Reading 2-1 Bradford City: Player Ratings

Joel Pereira: 6

Showed fantastic footwork in the 18th minute, successfully corralling a horribly bouncing backpass before Cruyff-turning the onrushing attacker and calmly finding a midfielder. Punched away a cross-come-shot from Bradford in the 35th minute.

Couldn’t make his hands strong enough to stop the high shot for Bradford’s opener. The ball did swerve a bit, but he could have done better. Stood tall late on as Reading saw the win out despite Bantams pressure.

Ryan Nyambe: 5

Played often as a right-sided wing-back in this game. Still worked hard defensively though – made an absolutely crucial intervention when he was the last man, sliding in to intercept a searching through ball. Occasionally a little sloppy on the ball in the first half, struggling in particular when he had to progress it up the right flank.

Didn’t make it back out of the tunnel for the second half, replaced by Andy Yiadom at the interval.

Paudie O’Connor: 6

Decent in the air as usual in the first half, defending on the right side of a back three when Reading went into a low back five. Helped Reading clear the ball out when Bradford had dribbled it all the way to the near post. 

Dez Williams: 6

Got an important block on an early drive from Bradford, clearing it out for a corner. Booked when he had to scythe down a man in the final third to prevent a shot. Mostly though, covered well when Ward needed help on his left side.

Improbably got his foot to a corner at the back post, but saw the ball bounce agonisingly over the net. Replaced by Finley Burns in the 79th minute.

Benn Ward: 7

Defended his left side very professionally, and used his strength and height well to dominate in the air. Strode all the way through into the box at one point early in the second half, almost sliding it into a striker.

Shows good vision when on the ball, often managing to slip the ball through seams along the ground. Played one particularly good ball to Randell Williams on the hour mark.

Lewis Wing: 6

Found space on the edge of the box midway through the first half, but sent his first long-range attempt so high it almost reached Swindon. Played some absolutely fantastic punches through the lines in the first half, finding both Kamari Doyle and Randell Williams in a wealth of space. Quieter in the second half, though he had one shot from range deflected for a corner.

Liam Fraser: 5

Sloppily passed the ball out when Reading were trying to build up after Pereira’s first-half Cryuff-turn. Made up for that mistake with a nice move across his body to continue the next build-up. Drove onto a back pass from Savage and made it all the way to the final third, feeding Doyle for a shot.

Like his double-pivot partner he was quieter after the break, and was withdrawn for Matt Ritchie in the 79th minute.

Kamari Doyle: 6

Buzzed around early and tried to help Ehibhatiomhan get into the game. Slipped him into space in the centre of the box early. Turned his man in midfield midway through the first period to open up space. Fed Wing for a shot in a good location shortly after.

Able to find space in-between the lines in the 31st minute, picking up Wing’s punch and driving forwards to set Ehibhatiomhan up for a shot. 

Given his own chance to shoot shortly after the break but looped his effort over the bar. Faded thereafter and he was withdrawn for Sean Patton in the 79th minute, but he still ended the game having made more chances than anyone else in the side (three of seven).

Charlie Savage: 5

Took a lot of corners and set-pieces today and clearly had the instruction to hang it close to the goalkeeper. Couldn’t quite find a man around the tall ‘keeper though. Really struggled to get into the game in open play – not able to win the ball in the air when it was pumped forward, so often seeing it sail over his head. 

He did however come up with another assist, whipping in the cross that Matt Ritchie nodded home for 2-1 late on.

Randell Williams: 4

Struggled a bit to get into the game in the first half hour, and took a whack to the ankle. Often defended as the left-sided wing-back, with Reading going to a back three when deep in their half. Put through by Ward shortly after the hour mark on the left side, but couldn’t get around his full-back.

Cleared the ball directly to Pennington, and then didn’t close him down quick enough, allowing the centre-back time to step up and strike the ball home for the opening goal.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 4

Came in to replace Marriott, who looks to be injured for a while, given Patton’s recalling. Given a great chance to shoot by Doyle early but waited too long. Put himself about admirably in the opening half and did show a good sense of where to go to find shots – getting another off when Doyle drove through the centre.  

Faded in the second especially off the ball, unable to win it when he got into a one on one.  

Subs

Andy Yiadom: 5

Came on at half time to replace Nyambe on the right side. Spent a lot of his early time on the field camped deep in his half, and joined the crew unsuccessfully pumping long balls over the top.

Matt Ritchie: 7

Seemed to be operating as a central midfielder when he was introduced, but provided key moments from out wide and in the area to help turn the game around. Put in a good cross for the equaliser, although the poor defensive header set up Paddy Lane, and rose above the defender to meet Savage’s cross and head home for 2-1.

Finley Burns: 6

Replaced Dez Williams at centre-back for the second game running and didn’t do anything wrong, helping Reading see out the points late on.

Sean Patton: 6

An encouraging home league debut for the young Irishman, who was brought on to play alongside Ehibhatiomhan for the final 11 minutes of normal time. Put himself about well – a little too eagerly at one point, going into the book for a late challenge – even if he didn’t have the involvement in front of goal he’d have liked.

Paddy Lane: N/A

He has to officially get an N/A, as per TTE rules meaning no-one gets a rating if they’re introduced past the 80th minute, but that shouldn’t hide his contribution today. Demonstrated really good technique to slam home a loose ball for 1-1, and later showed tenacity on the wing in the build-up to the winner, setting up Savage for the crucial assist. Would have been a 7/10.

Average: 5.6/10

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