Joel Pereira: 6
Made a fantastic catch from an extremely deep corner early in the game. Calmly dealt with a low cutback into the box, communicating with his defenders to scoop it up. Didn’t have much to do in the first half outside of the goal, with that “strike” deflecting in off Sweeney’s shins.
Given a dangerous pass back deep in his box early in the second but dealt with it very well, skipping over a challenge. Dove down on a dangerous bouncing cross in the 70th minute – a ball that could have skittered away
in the conditions. Beaten by a huge deflection for Exeter’s second goal.
Ryan Nyambe: 6
Calm on the ball in the opening half hour and helped Reading see out a few of Exeter’s early attacks, but definitely the more restrained going forward of the two full-backs in Leam Richardson’s system tonight. Managed to earn a crucial foul at a time when Reading were almost left two on one at the back.
Stood his man up really well in the 71st minute, using his pace to block the way across the box for a cross. Won a free-kick and a yellow for Woodhouse shortly after when his quick croqueta took him away from the defender.
Cleared out the initial cross into the box for Exeter’s second, but could only deflect the followup shot past Pereira.
Paudie O’Connor: 7
Tasked with handling ex-Royal Jaydon Wareham through much of the night. Slid in well at the end of the half to cut out a potentially dangerous driven low cross. Twice almost caught on the ball early in the second half, putting Pereira under pressure in his own box. Mostly as a defender though, he had Exeter’s attackers at arm’s length when one on one.
Got his chest in front of a dangerous shot from Wareham on the hour mark, blocking the ball out for a corner. Scored his first goal for Reading shortly after, reacting first to the second taking of a free-kick to nip ahead of his marker and volley it home.
Jeriel Dorsett: 5
Mistimed his jump for Exeter’s opener, allowing a free header at the back post. Almost gave the ball away when he was the last man back a minute later when he passed into the attacker’s feet but saw it bounce off.
Booked for running off with the ball before an Exeter free-kick. Won Reading a free-kick deep in second-half stoppage time, earning them a chance to get out from the back when Exeter were attacking.
Haydon Roberts: 6
Created Reading’s first great chance of the game, getting forward well and running beyond his defender to whip a cross into the danger zone for Marriott. Intercepted a ball into the seam well when Exeter were looking to get in behind again after their opener.
Ended the half with picking up another goal involvement for Reading, overlapping Doyle and threading a fantastically weighted cross into the middle of the box.
Showed good anticipation early in the second half, stepping in to end an Exeter attack as it switched across the field.
Charlie Savage: 6
Skidded one wide of the post with his right foot just after the hour mark. Started his second half with a great switch over the top of the field to Kyerewaa on the wing.
Generally better in that second period, getting in a few good tackles, and helping to move the ball up and down both sides of the field more effectively but couldn’t find a killer pass or cross today.
Lewis Wing: 6
Saw a lot of the ball but struggled to find a killer ball through the middle in a stagnant opening period for Reading’s attack. Did find players in the final third out wide multiple times but occasionally held it too long. Took a whack from Wareham on the sideline and ended up caked in mud to see out the first half.
Whipped in an excellent set piece for O’Connor’s first Reading goal, dropping it into a fantastic position for multiple Royals to attack. Skidded a low shot in from well outside of the box in injury time, before sprinting to the corner to win the ball back from the resulting play.
Daniel Kyerewaa: 6
Started out on the right again, and helped Reading win their first chance of the day, scything across the middle of Exeter’s half and finding Roberts out wide.
Won the ball back well in the 15th minute, but immediately lost it on the dribble. Again won the ball really well from and Exeter goal-kick, stylishly bringing it down with his foot to give Reading a quick turnover. Almost got in behind for a cutback on the 33rd minute but was perhaps unfairly judged offside.
Started the second half brightly with a cross from the right side but had to be withdrawn midway through the period with an injury.
Will Keane: 5
Got his first start and first goal for Reading, spending most of his evening as the second striker/10 behind Marriott. Pushed up alongside the striker out of possession when Reading went one-three-two in the press.
Went down a little too easy at times with the ball at his feet and when running through, but did come in for some stern treatment from Exeter’s defence. May have been in the referees mind when he went down in the box to penalty shouts in the 40th minute.
Drifted into a gaping pocket of space at the end of the half, and stuck out a boot to redirect Roberts’ cross onto the post and in for his first Reading goal.
Enjoyed that excellent moment, but looked for much of the rest of the game like he was lacking for match fitness a bit, with the stop-start nature of the second half not helping him.
Kamari Doyle: 5
Started on the left with Keane behind used in the central spot. Spent most of his time more central with Roberts wide left of him, but did still have to defend on the left, meaning his starting position was often wider than usual. Sent Roberts on his way for his cross into the box that led to Keane’s goal, quickly moving the ball on.
Cut inside from the left late in the game and won it back quickly when he was dispossessed in the same move, eventually finding Marriott outside in space for his best pass of the day.
Jack Marriott: 5
Extremely quiet today, getting only 13 touches of the ball. Saw his two chances come and hour apart in the game. Got ahead of the defenders early on but couldn’t quite direct Roberts’ cross beyond the keeper in a brave attempt on goal. Found some space in behind late on but seemingly dragged his left footed shot just wide before the keeper got fingertips on it.
Subs
Paddy Lane: 5
Joined the game for Kyerewaa midway through the second period, and whipped in a good cross from the right side almost immediately. Faded extremely fast though, only making one more pass all game.
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 5
Brought on first on the left before moving down the middle when Marriott left the game. Won Reading a late corner with a mazy run into the box. Came close to getting onto a ball into the box from Yiadom, but seemed to slip at the vital moment.
Liam Fraser: N/A
Brought on late to try to help Reading see the game out.
Andy Yiadom: N/A
Made a mistake that led to a turnover shortly before Exeter’s second goal. Improvised well to turn past a player in midfield before almost finding Ehibhatiomhan in the box with his early cross.
Average: 5.61/10
Who was your MOTM against Exeter City? Vote in the poll below or through this link.
(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','//scripts.poll-maker.com/3012/pollembed.js','qp');
