Reading 1-1 Stevenage: Player Ratings
Reading produce a horrid final 30 minutes to drop another two points at home in a stop-start game.
Joel Pereira: 6
Busy today - did well to concentrate and grab Stevenage’s cute first-half free-kick on goal. Got down low to make a fantastic save around the half-hour mark, keeping the score at 0-0.
Made a fantastic touch on the ball in the 57th minute to clear it out of a back-post mob. Made a great save just after from the resultant Stevenage attack
Caught out a little by the great header back across his goal for Stevenage’s second-half equaliser, not able to recover over to his right side.
Kelvin Abrefa: 6
Didn’t have as much space as he did against Wrexham, marked by the second line of the press when Reading tried to build up. He did get forward well down the line when possible though, and latched onto a nice Wing pass forward.
Showed some very tidy footwork to collect Wing’s pass in the box and earn a corner late in the first half.
Moved out to the left side when Rushesha came on late and continued to scrap well there, but not as effective as he was on the right side.
Andy Yiadom: 5
Made his first start since returning from injury, but not in the full-back position, instead needing to cover the suspended Michael Stickland. Can occasionally get caught out not holding the offside line, but mostly got the job done in the first half.
Tired as the game went on, probably unsurprisingly, and got a little sloppy with his passing. Withdrawn for Holzman midway through the first half.
Tyler Bindon: 6
Fiery today, giving away a few free-kicks and having some passionate discussions with Stevenage players. Occasionally threatened to get a bit “over excited”.
Able to pick out Campbell with a lovely long crossfield pass in the opening stages but followed that by giving away an early free-kick on the edge of his box.
Very lucky midway through the first half to not be punished for letting a ball bounce, allowing it through his body to an onrushing attacker who thankfully fluffed his lines.
Started the second half well, driving forward and committing an opponent to give Garcia space on the left.
Got down to the near post, and maybe touched the ball towards net with his shoulder to be involved in the opening goal. Touch or not, he put enough pressure on the Stevenage backline to lead to Piergianni putting it into his own net.
Made some absolutely crucial interventions in injury time as Reading struggled to see the game out.
Andre Garcia: 5
Rotated really high early on and showed some good strength to win the ball in the final third in the first minute.
Also forced to be the free-kick wall draft excluder today. It’s tough being 17.
Started the second half with a fantastic touch around his man on the wing, before slipping Ehibhatiomhan into the box with a smart first-touch pass. Won the ball back after a corner shortly after when Reading could have been caught, and turned it into another attack.
Lewis Wing: 5
Made some vital interventions in the first half, stepping in to cut out some dangerous attacks with well timed tackles. Made a nice first-time pass with his back to goal to get Abrefa space to cross into the box. Linked well with the full-back again to get him into the box at the end of the half.
Given lots of space to shoot on the edge of the box by Savage but drove his shot low into the legs of the first man.
Struggled to get involved on the ball in the second half, forced to drop very deep. Did manage to keep his balance and make a crucial defensive intervention on the edge of Reading’s box in injury time.
Harvey Knibbs: 5
Finished off a good Reading move to play in Campbell on the far post for a shot. Cleared away a few set pieces: important against Stevenage’s tall team.
Overall looked pretty tired again though - and was very quiet on the ball with only ~30 touches: many of which were defensive actions.
Charlie Savage: 6
Showed his usual effort, winning balls on both sides of the field in the opening stages.
Swung some nice passes around the corner for Ehibhatiomhan or Garcia to chase.
Made a fantastic cushioned header down from Bindon’s ball over the top to get Ehibhatiomhan running at his full-back.
Screamed in a perfect corner early in the second half that could have reached two onrushing Reading players, but ended up pinballing in off Piergianni.
Booked for protesting when Ehibhatiomhan should have been given a penalty.
Chem Campbell: 5
The beneficiary of Reading’s first great chance of the game, getting into space on the right side to get a shot off in the box, sliding a decent low hit to the corner but seeing it turned away.
His ability to find space helped multiple times in the first half as Reading struggled to build up around Stevenage’s press in the first half, but he didn’t really do enough in the second half when asked to move over the left.
Jayden Wareham: 5
Got himself involved today, happy to come deep to get the ball. Does like to get into a conversation with the opposition ‘keeper early and often.
Laid off a nice chance for Wing to hit in the first half, cushioning Ehibhatiomhan’s cutback.
Showed some improved footwork towards the end of the first half, playing one-touch football with Wing, Savage and Ehibhatiomhan.
Whiffed on his chance to shoot in the second half, pulling it too far wide to test the 'keeper. Withdrawn shortly after for Camara.
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 5
Slipped a fantastic ball through two Stevenage players to help get the ball to Knibbs before Campbell had his first half chance.
Used his pace today to make some chances for Reading down the left side, seemingly realising midway through the first half that he was faster than the full-back.
Combined well with Garcia a few times down the left side to earn corners.
Should have been given a penalty in the closing stages when he was taken down shielding the ball.
Struggled with his hold-up play when moved to the centre-forward spot and had his best moments when he was able to get back out on the left. It’s probably time to call an end to the idea of Ehibhatiomhan playing in the middle.
Subs
Mamadi Camara: 4
Slipped Ehibhatiomhan into the box at the end of a good counter from Campbell, but didn’t get enough on his pass to put Kelvin into a good position. Again, just didn’t quite show the urgency needed when given the ball deep in the Stevenage box, though he did earn a corner.
Lost the ball in his own half when delaying on the ball again late on, leading to a Stevenage shot. Probably not helped by Noel Hunt moving him to the opposite side twice in the first 20 minutes he was on the field.
Tivonge Rushesha: 5
Cameoed in the second half in his recent right-back spot. Struggled with the aerial balls that came near him and contributed to a very shaky final 10 minutes, but mostly OK with the ball at his feet.
Louie Holzman: 4
Came on with 15 minutes to go for Yiadom, slotting into central defence. Helped Bindon block a dangerous shot in the box when Stevenage were able to dribble up to the centre-backs.
Got very shaky in the closing stages, especially when he had to communicate with Rushesha. Had one bad moment when he allowed a ball to bounce before taking Rushesha out and then allowing the Stevenage player to step around him. Saw it out without another goal, but will have to thank Bindon for some of that.
Adrian Akande: N/A
Brought on very late to go onto the right side but couldn’t really get into the game.
Tom Carroll: N/A
Brought on in injury time and didn’t touch the ball.
Average: 5.14/10
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