Hull attacked repeatedly down his flank. Did well with his energy at times but was also taken advantage of, and will need to improve at defending his byline before Birmingham if he wants to start. Hull were able to get a cross into the box simply by blowing past Garcia a few too many time in the opening 25 minutes in particular.
Lewis Wing: 7
Operated incredibly deep, often allowing Mbengue to use his legs to push into his space. His ability to combine with the “right-back” Craig while in that position led to Reading looking pretty calm in possession at the back, certainly conceding fewer turnovers in their half than they did against QPR last week.
Going forward, Wing put in a fantastically well weighted cross for Smith’s goal, meaning all the striker needed to do was lightly nod it in.
Harvey Knibbs: 6
Today saw Knibbs return to the midfield three that ended the season for Reading last year. Pre-season seems to have seen Reading move to more of a conventional 4-3-3 though, and Knibbs did well on the left side of that trio, supporting Ehibhatiomhan with his defensive duties, but also using his legs to drive the ball forward.
Showed good anticipation to start attacks from defending in the mid block by intercepting the ball in the midfield and quickly finding the free danger man in transition.
Also he looks great in his long sleeves.
Ben Elliott: 7
From hardly seeing the pitch in RG2 before March, just five months later, Elliot looks undroppable, with his smart short-passing game complimented by an ability to find space. Made his best contribution in possession with his lovely goal, calmly slotting away into the corner the goalkeeper had no opportunity to reach before the defence could react.
Made a bigger impact defensively too and chased Hull deep into their half a few times in the first 45. Shows a good understanding of Ruben Selles’ pressing system and executed a squeeze into the corner flag with Smith and Azeez a few times.
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 6
With Knibbs behind him at left centre-midfield today, Ehibhatiomhan was able to usually be one of the forward two or three in the press, which is an out-of-possession role he seems more suited to than having to defend or operate in the press on the wide left side. Still a little weaker in the press than his teammates, but caused some dodgy moments for the right side of Hull’s defence when they tried to build out.
Unlucky not to score when he received the ball in transition just outside the box and moved across his defender well to turn and drive a left-footed shot that forced a good save.
Femi Azeez: 7
Had a chance to extend his goalscoring streak in pre-season in the first half when he was sent through on the right side of the box with a clear side of goal. Attempted to curl it around the keeper as he’s done before, but couldn’t put enough venom on the strike.
Tidied up the slightly overhit pass in the buildup to Elliott’s goal with speed and purpose, sliding it across the box to tee up his teammate for a simple finish. A quieter performance from Azeez than in the previous two games that still rewarded him with an assist.
An encouraging preseason for Femi, who has a real chance to be Reading’s best player this season.
Sam Smith: 7
Smith picked up from where he left off last season: seeing very little of the ball but running both gamely and smartly in the press and taking his chance when it came.
Put on a clinic running without the ball today both in and out of possession. Dropped very deep at times and showed a good understanding of how to rotate with other players in the system when quick opposition play unsettles the shape.
Repeatedly ran deep into the six-yard box to make space for box-crashing midfielders behind him, making Reading’s attack more potent for it. When Wing eventually did manage to squeeze a looped cross deep into the box, Smith did what he does, efficiently sticking the ball in the back of the net, this time with his head.
Subs
Charlie Savage: N/A
Had a chance to shoot just outside the box shortly after coming on, but couldn’t quite catch it well enough. Still, good to see him reach the position outside of the box from which he scored several goals last season.
Chopped down a Hull player to prevent a counter-attack in the late stages. Will need to temper his occasionally wild tackling once yellow cards are back on the table but you can never complain that Savage doesn’t compete every time he’s on the field, no matter the minute.
In fact, he put a lovely ball into the box in the 91st minute that created the final chance of the game for Mbengue.
Emmanuel Osho: N/A
A more sizeable presence on the field than Garcia, but perhaps not as fast down the left side. Helped Reading to shut up shop well enough at the end of the game and didn’t allow as many crosses from his side as had come in some portions of the first half.
Mamadi Camara: N/A
Switched wings from his most recent pre-season appearance, and his ability to replace either Ehibhatiomhan or Azeez as a second-half sub will surely be a useful trait as the season progresses.
Solid without being spectacular.
Jayden Wareham: N/A
Runs gamely and gets into good spots in the box, but is perhaps lower on confidence than he should be, often choosing to pass it off in the box rather than take a chance and shoot it. Given Wareham will want to be Smith’s backup this year, he’ll need to show an eye for goal soon.