Joel Pereira: 6
Couldn’t get to the driven cross ahead of Jayden Wareham to cut out the goal, but will have expected much more from his defenders. Made a strong punch out from a corner when he was being jostled midway
through the first (and ended up in the net for his troubles)
Gathered in a tame shot from Higgins at the end of the first half. Started to pull up with an injury early in the second half, and needed a stoppage after sliding out alertly to clean up a defensive miscommunication. Didn’t appear to get over the injury decisively as the game went on.
Made some decent punches out from crosses and set plays, but skewed a late one up and over the bar for a followup corner. Made his way to a final cross and almost spilled it, but did well to soldier on to the end through clear discomfort.
Ashqar Ahmed: 6
Took an early knock to the jaw and required a bit of treatment. Then harried the defender as he made the mistake for the opener. Mixed aerially, but was able to strongly win in the air from a corner and starting to use his physicality well defensively. Can occasionally make a rash decision, but lets the winger know he’s there.
With two deep pivots in the 4-2-3-1, Ahmed found himself as a high wide option when Reading went forwards. Had some decent moments, and made himself a part of Reading’s better second half.
Finley Burns: 6
Ran with Wareham for the goal but couldn’t get to the ball first. Other mistakes had been made in the move earlier though, and Burns made some good interventions in the first half. Caught trying to force a few passes, but did break the lines a few times.
Very steady alongside O’Connor in the second half, when Reading improved.
Paudie O’Connor: 7
Made his first league appearance for Reading on the left side of defence. Tried to cover when Jacob gave the ball away for Exeter’s opener but couldn’t keep up with the ball to cut out the driven cross.
Looked to be struggling to match fitness a little (understandably), arriving at another first-half cross behind Wareham. Massively improved as the game went on though and began to physically dominate.
Got very little movement in front of him when in possession and was reduced to launching it long when under pressure in the first half.
Started the second half well, stepping in to clear away a dangerous passing move that made it all the way to the six-yard box. Had the beating of Exeter’s attackers in the second half, using his body to keep them at bay. Met a late free-kick in the Exeter box but put his header wide. A pretty tidy competitive debut against an admittedly weak attack.
Matty Jacob: 5
Sloppily gave the ball away for the transition that led to Exeter’s opening goal. Tried to get back, but could only bobble the ball into the path of Jayden Wareham.
Found by the ball in the middle of the box when a set play was nodded in his direction, but flashed his effort over the bar and over the Reading fans. Helped the Royals move the ball forwards in the better second half, just had two crucial mistakes at the sharp ends of the pitch.
Lewis Wing: 6
Lumped the ball forwards for the mess that ended in Marriott’s early goal. Not able to help Reading put a foot on the ball and seize a period of possession in the first half, with some sloppy passes going straight out of bounds.
Finished the first half in similar mixed fashion, giving away a free-kick outside Reading’s box, but then following it up with a nice cross-body ball through the lines.
Found Doyle with a really nice ball over the top in the move that led to Marriott’s miss over the top. Had a few nice sequences in the second half but often had to start so far back. Whipped a free-kick in early to win a corner smartly in injury time.
Charlie Savage: 6
Often forced to sit incredibly deep in the 4-2-3-1, which feels as though it takes him out of position to affect the game more and at times has him acting as a secondary Wing.
Defended outstandingly in the 41st minute when Reading were cut open, running back and somehow managing to bundle it to Pereira with a poked tackle. Made some nice set-piece deliveries from corners that tested the smaller size of Exeter’s keeper.
Took too long on the ball in one second half, allowing an Exeter counter-attack the other way when he had his pocket picked. Whipped a nice ball in for Ritchie to head at the back post in the second half.
Kamari Doyle: 5
Struggled to get on the ball in the first half, though he did earn a free-kick in the early stages. Got onto the ball from a Ritchie cutback finally after 34 minutes, but made a poor decision, shooting tamely into a block rather than sliding a player through. Put Marriott through into the box late in the first half.
Latched onto a ball over the top really well and whipped it quickly across goal creating a great chance for Marriott. Withdrawn after taking a hard fall to the ground shortly after. Made some good movements but ultimately Reading didn’t get the ball into his area of the pitch enough.
Matt Ritchie: 6
Probably deservedly got the start many fans had been waiting for. Made a really good strong reception of the ball and laid it back for Doyle in one of Reading’s few good creative moments in the first half.
Started the second half with a great wriggle inside, just punching his through ball a second too late for Marriott. Booked for a frustrated trip on the full back when he had won the ball from Ahmed.
Got onto a ball through the lines and drove into the final third, seeing his shot blocked. Had a chance at the back post but saw his header blocked. Withdrawn late having been Reading’s better winger on the day.
Paddy Lane: 4
Not involved in the first half.
Came out of the tunnel for the second half trying to get more involved, but gave away two fouls in the first 15 minutes, both against Pierce Sweeney.
Whipped a ball in that required a great sliding clearance from an Exeter defender late in the game.
Jack Marriott: 6
Reacted sharply to nip onto an early mistake and touch the ball home ahead of the goalkeeper, taking his tally to 6 in 6.
Reading rarely got the ball near to Marriott for the rest of the half following that, but he won a free kick with alert running in the 38th minute.
Put free by Doyle right in front of the goal but for once couldn’t find the back of the net, flashing the effort over the bar.
Took a ball to the crotch but fought on gamely. Good man.
Subs
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 5
Replaced Doyle with 20 minutes to go and played almost as a second striker to Marriott. Made some good defensive contributions but also gave away a needless free-kick deep in Reading territory.
Took a nasty knock to the head right at the end of the game.
Kelvin Abrefa: 6
Put on in the final 10 minutes on the right wing, replacing Ritchie. Touched the ball on for Marriott well in one moment that earned Reading a deep throw-in. Got bizarrely under a ball right at the 90-minute mark, slicing his cross way out of bounds.
Slid in really well to win the ball in injury time and then draw the yellow for Wareham with his direct follow-up running.
Andy Yiadom: 6
Replaced Ahmed for his first league appearance in ages. Interchanged positions with Abrefa a few times up and down the right sideline. Punched a low cross in but put it too close to the goalkeeper.
Made a really important defensive step late in injury time to stop Exeter walking into Reading’s box.
Daniel Kyerewaa and Jeriel Dorsett: N/A
Brought on with fewer than two minutes remaining in injury time.
Average: 5.71/10
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