Joel Pereira: 6
Had next to nothing to do in the first half. Did take a nasty fall to create an actual genuine goalkeeper injury timeout.
With Reading taking the lead early in the second period, Notts County had to come out of their half more. Pereira still didn’t see many shots though, mostly sucking up crosses.
Made a stubborn stop on a late free-kick in a dangerous position, catching the ball in midair and holding onto it during the fall.
Udoka Godwin-Malife: 5
Not his best day in what has so far been a very impressive Reading career,
but was still solid enough to provide a platform for Lisbie to succeed from.
Got up and down the right wing well, making more passes in the Notts County half than his own.
Lucky to be bailed out by his teammates when he made a blind passback that found a Notts County forward.
That was indicative of a day in which Dokes was good in the air, but a little shakier than usual on the ground.
Paudie O’Connor: 7
Had a great day in the air, winning all but two of his aerial duels and clearing the ball out six times.
Came close to bundling a first-half cross over the line, and took a clout in the ear. Dangerous in the Notts County box throughout though, going close from a corner in the first half.
Was still getting his body (and his face) in the way of shots deep in stoppage time for the Royals. Can count himself as responsible for the clean sheet as any Reading player.
Benn Ward: 6
Tidy on the ball in a game that saw Reading have a lot of it. Moved it well to the full-backs to help Reading build attacks down the channels in the first half, especially on the counter.
Outside of one shaky moment in the first half, solid when defending as well both in the air and on the ground.
Made a fantastic sliding challenge in the box to prevent a close range shot on goal.
Haydon Roberts: 6
Probably his best performance of the season so far on both sides of the ball.
Announced himself in the 2026/27 season with a fantastic early cross into Marriott early in the second half. Swerved the ball into the box with power to serve the ball up on a plate.
Played with confidence after that, mostly camped out in the Notts County half. Roberts made 75% of his passes north of the halfway line today, showing his intent to create.
Lewis Wing: 6
Clearly up for it and went truly searching for a goal today in a way he hasn’t so far this year.
Had the most touches of any player in the first half, and took three shots in that period alone. As you would expect with Wing, those came from well outside the box, but failed to trouble the ‘keeper.
Faded more in the second half as more of the game went through Rinomhota on the other side.
Andy Rinomhota: 7
Had some good moments moving on the ball in the first half as Reading pawed their way into the game.
Had one particularly great moment when winning a foul, cutting inside and drawing a drag-back and a yellow card for the offender.
Grew into the game in the second half, proving almost impossible to tackle and providing Reading with an impenetrable spine.
Teams have grown far more accustomed to controlling the game both with and without possession in recent years. Rinomhota is a player that allows you to do both, serving as escape artist and ball recovery expert.
Intercepted the ball well in the Notts County half midway through the second, playing it forward for Marriott to strike on the half volley.
Kyreece Lisbie: 7
Barely ever passes the ball, seemingly only using that facet of his game if he thinks he has the final pass of the sequence.
Not that I’m complaining: Lisbie added to his already fine tally of assists (now four) using that method again today.
In total, just over 20% of Lisbie’s touches were passes. For context, other attackers Marriott and Lane hit around 40% .
Put in another exciting performance, always taking on his man unless he has a clearly better option.
Picked up his assist with a lovely run. From a standing start, Lisbie exploded past the full-back to reach the byline, sucking in the entire defence before chipping it up at the back post for Marriott to knock home.
Plays football with his heart on his sleeve. Celebrates good plays and bemoans decisions that go against him loudly.
Works hard though. At one stage he began protesting a decision by the technical area, and was quickly told by Leam Richardson to track back. To be fair to Lisbie, he did just that, winning the ball back and a foul.
Perhaps not surprising then that he picked up a late booking when trying to stop a cross into the Reading box.
George Earthy: 5
Had a quieter day as Reading attacked Notts County through the flanks almost entirely until Brown came on later in the game.
Perhaps because of that he struggled to settle into the game a bit, losing the ball a lot more than usual.
Helped spring a late counter-attack that should have seen out the game for Reading. Tore down the field and slipped Brown in behind with a well weighted through pass.
Paddy Lane: 6
Drifts into pockets of space really well, and was a huge part of the attacking efforts of Reading in the first half.
Managed to deliver 10 crosses into the box today for Reading, showing just how often he got free down his channel.
Opened the second half with a dangerous-looking shot that forced a save out of the ‘keeper.
Booked in the dying seconds for trying to keep the ball in the corner a little too theatrically, taking a small fall from a push.
Jack Marriott: 8
Snapped a first-half shot into a leg from just outside of the box, earning Reading a corner.
Found the ball in the air at a later corner, but saw his low effort cleared off the line.
Got Reading off the mark just after half-time, courtesy of some excellent service from Roberts. Marriott peeled off the back of the centre-back to meet the cross and thud home against the grain – giving the ‘keeper no chance.
Smashed a powerful shot at the keeper just before the hour mark, snapping the pass forward out of the air and hitting it on the half volley.
Scored his second of the day with some smart movement, holding his position at the back post as the rest of the game was dragged towards the ball with Lisbie getting to the byline. With space opening up, Marriott just had to guide Lisbie’s lofted pass into the roof of the net.
Subs
Randell Williams: 5
Entered the game and immediately won the ball back for Reading in the County half with a piece of great tracking back.
Put clean through on goal in the final 10 minutes but couldn’t find the back of the net, running at the ball a little too straight, and swerving it off the crossbar.
Jacob Brown: 6
Ran onto a through ball on the counter-attack and should have had an assist when he put the ball on a plate for Williams with no defender to cover.
Charlie Savage: N/A
Was lined up to play with five minutes left, but only ended up getting a minute.
Daniel Kyerewaa: N/A
Played just a minute at the end of the game.
Average: 6.15/10
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