Reading 1-3 Burnley: Player Ratings
Sim grades the Royals after an extra-time defeat to the Championship Clarets.
Games against higher-standard opposition are always tricky to grade, except when Reading are overtly good or bad. The Royals were overall fine today, but when the lineup includes players out of position at full-back (x2) and out wide (x2), and the opposition are from the league above, it’s difficult working out what expectations are performance-wise and how well we fulfilled them.
It’s also a game when, to be honest, I really don’t have a lot to say about most of the team as individuals. Collectively though, it was a good effort in very difficult circumstances.
David Button: 5
An iffy afternoon for Button who could have done better for goals one and three, although they weren’t howlers. Both times the Burnley finisher had time in the area to prod home from close range, and some more proactive goalkeeping from Button would have helped. Then again, he also needed more help from his defence.
Otherwise generally dealt well with what came his way, and made a good, acrobatic stop in the first half to keep the score at 0-0.
Tivonge Rushesha: 6
Given the nod at right-back in the absence of Michael Craig and Amadou Mbengue, and had some difficulties defensively but did alright on the whole. Also added a bit of impetus going forwards at points, on one occasion getting into shooting territory but blasting well off target.
Harlee Dean: 6
Stood up pretty well to Burnley’s pressure in the time he was on the pitch, but picked up some kind of strain in the second half and eventually came off for Holzman.
Tyler Bindon: 7
Reading’s best player all round today, Bindon had his usual composure in and out of possession at the back. Came close to scoring in the first half when he met Wing’s free-kick, but couldn’t get over the ball with his header and cleared the bar with the ‘keeper out of his goal.
Abraham Kanu: 5
It feels a lot like Kanu’s still getting used to playing as a left-back - naturally a difficult learning curve for a centre half. He had a difficult start with Burnley exposing him in the opening quarter of an hour or so, and although he improved later on, they still got some joy in behind him. I also clocked a couple of times when he could have been more positive in possession, instead opting to play it backwards.
Harvey Knibbs: 5
Not really the right game for Knibbs, who didn’t make much of an impact on proceedings. Burnley are a much better side at playing through a press than anyone we’ll face in League One, so Knibbs’ chances of getting stuck in on that front were limited. Didn’t add a lot in the way of creativity, although he had a few half sights of goal that he couldn’t do much with.
Lewis Wing: 6
How much credit do you give a player for a good hit that should have been easily saved but actually sailed into the net? Eh... let’s be positive and say he made his own luck.
Wing otherwise had a less influential game than usual, with Burnley having plenty of the ball. His deliveries into the box were pretty good though, creating some of Reading’s better chances, including that header for Bindon I mentioned earlier.
Charlie Savage: 5
Worked hard in central midfield, but overall a quieter afternoon for Savage after his excellent showing at Charlton last time out. Also probably should have given Kanu more help, on a couple of occasions not tracking a runner in behind.
Kelvin Abrefa: 5
Abrefa isn’t a winger, and that was clear from his lack of proper quality in the final third today, but he still plugged away and was pretty tidy in possession. Actually, interestingly, he tucked infield quite a bit in the second half to give Reading an extra player in build-up. Eventually withdrawn for Emmanuel Osho.
Sam Smith: 5
A tough afternoon for Smith, who just didn’t get the service he needed to make more of an impact - unsurprising given the gulf in quality between the two sides. He did manage some shots, but none were high-quality chances.
Jayden Wareham: 4
It’s never easy being a young player playing out of position - centre-forward Wareham lining up as a left-winger in Reading’s 4-3-3 - but he just didn’t have the quality or make enough of an impact. Taken off just before extra-time for central midfielder Tyler Sackey.
Subs
Louie Holzman: 4
Got the last quarter of an hour at centre-back in place of Dean. Lost goalscorer Zian Flemming twice for his goals in extra-time - reminders of just how switched-on he needs to be when playing against a forward of that quality.
Emmanuel Osho: 5
Replaced Abrefa with 15 to go and couldn’t create anything from the right-wing spot.
Tyler Sackey: 5
Came on for extra-time in place of Wareham and looked pretty bright on a couple of occasions, with the best moment being a bit of skill on the left and low cross for Knibbs, who couldn’t convert. Overall didn’t add a lot otherwise though - and again, he (centre-midfielder) was very much playing out of position.
Ashqar Ahmed and Jay Senga: N/A
Came on in extra-time time for Rushesha and Wing respectively, and didn’t really get enough time on the pitch to be fairly marked.
Average: 5.21/10
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