Reading 0-1 Leyton Orient: Player Ratings
A poor performance from a few, but a low average overall as Reading were sloppy in their return from the break
Coniah Boyce-Clarke: 4
Given his chance in the league after being the apparent number two throughout the early stages of the season and preseason. Made a decent save over the top just before what will unfortunately be the most remembered moment of his game.
With a daisycutter fizzing across the turf towards the centre of his goal, Boyce-Clarke appeared to misjudge the curve of the shot, and simultaneously got his body position all wrong, allowing the ball to squirm under him and into the net.
Struggled to be as effective as Joel Pereira has been in short buildup play, and Pereira hasn’t been outstanding in that area, occasionally causing Reading’s defenders issues as they looked for the next pass.
Didn’t have a whole lot to do in the second half, denying him an opportunity to make up for his previous error but also taking the pressure off him.
Michael Craig: 6
Made some good steps forward in the opening 5-10 minutes but did struggle a little to help out aerially, with crosses hitting the back post, Craig was alongside Mbengue unable to stop a few searching second balls going into Reading’s six-yard box in the first half.
Pushed up to the outside of the box just before the hour mark and latched onto Dorsett’s pass to rattle the post with a thumping shot. Made a few more good runs in that area of the field, putting in Akande for a chance to cross late in the game.
Generally busy and ran his heart. Sloppier in possession but more ambitious on the ball than usual today, with Craig being the Reading player to provide the most balls into the final third.
Amadou Mbengue: 5
Incredibly lucky not to give away a dangerous chance late in the second half when he passed the ball to an Orient player in buildup play. A little more sloppy in general in buildup play, with low completion numbers for a CB in the first half, but settled down a little in the second half.
Made some of his trademark strong plays in a more stretched second half to help Reading out when Orient looked to run in behind and ran through himself at one point to spring into the final third.
Tyler Bindon: 6
Looked the most solid defensively as well as the calmest of Reading’s defenders in buildup play today, still connecting on the majority of his passes despite a very sloppy overall first half from Reading. Often forced to hit long though, he struggled to connect with Reading’s wingers with his balls over the top.
Helped Reading to a much calmer second half with his passing and was able to bring Campbell into the game a little more in the second half with more accurate long balls. Beaten in 50/50 challenges just once all day.
Jeriel Dorsett: 5
Gave the ball away for a dangerous counter attack early in the game. Unable to stop several crosses into the box from his side in the first half but did send several inviting balls forward down the line for Kelvin to chase.
Did really well just before the hour mark to burst forward to the outside of the box, and then shield the ball before switching the play across to michael Craig for his attempt off the woodwork.
Able to help more aerially in the second half as well, occasionally drifting inside to defend the ball into the box, will just need to be sure to balance that with his full back duties in the months to come.
Lewis Wing: 5
With Orient tilting the field towards Reading’s goal in the first half, Wing was busy, and found himself in a lot of duels in the first half. Was generally more calm than a few of the players around him, and bailed out a few of his teammates when they lost the ball in dangerous positions.
Curled the ball up and around the wall beautifully from a first half free kick, but couldn’t find enough power to beat a good save from the Orient keeper.
Used his deep starting position to step forward well a few times and help Reading to recycle the ball in the closing stages. Unfortunately slipped when he had a chance to shoot just outside of the box, and is still searching for a first goal of the season.
Ben Elliot: 6
Seemed to be the only Reading player capable of making a move into space to be found with a pass in the first half. Made some of the only smart plays to get Reading down the field in the first half and won Wing’s dangerous free kick outside of the box with a fantastic strong drive forwards.
Played well but occasionally tried to do it all himself as Reading searched for an equaliser in the second half.
Drove Reading forward with his legs a few times, unfortunately spoiling one chance to do so in the 70th minute when a loose touch saw him lose the ball in transition to be bailed out by Wing. Wasted the ball again deep into injury time when he was slow to release it after dribbling out wide.
Charlie Savage: 4
Very muted in the first half, spending the vast majority of his time out of possession chasing shadows.
The second chance from Campbell’s great chance in the box fell to Savage but he couldn’t find a path around the bodies crashing into the box.
Made just 24 touches today, and had some good ideas with his clearances forward, just couldn’t quite execute at times. Withdrawn for Knibbs shortly after the hour mark.
Chem Campbell: 5
Won a ball as part of the press within five minutes, showing his potential usefulness to Selles’ side. Showed some good pace and a few flashes of some link up play with Smith, but had sparingly few chances to do much in the first half.
Certainly has some fire and desire about the way he plays, harassing Orient’s defenders deep into their own half and getting involved in physical battles.
Had Reading’s first real chance of the game to score when he latched onto Kelvin’s through ball and beat his defender with a fantastic chop, but couldn’t squeeze the ball under the goalkeeper into the far corner with his first or second attempt. With the whole goal at his mercy, a debut goal should have been his.
Withdrawn shortly after for the man he replaced in the XI: Akande. Overall a muted but promising debut that was unfortunate to go without the perfect cherry on top.
Sam Smith: 5
Made some good flicks and peeled off the back of defenders well to help set Reading playing forward a few times, but mostly when the team had been able to already progress up the field somewhat. Important in the buildup to Reading’s best chance of the game, which Campbell couldn’t quite squeeze around the goalkeeper.
Struggled when asked to chase long balls and while he does do well for his size when up against larger defenders, it is asking a lot at times.
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 5
Was at times one of Reading’s better performers in an overall flat team performance in the first half. Won a free kick down the left and a yellow card for his opponent, but couldn’t carve out a chance in the box and was sloppy in possession a few times. Rose well for a header at the back post in the best Reading chance of the first half, but his shot was tame.
Finally got the edge of the box for a shot shortly after the break, but couldn’t beat the first blocker. Took Smith’s flick-on forward and found a really good through ball away from the last defender for Campbell to latch onto and get into a position to score.
Won a free kick outside of the box in the 75th minute with a fantastic dragback move that saw him squirm between two defenders on his way to being taken down.
Subs
Adrian Akande: 5
Perhaps unlucky to lose his place in the team after his display against Charlton that saw him pick up an assist. Connected well with Craig to get a chance to cross but drove his cutback into the first man.
Showed some good strength a few times to stay on the ball but ultimately couldn’t come up with a run, on or off the ball, to pick Orient apart.
Harvey Knibbs: 5
Returned from injury and immediately showed some good energy to help Reading win the ball back and squirm out of scrappy situations. This wasn’t a peak Knibbs performance by any means but he did make it clear why he’s so important within minutes.
Good out of possession as he always is, and found some neat ways to link up in the box but was a tad rusty with the ball at his feet. All that said the team has missed Knibbs in the lineup and it’d be a surprise not to see him start again once he’s fully fit.
Kelvin Abrefa: N/A
Replaced Michael Craig today at RB rather than Dorsett, putting him on his preferred side for the first time this season. Got lucky with the bounce twice in a run forwards that took Reading all the way to the box in injury time but couldn’t capitalise.
Jayden Wareham: N/A
Replaced Ehibhatiomhan late on as Reading pushed for an equaliser and spent his time out wide on the left. Touched the ball sparingly little, doing well at one point to be calm in possession and find a free man.
Andre Garcia: N/A
Came on with minutes to go for Dorsett, playing in position #1 of his 5 or 6 possible positions today. Lost the ball with his first time on it when he tried to take his man on but helped Reading clear up the next time it came into his area.
Average: 5.07/10
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