Crawley Town 1-1 Reading: Player Ratings
A flat performance from the Royals was only enough for a point, with the hosts claiming a late equaliser.
Joel Pereira: 6
With Crawley Town reaching the dying moments of the game with zero shots on target registered, Pereira had little to do in the Reading net for most of the game. Alert just before the half-hour mark to pounce on a weak delivery into the box.
Kelvin Abrefa: 6
Bravely got a cross in (and got crunched for his efforts) early in the game, but couldn’t find a Reading forward. Used his newfound strength shortly after to clear out the Crawley player and the ball nicely.
Jumped forward well a few times, showing his credentials as an actual full-back, rather than a converted midfielder.
Michael Stickland: 6
With Amadou Mbengue out, and Louie Holzman and Harlee Dean not even on the bench, Stickland was rewarded with a first League One start of the season. Bowled a man over in the box for his first action of the game, but wasn’t judged to have fouled him.
Stepped in on the edge of the box early in the second half well, and generally looked able to delay Crawley’s attackers when they came near him.
Tyler Bindon: 6
Acted as the senior partner among the centre-backs today, despite being a year younger than Stickland.
Did well at the start of the second half to jump in and clear out a dangerous challenge. Produced a fantastic piece of play with his feet shortly after to avoid losing the ball on the halfway line. Did so again late in the half.
Andre Garcia: 7
Really up for it in the first half, driving a lot of Reading’s attacking play and seemingly disappointed when his teammates couldn’t meet his level.
Pulled off a lovely spin move early in the game to wriggle free in midfield. Delivered the ball into the box that caused the panic leading to Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s goal in the first half.
Got a crucial block in just after Reading’s opener to stop them immediately conceding again.
Continued to progress the ball up the field well, moving inside of the field interchangeably when Savage was out wide.
Started the second half with an excellent piece of one-on-one defending, managing to get across a pacey winger played into the box. Garcia held him off and drew a foul. Did the same late in the half after dictating a passing play then being taken down in the middle of the pitch.
Lewis Wing: 5
Like Savage, Wing was seemingly asked to swing a lot of corners very close to Wollacot in the Crawley goal today, meaning some hit the first man, but the whipped balls to the near post did carry threat.
Managed to get a shot off on the edge of the box just before the half-hour mark but saw it blocked away. Repeated the trick early in the second half, tracking his man well.
Got a good free-kick chance against a very weak Crawley wall but put it high and wide of the net.
Harvey Knibbs: 6
In the wars in the early stages, taking a knock to the head from the goalkeeper at a corner, and winning free-kicks for Reading in the first half. Headed the ball back into the box when Crawley couldn’t clear their lines, picking up the assist for the opener.
Streaked all the way back to the edge of Reading’s box to win it and end a Crawley attack late in the half.
Whipped in a dangerous cross into the six-yard box just before the half-time whistle, and was unlucky to see it tipped away at the last moment.
Charlie Savage: 6
In a fiery mood as usual - got himself into a “conversation” with the referee in the opening minutes when the goalkeeper angled his dropkick out against Ehibhatiomhan. Whipped some decent corners to the near post.
Billy Bodin: 5
Strong with his frame on the ball, but missing a few yards of pace at times. Played some smart passes into areas of space for his teammates.
Did really well at the start of the second half to jump onto a poor clearance from the goalkeeper, but got his pass all wrong, not giving Camara a chance.
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 6
Sauntered back into his own half and managed to progress the ball all the way to the edge of the box in his first real moment on the ball in the game.
Followed that shortly after with his first-half goal, scoring with a lovely piece of skill. Twisting, he took down Knibbs’ header into the box and volleyed it with venom into the bottom corner.
Was left to feed off scraps for the rest of the game though, and couldn’t find another moment of magic.
Mamadi Camara: 5
Useful when Reading needed to get a quick touch on it to keep the ball progressing. His use of bounce passes to keep the ball moving really helped Reading and got Savage on the ball facing the correct way in the first half.
Ultimately struggled to make much of an impression for large periods of the game though, and was withdrawn for Chem Campbell after an hour.
Subs
Chem Campbell: 6
Sent out to the left wing and immediately earned a yellow card for the first man who challenged him. Made a great run infield but was unfortunately booked for diving at the end of it.
Jayden Wareham: 6
Brought on for Ehibhatiomhan on the hour mark and made a difference to Reading’s ability to knock the ball down. Almost played Knibbs in clean behind with one, and got the ball out to Campbell with his next.
Tom Carroll: 5
Made his Reading debut replacing Bodin, but moved back into midfield. Didn’t add a lot during his 20 minutes or so on the pitch.
Andy Yiadom: N/A
Went out to the left-back position for his third sub appearance since returning from injury. Earns yellow cards for opponents no matter where he is on the pitch.
Tivonge Rushesha: N/A
Replaced Abrefa at right-back late on in the same double switch that introduced Yiadom.
Average: 5.78/10
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