Joel Pereira: 7
Did well to punch the ball away deep in his net when he was being fouled (uncalled) in the sixth minute. Alert to slide in and pick up a ball that bobbled in the box during Plymouth’s best chance of the first
half.
Did well with his feet a few times, and saw a good amount of it in the first half as Reading tried to calm proceedings down. Leapt up to punch away a corner that almost found the top corner at the end of the first half.
May want the Plymouth goal back, with it coming from outside of the box and not too wide, however the ball did curl wickedly away from him towards the end of its flight.
If there was anything to make up for, he certainly did so moments later by scurrying down to his left to palm away Tolaj’s penalty. That turned out to be the game-changing moment in the second half with Plymouth’s resolve fading after the save.
Andy Yiadom: 6
Occasionally a couple steps behind, and booked for a classic Yiadom haul-down when his touch took him into a bad spot on the half-hour mark.
Started the game in a conservative manner similar to the Luton game, but quickly began getting higher up the field when Plymouth had a man sent off.
Got into wide space well in the second half to continue a counter-attack but couldn’t find Doyle back in the box. Couldn’t quite get close enough to the assister for Plymouth’s goal, with both players on defence covering the same player.
Paudie O’Connor: 6
A little sloppy with his feet in the early stages, bouncing a few balls off his feet limply rather than getting solid contact.
Again occasionally let himself get closed down a little too much before clearing it, leaving him with very few options, but was able to compete physically when defending throughout.
Derrick Williams: 7
Comfortable on the ball throughout the first half, stepping forward to assist Wing at times.
Redirected a second-half free-kick just wide of the far post with a cushioned header. Withdraw for Burns in the second half after he went down with injury.
Jeriel Dorsett: 6
Performed his best Tyler Bindon impression a few times when Reading were comfortable after their third goal in the first half – rolling the ball forward slowly to try to bait the press.
Worked tirelessly in the match, but was unfortunately caught behind the ball for Plymouth’s goal.
Lewis Wing: 8
Enjoyed a bracing opening 20 minutes, first putting away his third penalty of the year with aplomb, before producing a great piece of pressing play to score his second. Wing pounced on a Plymouth player who failed to look up when clearing, stealing the ball away and darting into the box.
Booked for arriving pretty late in a sliding challenge midway through. Oddly bounced a ball to Pereira on goal when Plymouth were in the box, giving the goalkeeper a tricky clearance.
Made an error to allow Tolaj in behind in the 55th minute, but recovered well, sliding in at the last moment to block the ball away. Finished his day with a lovely assist, curling the ball over the top of the defence and dropping it into Marriott’s path.
Charlie Savage: 6
Found an opportunity to shoot on the edge of the box in the 35th minute but looped it wide with his right foot. Tidy on the ball and mostly moved it on very quickly whenever it arrived with him helping Reading’s midfield stay mobile.
Had a very early chance to cut out the counter-attack for Plymouth’s goal but didn’t get enough on his challenge and was then behind the ball. Withdrawn late on for Fraser.
Kamari Doyle: 7
Got into the box from a set play early in the game, and dropped his shoulder beautifully to get space for a shot into the keeper’s legs. Scored shortly after with a really nice half volley, calmly slotting it into the side netting while wide in the box.
Earned a yellow card for Mitchell in the 65th minute with a great first touch that took him around the despairing midfielder. The furthest man back on the counter for Plymouth’s first goal, but couldn’t quite cut out the pass across.
Ghosted into space countless times throughout the second half and helped create chances that should have seen Reading kill the game earlier. Was often able to get himself facing Plymouth’s goal on the turn.
Randell Williams: 6
Earned an early yellow card for his full-back when he jolted past and was reduced with a meaty sliding challenge for his troubles. Withdrawn at half-time, possibly still feeling the effects of that challenge.
Daniel Kyerewaa: 6
As is fairly usual now, Kyerewaa found himself double-marked at many points during the game, with the number 14 often dropping back a long way to stop him from being allowed a chance to run one-on-one.
Got to a ball deep into the box midway through the half, but went to control it when he could have tried to tuck it home and miscontrolled.
Played a nice one-two into the box with Ehibhatiomhan leading to a shot that needed a brave save. That preceded a lot of good linkup play between the two, with Kyerewaa making some smart outside of the boot passes forwards to Ehibhatiomhan.
Produced the worst miss of the season so far, watching Long Kelvin’s deflected shot fall in front of him and a gaping net, before whiffing it wide of the box. Admittedly, he did win the ball that started the counter-attack in the first place.
Continued to draw the attention of multiple Pligrims throughout the closing stages, keeping them from being elsewhere on the pitch.
Jack Marriott: 7
Involved in two of the four goals, first playing assist-maker for Doyle’s goal with a great twisting header with his back to goal.
He was helped by Ehibhatiomhan coming into the middle of the pitch at half-time, giving him a little less to do off the ball.
Had to wait until the 86th minute for his first chance to shoot in the second half, but took it with aplomb, chesting the ball across his body before smashing it home on the inside of the post.
Subs
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 6
Came on at half-time as Reading changed their shape a little. Got into central space to get his first shot on the hour mark, making a little bit of space before tamely shooting into the keeper’s hands.
Bundled forwards into the box with Kyerewaa to win a corner, and then shortly after saw another shot in the box blocked in the sequence that led to Kyerewaa’s miss.
Arrived really nicely close to the halfway line to help Pereira break the ball out of defence late in the game, showing some good holdup play.
Kelvin Abrefa: 5
Came on after the first Plymouth goal and immediately gave away a penalty, getting his body shape all wrong and letting the Plymouth player get goalside before hauling him down. Got high up the field in the 77th minute and was put into a place by Doyle where he could have shot or crossed, but couldn’t hit the target.
Finley Burns: 7
Slotted into the left side of defence, replacing Derrick Williams. Looked really tidy on the ball and helped clean up one of Dorsett’s blind back passes. Shut down Tolaj well when he tried to dribble into the box in second-half injury time.
Dez’ injury looked like a moment in the game that could lead to a nasty final stage for Reading, but Burns helped put any suggestion of that to bed.
Mark O’Mahony: N/A
Came on late to help Reading see out the game. Ended a promising attack for Reading by limply sliding in and putting the ball wide when he had Doyle behind him ready to shoot.
Liam Fraser: N/A
Replaced Savage late on to provide some energy in Reading’s midfield.
Average: 6.42/10
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