Peterborough United 1-2 Reading: Player Ratings
An excellent showing on the road earned Reading their second away win of the season.
Joel Pereira: 7
Didn't have much in the way of difficult shot-stopping to do today; no real heroics required. He controlled his box well though, giving the kind of authority at the back that really helps in tough away games such as this one. Beaten by the sheer power of Posh's consolation goal, despite the narrow angle.
Michael Craig: 7
I was torn between a 7/10 and 8/10 for Craig, who did an awful lot right today. So tenacious out of possession and calm with the ball at his feet, and he pushed forward well after the break, including whipping in a cross to set up a Smith header.
Ultimately though the hosts did get joy down his side, including for the consolation goal late on, as well as a team move earlier in the half that ended with a shot being slammed just wide of Pereira's right post.
Amadou Mbengue: 7
A bit erratic but generally good for Reading at the back today, with his recovery pace important against a Posh side looking to stretch the Royals in behind. He'd started off poorly though, gifting Peterborough the ball inside the first couple of minutes. Later played a glorious pass over the top to Knibbs in space on the left which he couldn't do anything with. Went off injured in the second half.
Tyler Bindon: 7
Classic Bindon today, oozing calm in and out of possession, providing so much composure when Reading needed to dictate play or settle things down a bit. Really good last-ditch challenge at one point in the first half.
Jeriel Dorsett: 7
A pleasingly solid and relatively quiet afternoon from Dorsett who guarded Reading's left side effectively. Got forward a bit but not as extensively as Craig on the other side.
Ben Elliott: 7
In the first half his game was more about what he provided out of possession, without adding too much creatively, bar a cross for Smith that provided an easily saved header.
More involved going forwards after the break as Reading really put their foot on the gas. He went close a couple of times - shooting over and seeing another hit well saved by the Posh goalie's footwork - as well as setting up Wareham outside the area with a quick pass after a turnover.
Lewis Wing: 7
Got stuck in well out of possession but generally not as creative as he can be. Played a really good pass in for Smith in behind in the build-up for the first goal, and probably should have done better with a chance in the second when he had room to shoot from inside the area but couldn't convert.
In games like this I'm happy for Wing to not be all that expressive or dangerous in possession. The important points are that he gives Reading control in possession and isn't exposed defensively, and both went well today.
Charlie Savage: 7
A typically energetic, all-action display from Savage in the middle of the park, helping out with Reading's aggressive midfield press. Played a lovely ball through for Knibbs to make it 2-0 and almost made it 3-0 himself with a well struck shot from outside the area which rattled the bar.
Chem Campbell: 6
A lively showing down the right wing but not quite as impactful as his fellow attacking players. Worked hard and provided a good outlet down the right particularly in the second half, but didn't have the end product he's shown in previous games. Still a sharper and generally better performance than we'd been seeing from him in his initial performances though.
Sam Smith: 7
An excellent all-round performance from Smith. Although he didn't score, he led he line well, holding the ball up and pressing from the front effectively. He was a key outlet in Reading's tougher periods too, and it's telling that the hosts grew into the game a bit when he went off.
Harvey Knibbs: 8
Mr Clinical strikes again! Knibbs is in a goalscoring purple patch at the moment, having netted twice against Newport County and once at Stevenage, and continued that today to make it five in his last three.
Reacted quickly to convert on the rebound from Smith's close-range shot, making it 1-0. Later he showed excellent composure when played through by Savage but under pressure from the defender, holding his nerve before slotting home with his weaker left foot.
Subs
Abraham Kanu: 7
Came on for the injured Mbengue in the second half and did well, playing on the left side of the pairing. Put in some important interventions and generally showed no sign of the nerves which clouded that game at Colchester United earlier in the season.
Jayden Wareham: 7
Replaced the tiring Smith and had a conflicting time on the pitch. He was less of an effective outlet for Reading up top, coinciding with Peterborough getting more momentum going forwards late on, but he was a real threat in behind. Set up Savage and Elliott for good chances after some clever movement, and put one shot from range just wide of the post after being played in by the latter of those two midfielders.
Average: 7/10
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