Reading 1-0 Stockport County: Player Ratings

5 days ago 2

Joel Pereira: 6

Not called into action with his hands in the first half but had to be alert with his feet, and made some decent switches of play at the very back of Reading’s buildup. Rushed out to clear away a sloppy backpass midway through the half.

Picked up his first save early in the second half, easily scooping up a header into the ground. Fell on another low shot to his near post shortly after.

Andy Yiadom: 6

Lost the ball in his own third with a dribble inside the field, but made up for it by blocking the resulting shot.

Chipped a lovely first time ball over the top in the final third, giving Wing a chance to volley in the box.

The system asks Yiadom to sit higher up the field than Dorsett on the other side, however the space in behind Yiadom was often an issue in this game, and an area in which Stockport looked to build attacks.

Looped a really nice cross over the top to the back post for Marriott and Kyerewaa to attack early in the second.

Finley Burns: 7

Saw a lot of the ball in the first half as Reading dominated possession and was mostly pretty tidy on the ball, while also tying Dorsett as the defender with the most passes into the final third.

Marshalled Stockport’s attackers well in the opening stages, rushing out wide to prevent crosses when Yiadom was higher up the field. Slid in with perfect timing in the 36th minute, ending a Stockport attack before it could develop.

Made a few really important clearances and blocks early in the second half as Stockport had some good pressure. Cleared out Stockport’s final two attacks in a display typical of his day overall.

Paudie O’Connor: 6

Had a shaky early moment for the second game in a row, mishandling a ball at chest height and allowing a Stockport player to run in behind. Was lucky to have his blushes spared by Dorsett’s excellent recovery. Paid Dorsett back by stepping in strongly in the box to stop Fevrier after he’d gone by the left-back.

Booked when his arm went over the back of a player’s head… and for his reaction to the ref calling it a foul.

Jeriel Dorsett: 7

Stood between Reading and an early deficit when he raced back to clean up O’Connor’s mistake. Dorsett made up around 10 yards in the run-back to harry the striker and force him into an ineffective shot.

Tasked with the dangerous Fevrier throughout, and only allowed him past once throughout the game, getting bailed out by O’Connor that time.

Good going forward. Punched a really nice ball through the lines for Doyle to attack the box with on the half-hour mark. Close to a late cross across the six-yard box but couldn’t get the winning touch. Laid off the ball beautifully for Wing to smash home late in the game.

Lewis Wing: 7

Solid but relatively quiet in the first half. Moved the ball on the floor more than he can. Had the ball drop over his shoulder when he made a good run into the box late in the first half, but volleyed the tough effort wide.

Sat at the base of a Reading press that relieved Stockport of the ball early in their build-up several times. Had the best chance of the game before his late winner – Wing picked up the ball in the box when Stockport were stretched open in the 85th minute, but held it just a half second too long, smashing it into the block.

Won the game for Reading with an exceptional drive from outside of the box minutes later. Reading’s captain took the net off its moorings with a shot into the roof of the net, giving the keeper no chance with the amount of raw power generated.

Charlie Savage: 6

Returned to the lineup with a crunching sliding tackle in midfield to take the ball away from Stockport. Looped a nice switch over the field for Kyerewaa early on, and slipped the ball through to Doyle in a dangerous space for a chance to run at Stockport’s box.

Slipped Kyerewaa into the final third with a chance to run at the defence early in the second half. Pushed higher up the field when Fraser replaced Doyle in the second half. Smashed a shot at the goal shortly after but saw it fall just wide of the post.

Kamari Doyle: 6

Reading’s most creative player in the first half. Drifted around especially in the left half space, looking for a bit of room to turn. Took the ball from Savage on one such turn and found Kyerewaa in the box for a shot.

Took another great ball from Dorsett on the turn to get running towards the box again, but held it too long before threading it through for Marriott.

Stole the ball away more than a few times in the first half with Reading’s press starting to look a little more dangerous in the first half, but couldn’t find the same gear in the second half and was withdrawn.

Matt Ritchie: 5

Drifted into spaces to receive really well in the first half but didn’t do enough with it once he had it. Saw the ball bounce off his feet repeatedly or lost in 50/50 challenges. Put into the box in the 38th minute, but only found Stockport legs with his low cross.

Has a good understanding with Marriott and usually does his best work when those two interact on the field. Withdrawn on the hour mark for Randell Williams

Jack Marriott: 4

Got his first chance to shoot on the half-hour mark, but saw it blocked away (admittedly could and probably should have been put through earlier). Wasted a late Reading attack in the first half by twice losing the ball in the final third.

Had up and down moments in his own box in the second half, getting in front of one shot, but also giving away a corner with a risky backwards header. Looked tired today after a long holiday period and couldn’t impact the game in the same way.

Daniel Kyerewaa: 5

Came into the game after the 10-minute mark. Helped earn Reading a corner with his first one-on-one out wide, and broke into the box for a shot on his right foot shortly after.

Worked hard to get back when Stockport had opportunities to counter-attack in Reading’s first half spells of possession.

Went down in the box early in the second half but probably made it too easy for the referee to wave off. Struggled a little with the defenders on the left side and moved to the right when Williams came on. Overall not his day today.

Subs

Liam Fraser: 6

Played the last half hour of the game in the double pivot with Wing.

Randell Williams: 6

Joined the game on the left wing, returning for his first appearance since Boxing Day.

Made a weak clearance when he had time at one stage, keeping Stockport on the attack. Really good in the dying stages, providing a lot of energy when Reading had opportunities to poke holes in Stockport’s buildup and getting a shot off in the box with a big run past the full-back.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 6

Replaced Marriott down the middle for the closing stages. Did well to win the ball high up the field in the 83rd minute, but lost it again in the ensuing scrap.

Showed great vision minutes later to switch the ball across the field when Stockport were stretched, gifting Wing with a fantastic chance to shoot on goal.

Average: 5.92/10

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