Reading 2-0 Charlton Athletic: Player Ratings
Another strong performance and another win at home as the Royals rise to the test of a strong Charlton.
Joel Pereira: 8
Made some good claims from Charlton’s balls into the box, one particularly good one coming from Charlton’s first corner of the second half, where he rose through several tall players.
Made an excellent save at the end of the first half to keep things level, diving low to stop a bouncing shot from the best chance of the first half.
Bravely dived into a Charlton player late on to ensure a cross wouldn’t be diverted into his net, and ticked some seconds off the clock.
Made a fantastic point-blank save from a Charlton corner late on, and then punched away the resulting corner to spring a Reading counter-attack.
Michael Craig: 7
Operates well in possession, and helps Reading to keep the pressure on, acting as a second layer of attack with Wing when Reading are looking to cycle the ball around the opposition box.
Is still often the last man back when Reading have an attacking set piece, and crucially did enough to stop a dangerous Tyrese Campbell counter attack from a misplaced corner shortly before half time.
Anticipated a dangerous through ball from Charlton on the hour mark to nip in and clean up the danger, showing good defensive instincts, and generally did both jobs: defending the right-back spot and inverting in possession, very well today.
Amadou Mbengue: 7
Made some excellent forays into the Charlton half throughout the first half, even dancing into the Charlton box with a quick two-step.
As unpredictable to watch on the ball as he must be for opposition players to defend, and he was often the man to help push Reading forward out of their half in the first half.
Reasonably booked in a situation where the Charlton fans wanted more, with Mbengue catching the Charlton player late with a raised foot.
Bailed out a few times defensively today by Pereira, but helped Reading on their way to another clean sheet.
Tyler Bindon: 7
After Reading started strong, Bindon expertly dealt with the first Charlton attack, as they sent a testing ball over the top. Bindon showed a decent turn of pace to get his body between the onrushing attacker and the ball.
Went up and over a player while competing aerially and came up slow towards the end of the first half but was able to continue. Did so again in the 70th minute and landed even harder. Got up and was able to walk unaided but was rightly removed for precautionary reasons with concussion being a real possibility.
Bindon’s aggression in the air has helped Reading to becoming a strong defensive unit, but hopefully a coach can help Tyler temper that with care for his own body as we can’t afford to lose the player to injury.
Jeriel Dorsett: 6
Improved on last week against Wrexham, and is looking very comfortable in the left-back spot at this point, making you wonder if he’ll go back to centre-back under Ruben Selles.
Active in both boxes. Got across the box so well to slide in and make an excellent last-gasp block a little after the half hour mark. Shortly after half time he got a hard and low shot away from Smith’s layoff, but saw it blocked.
Really good one-on-one defensively today until a very sloppy period around the hour mark when he allowed Campbell to run past him while he jogged and deliver into the box. Shortly after he couldn’t stop Campbell again going around the corner against him.
The period was like a switch had flipped from his excellent play just minutes later and he did shortly after go down with a knock. Given he was straight down the tunnel after being withdrawn, I’ll let him off for the strange final five minutes.
Lewis Wing: 6
Found himself in a position to shoot a few times in his trademark outside of the box position for really the first time this season, but couldn’t quite find the target in the first half.
Directed Reading’s early domination of possession really well, operating with Craig as a layer behind the attackers.
It’s still a little odd seeing Wing quite so reserved on the field for Reading in comparison to his role last year. But with Savage alongside him, his long shot isn’t needed as much, and Wing provides a very accomplished presence for Reading in the crucial point of the triangle with the central defenders.
That triangle is so important to a solid defensive presence, and Wing has been crucial to Reading only conceding in two of four league games so far.
Charlie Savage: 7
Had a very steady first half, probably his best of the season so far. In contrast to that though, the final minute of said half swung from extreme high to low for Savage. First he directed a fantastic interplay with Dorsett deep into the box, but then at the other end slid in and couldn’t cut out the cross into the box that led to Charlton’s most dangerous chance.
Hit an absolute pearl of a shot to seize the momentum in a more competitive second half, calmly feeling the pressure on his right and thrashing the ball in off the post.
Lost the ball just outside of his box shortly after his goal and was lucky to see it cleared up by Wing, but continued to battle hard and won a few one-on-ones down near the corner flag to help Reading see things out.
Ben Elliott: 6
A little quiet today. Didn’t need to be Reading’s best performer in the game, but did help to stitch a few attacks together, putting five balls into the final third. Dragged a powerful shot from outside of the box wide when it fell to him after a corner.
Has become a physical presence on the field, oftentimes to Reading’s credit on the pitch, but needs to be careful not to give away too many unnecessary fouls by being too strong in the challenge.
Remains excellent on the ball though, and found Savage for what will probably be his most simple assist of the season.
Adrian Akande: 7
Started brightly in the first half. Had some opportunities to take on his man that he wasn’t always willing to take, but whipped a fantastic cross into the box that was unlucky not to find an onrushing attacker.
Faded a little as the half went on and Charlton progressed a little further up the field but was generally good when asked to press.
Involved in a very odd moment just before Reading’s second goal, where he stole the ball from the Charlton goalkeeper, but then couldn’t quite wriggle free enough from the crashing defenders to poke it home.
Forged Smith’s opening goal of the season by driving down the right wing and giving Smith the kind of cross he converted from so many times, driving a wicked inswinger at shin height across the box.
Another encouraging performance from Akande, who was exceptional for Noel Hunt last year, and has seized his chance in the first team.
Sam Smith: 7
Helped Reading link things up a few times, having more success physically against his defender than he did last week in Wrexham. Did particularly well with one searching ball forward to win Reading a throw-in near the Charlton corner flag.
Crucial in a move that ended with Dorsett’s blocked shot in the box shortly after half time, dropping very deep to help Reading build up, and then making a good run into the box to get his team behind the defence.
Scored his first of the season with a goal that reminded of so many he scored last year, latching onto an Akande cross to tap it into the waiting net. Great for Smith to get off the mark before the first international break after a testing start to the season that he’s weather admirably.
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 5
A little muted today, not able to get a shot off before the break and taking just two touches in Charlton’s box all day.
Goes over way too easily for his size, and needs to learn to use it to defend the ball, rather than look for fouls. One particular moment saw him look for a penalty when he could have driven into the box just after the restart.
Ehibhatiomhan carried Reading’s attack through the first two games of the season, and will surely rediscover his best form again after the break, but he was outshone by Akande this week and last.
Subs
Kelvin Abrefa: 6
Came on for Dorsett and immediately asked for calm in the Reading backline in a manic period shortly after the opening goal showing his maturity. Won a pair of free kicks for Reading in the late stages to help relieve pressure, and uses his body exceptionally well for a shorter defender.
Harlee Dean: 6
Came on for Bindon with the young centre-back stricken late on. Defended calmly, sending one headed clearance far out of his own half let alone penalty area.
Basil Tuma: N/A
Tuma’s pace is a real asset to Reading’s press, especially in the closing stages of a game, able to hurtle around and disrupt opponents trying to build up with tired legs.
Average: 6.53/10
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