Shrewsbury Town 1-3 Reading: Player Ratings
Reading’s engine sputters, but eventually slips into gear against lowly Salop.
Joel Pereira: 7
Despite Shrewsbury Town having a lot of shots in the opening half hour, Pereira didn’t really find himself tested.
Made a great save to end the first half, jumping up to tip the ball over the bar from close range. Came out early to try to stop the goal at the start of the first half, but couldn’t keep up with the step aside.
Tipped one over the bar shortly after Reading’s second to prevent an instant reply. Rose really well in the 83rd minute, soaring above a few defenders to seize the ball and hit the ground with a thud. Ended the game having kept out more xGOT (expected goals on target) than he allowed despite conceding - great statistically and with the eye test.
Andy Yiadom: 6
Got to play on the right tonight, outside of his norm for this season at least, but certainly his expected position.
Stepped in well early on to clear away a ball to the middle of the box. A little loose with his marking in one situation early on, first arriving late to compete for a header on a dangerous cross, and then leaving the player alone in the box for a shot seconds late.
Really struggled with the pace of his winger in the first half, allowing crosses and cutbacks into the box. Did get back to stop a really dangerous shot in the 26th minute, but had conceded the initial passage of play.
Combined nicely with Campbell just after the hour mark and rattled a shot into the side netting.
Amadou Mbengue: 7
Stepped forward really well to intercept and played a decent (if a little overhit) ball through to Camara in the opening stages. A little sloppy in a period after the 10th minute, misplacing a few clearances straight back to the opponents (though by that measure at least blocking the crosses).
Gave away the ball a few too many times on the edge of the box in Shrewsbury’s period of dominance in the first half, leading to arms raised in frustration by his ‘keeper.
Full of energy when he needed to be in the second half, and pushed the ball into the final third six times throughout the game.
Tyler Bindon: 7
Did well to calmly juggle the ball up and punt it out from a scramble in the box in the first half. Thudded another headed clearance out of the box a few minutes later from a corner.
Continued in decent fashion until the 21st minute when he was booked for his first mistake of the day - mistiming a diving tackle.
Accidentally touched the ball with his hands in the opening moments of the second half, with the Shrews players seeing second yellow-card pleas turned away. Managed to clear the ball away from the ensuing free-kick on the stretch.
Slid in well to clear away a dangerous cutback into the box in the 71st minute. Did his best work in the air though, making important challenges and touches away with his head as Reading looked to finish the game out.
Showed good pace in the final two minutes of the game to snuff out the threat of a ball over the top.
Andre Garcia: 5
Often ended up high up the field thanks to his positioning on set-plays. Got back to block a ball out for a corner in the 23rd minute when Shrewsbury had a good spell in the first half. Couldn’t really affect the game in possession, most notably miscuing a pass out to Savage in the 31st minute.
Withdrawn at half-time.
Lewis Wing: 7
A little sloppy with his passing in the opening half as Reading struggled to control possession. Drove a free-kick on the half-hour mark straight into the hands of the ‘keeper, not giving a Reading head a chance to intervene.
Threaded his first decent pass through to Knibbs shortly after, with Knibbs unlucky not to draw a foul. Seconds later he seized the lead for Reading from well outside the box (as he does). Hit it low with a wicked curve on it, and was rewarded with the ball squirming under the ‘keeper.
Let the ball slip by him thinking there was somebody in behind at the start of the half, unfortunately allowing the run in behind that became the equaliser.
Picked up his second goal involvement of the evening with an assist on Campbell’s third for Reading. Wing arrived late in the counter-attack before sliding it across the box into space for Campbell to hit.
Harvey Knibbs: 7
Took over the ball on a counter-attack in his half and drove into Shrewsbury’s half well, before playing a nice ball in behind to Ehibhatiomhan, leading to an early chance.
Made a fantastic high win in the 24th minute, and drove forward dangerously but couldn’t find a pass.
Continued to win the ball in similarly brilliant ways in the second half, and was crucial to many of the attacks in which Reading got a shot off. Won the ball notably in the build-up to Campbell’s goal, before driving it forward to the winger.
Charlie Savage: 6
Had a couple of early misfires, getting caught in two minds between a cross and a shot when he had time on the edge of the box early, and then ran it out of play a minute later.
Struggled with his challenges in the first half, giving away a pair of free-kicks and eventually getting booked for a late ice hockey check into the ground.
Played a great ball out to Ehibhatiomhan in space for Reading’s second goal and grew in confidence after it, finishing the game with good energy and some impressive passing.
Chem Campbell: 7
Started on the left side for possibly the first time this season. Made a decent run into the box midway through the half but didn’t do a whole lot else in the first half.
Moved back out to the right-hand side in the second half when Wareham came on. Won a free-kick and a yellow card for his full-back out there within 15 minutes of the change. Should have scored when he was set free in the box by Wareham in the 65th minute but slid it wide. A minute later he forced a good save out of the ‘keeper with a strong effort after cutting inside.
Went one better to pick up Reading’s third, slamming the ball into the net off the ‘keeper’s standing foot from Wing’s low cross.
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 7
Did well in an early clearance from the box to win the ball and then run the length of the pitch in the counter-attack.
Came out from his position to recycle play pretty well a few moments later, showing more aerial presence than recently. At other times his touch couldn’t quite stop the ball, but he didn’t get much to work with in the opening half hour.
Scrapped well to win the ball over the top and eventually get himself taken down for a good free-kick chance for Reading in the 40th minute. From the ensuing corner, Kelvin spun and put the ball across box, finding himself really unlucky not to end up with an assist.
Moved out to the left side after Wareham came on and scored an absolutely fantastic goal, proving why he’s so useful out there. Wareham picked up on a great ball from Savage to win his one-on-one with his full-back before cutting across the Shrewsbury box and slamming home.
Withdrawn in the 78th minute for Bodin.
Mamadi Camara: 5
Started on the right side tonight in a continuation of the final half-hour vs Wycombe. Did really well to speed towards the line and get a cross off from Mbengue’s ball into the box.
Did well to calmly win the ball on the edge of the box from a long throw, but then bizarrely squib-kicked it back to the opposition. Ran gamely in the first half, recovering a sloppy Wing pass well in the 30th minute. Eventually found himself in the book for being a bit over-eager (read: late) in the 39th minute.
Came so close to scoring in a frantic end to the half, seeing his close low shot miraculously blocked over the bar.
Quite lucky to not be sent off right at the end of the first half when he dived in and tripped his man. Got away with a talking to and a prominent single raised finger from the referee. Withdrawn at half-time to protect the team from a sending-off.
Subs
Kelvin Abrefa: 6
Came on at half-time for Garcia and went out to the left. Caught in a miscommunication with Wing for Shrewsbury’s equaliser almost immediately after coming on.
Wasn’t as positive on the ball as Garcia but still helped it find its way forward enough, and was more solid defensively.
Jayden Wareham: 7
Tracked back really well just before the hour mark to delay a dangerous attack from Shrewsbury. Did really well to draw both central defenders when he won the ball high, making space for a Campbell shot that the winger should have scored from.
Did really well to latch onto Campbell’s ball forward and keep the play going for what would eventually turn into Reading’s third goal. Smartly moved it on quickly to Wing rather than delaying.
Smartly recycled the ball again from a Savage ball forward in the last 10 minutes, helping Reading to see out more time with the unselfish play.
After putting in so much hard work through the half, you could forgive him his attempt at the bicycle kick in extra-time. Got right back to it though, helping create the disallowed fourth goal.
Despite being on for half the game, Wareham’s raw number of touches and touches in the box exceeded Sam Smith’s per-90 average figures for Reading this season.
Billy Bodin: N/A
Came on late and went out to the right side, pushing Chem back to the left. Scored a deft little chip over the ‘keeper but saw his effort ruled out for offside.
Tom Carroll and Tivonge Rushesha: N/A
Came on with fewer than five minutes to go. Pretty solid in terms of keeping possession.
Average: 6.46/10
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