Reading 2-4 Barnsley: Player Ratings
Grades from a final-day defeat to the Tykes.
Joel Pereira: 7
Alert within the first 60 seconds to make a decent save low down. Tipped a flick over the bar in the 19th minute to make sure Reading didn’t concede, and followed it up in the next play by bursting out to clean up a weak back pass.
Made an absolutely priceless save in first-half injury time, getting his full body low quickly to block a huge amount of the goal from a one-on-one.
Filmed a late audition tape for the upcoming Superman film with a flying punch out from his net just after the break. Couldn’t keep out the hard low shot for Barnsley’s opener but was forced to save from a player in acres of space and room to pick out a finish. Not at fault for the other goals, needing more help from his defenders.
Kept the scoring to four away goals when he made a big one-on-one stop following some poor defending from Camara. This would have been a heavier defeat were it not for Pereira.
Tivonge Rushesha: 5
Broke inside nicely in the opening stage, playing a give-and-go with Chem Campbell. Beaten on the wing near his box, allowing the man in and a dangerous cross to wrap across the front of the goal. Stepped forward well just before the half-hour mark, nipping the ball away and skipping around a defender before earning a free kick.
Caught very much out of position for the opening goal, and was taken off five minutes later for Andy Yiadom.
Amadou Mbengue: 5
Almost got on the end of Wing’s early set play into the box, but couldn’t quite find a connection. Caused danger afterwards with his long throw. Dallied on the ball a little too long midway through the first half and dribbled into trouble, conceding a dangerous attack to Barnsley but also filled the first half with clearances.
Given a two-vs-one to defend for the opening Barnsley goal, which he was always going to struggle with. Not tight enough to the goalscorers for the Tykes’ second and third goals, and generally didn’t look as assured all round as he usually does.
Tyler Bindon: 6
Alert to cut out a dangerous cross in the 10th minute, guarding the front post well. Cleaned up his own mistake in the 15th minute when he was caught on the halfway line, but recovered with pace. Forced to deliver long a lot of times in a scrappy first half, but did so with decent accuracy, hitting the target 50% of the time.
A tough second half defensively and unlucky to see his clearance fall to a Barnsley player for 4-1. Not at fault overall as other defenders around him.
Andre Garcia: 5
Stepped up into the left half space numerous times when Barnsley were forced back, but found himself in his own half a lot in the opening half. Allowed the ball to drop over his head for Barnsley’s second, and was unable to stop the cross across the face of goal.
A difficult afternoon for him defensively and he was withdrawn for the returning Jeriel Dorsett in the 82nd minute.
Lewis Wing: 7
Forced the ‘keeper into a good save in the opening five minutes when the ball pinballed out after a corner. Couldn’t find the target with a free-kick he got up and over the wall a little after. Stepped in well defensively deep in his own box when Barnsley provided some threat early on.
Made one particularly impressive challenge from behind when Reading were caught out by Mbengue being out of position.
Got Reading back into the game in the second half, showing good anticipation to run onto the ball that pinballed into the box, and slotting it calmly into the bottom corner. Essentially added an assist late on when his inswinging corner was eventually put into the net by Billy Bodin.
Charlie Savage: 5
Showed that he was up for it in the opening moments of the game, racing into the far corner to win the ball high up. Made a fantastic delivery into the box in the 25th minute but had unfortunately drifted offside. Whipped a decent free-kick just beyond the post on the half-hour mark.
Not impactful enough in a second half in which Barnsley increasingly took control, and taken off late on for Tom Carroll.
Harvey Knibbs: 5
Helped Reading drive the ball out of their half a few times early on when Barnsley had reached Reading’s box. Almost scored from a low Savage cross in the first half, although he was offside. Like Savage he didn’t impact the game enough in the second half.
Chem Campbell: 5
Managed to get into space out on the right in the early stages to deliver a cross into the box but nobody was on his wavelength at the near post. Competed with his full-back well and began to get the measure of him as the first half went on.
Switched to the left wing shortly before the hour mark, but didn’t make much of an impact in his remaining time on the pitch before coming off for Mamadi Camara on 82 minutes.
Jayden Wareham: 6
Made his first good contribution in the 17th minute, knocking down a ball while being knocked around himself, and springing an attack with a clever flick.
Hustled and outfought his man to win space for a shot in the 35th minute but couldn’t turn the volley on target. Started another attack by sheltering a ball that was played down the side of the box. Won the ball back for Wing’s goal for Reading midway through the second half with a sliding challenge to block the clearance.
Worked hard but generally lacked service himself though in a difficult afternoon all round.
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 5
Reached the byline in the first 15 minutes but was muscled off it easily. A little wasteful when given a chance to run at the opposition by Wareham in the first half.
Produced a nice knockdown for Knibbs to chase just after the half-time break, resulting in a free-kick for Reading. Unable to produce much more than that though and found himself withdrawn for Bodin just before the hour mark.
Subs
Andy Yiadom: 6
Came into the game and almost immediately found himself booked after shunting down a man running into Reading’s half. Looked pretty composed after then though and looked to get forward confidently down the right wing.
Billy Bodin: 7
One of his livelier, sharper performances for Reading, looking positive in the half-hour or so he had on the pitch. Played in Wing for the Royals’ first of the afternoon and netted the last goal of the season when slamming home from close range for 2-4.
Jeriel Dorsett, Mamadi Camara and Tom Carroll: N/A
None were on the pitch long enough to get a grade, though it was great to see Dorsett back from injury at long last.
Average: 5.69/10
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