Joel Pereira: 5
Started the second half with a good sign of communication with Paudie O’Connor, coming far out of his goal to scoop the ball up. Caught out by the extreme loop of the first goal, having stepped out of his goal to find the cross but thinking better of it.
Made a really good save on the hour mark, getting a strong hand down to his right when Reading gave Kaikai time to shoot on the edge of the box. Could do nothing about the second Cambridge header which flew into his top left corner.
Kept Reading in the
game in the 74th minute with an iron fist down to his right to stop a firm effort.
Udoka Godwin-Malife: 6
Gets high up the field thanks to Lisbie ahead of him often seeing double teams from the full-back and winger. Skipped down the line to deliver a great cross into the six-yard box that should have found a head.
Had a lot to do defensively today so couldn’t always get up the field but defended well up against the tricky Kaikai, winning eight of his 11 ground duels.
Paudie O’Connor: 5
Did well to marshall the lanky Ahadme in the first half but had a bit more trouble in the second.
Cambridge’s gameplan of whipping endless crosses in would usually bump up against O’Connor’s aerial prowess, but for the first time in a long time, O’Connor was below the 50% line for aerial duels won today.
Benn Ward: 6
Covered nicely behind O’Connor when his partner stepped out from the line in the first half. Helped Reading find their way into the game and then push up the field toward the end of the first half with good presence on the ball.
Can be a bit flat-footed at times, and saw a few lolloping steps out from the line take him into no man’s land but does well in the air for the most part.
Conceded a corner under pressure from the press in the 70th minute with a wild stab back at Pereira. Looked to be struggling late on though still retrieved the ball deep in his own half in a challenge with the winger.
Haydon Roberts: 4
Caught out by the looping cross to the back post for Cambridge’s opener, leaving him unable to challenge the onrushing scorer.
Still looks to be finding full fitness in a Reading shirt, occasionally getting caught behind the play. Withdrawn late on as Reading looked to go more on the attack, perhaps hinting that Roberts wasn’t a big part of Reading going forward before that.
Lewis Wing:5
Put a wicked twisting ball into the sky for Marriott, fooling the defender and eventually assisting the Reading striker. Struggled to find room to shoot on the edge of the box as Reading pushed up against an increasingly deep Cambridge block in the late stages.
Tracked all the way back to his box in the final minute of the game to prevent Cambridge getting a third when they threatened to run through. Not the second half the captain would have wanted but did make a pivotal contribution to the game.
Andy Rinomhota: 5
Saw most of the ball in the opening 30 minutes of this game in which both teams combined for only six touches in the box.
That meant the ball was in the middle of the field more, giving more opportunities for Rino to play. With both teams going more direct in the second half though, Rino struggled to keep up at times and was withdrawn for Savage in the late stages.
Kyreece Lisbie: 7
Went agonisingly close to restoring Reading’s lead shortly before the hour mark when his low drive snuck just wide of the far post. Drove into the box from a Rinomhota ball forward, and smashed a powerful curling effort off the far post in Reading’s closest chance after the break.
Always looks like a threat when Reading get the ball forward, happy to traipse far across the forward line to exchange passes with Earthy and Marriott Finished the day with the most touches in the box from any outfield player
George Earthy: 7
Has developed a good partnership with Marriott, understanding when to run beyond him, and when to drop in.
All over the field in the first half, with touches deep on the right side and high up on the left side. Forced a good low save out of the ‘keeper shortly before the opening goal, and was dancing again on the edge of the box just after.
Opened the second half really well, using a nice give and go to Lisbie to get free in the box, before then nutmegging a defender in the next play.
Put Lisbie in behind in the 68th minute with a great ball forward after reading Marriott’s flick. Looks to be a consistent creative outlet for Reading and a stellar player at this level.
Paddy Lane: 6
Got up well to flick the ball on for Marriott in a sequence shortly before the opening goal for Reading. Unlucky not to score immediately following that opening goal.
Tried to volley home a tricky rising rebound but couldn’t find the frame in one of Reading’s best chances to score in the second half. Cameoed at left-back today when Jamie Reid came on for Roberts but still pushed high up the field.
Jack Marriott: 6
Made his presence known in the first half, not giving the centre-backs an easy time despite his size disadvantage and finding some success in the air.
Scored from that approach when Wing’s skyward ball forward spooked the defender like a carthorse. That left Marriott time to roll off him and scuff a finish under the keeper.
Flicked the ball back nicely for Earthy at the top of of the box for a chance that Lane was unlucky not to score from. Repeated the trick in the second half to help create a chance for Lisbie.
Almost found a second in the 51st minute with a fine drive across the goal that forced a great save at the back post, causing a scramble in the box. The only problem for Marriott is that he doesn’t seem yet able to play 90 minutes. Withdrawn for Jacob Brown in the 72nd minute,
Subs
Jacob Brown: 6
Replaced Marriott – got an early sighter away, but couldn’t dig it out of his feet enough to put power on the shot.
Seemingly hauled down in the box with the goal at his mercy late in the game, but saw the penalty shout waved away.
Clipped a really nice cross into the box that whistled past a few Reading attackers.
Randell Williams: 5
Came on for Lane in the late stages, playing out wide on the left. Went out to the right when Reid joined the fray.
Flicked Godwin-Malife’s whipped cross wide of the net shortly after his introduction. Whipped in a great ball from the right that deserved a finish.
Charlie Savage: 6
Delivered some good crosses into the box that Rino doesn’t have in his locker: a weapon Reading can bring on in games when they expect to have the majority of settled possession deep in the opponent’s half.
Jamie Reid: 5
Didn’t have many chances on the ball, touching it just three times in his 15ish minutes.
Average: 5.6/10
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