Lincoln City 2-0 Reading: Player Ratings

Abysmal (adjective): extremely bad or of a very low standard.

Joel Pereira: 7

Not at fault for the first goal, actually making a good save initially from the header. Generally dealt well with what came his way afterwards, although Lincoln City’s finishing was poor.

Came up trumps with an excellent save to tip a goal-bound shot onto the post in the second half, but the hosts eventually found a way through for a second time when Reeco Hackett was given the freedom of the city of Lincoln to convert a cross.

Michael Craig: 4

Struggled defensively all afternoon and, in truth, looked a bit lost without the experience and covering ability of Amadou Mbengue next to him to help out. Lost his man for the second, with Hackett ghosting in behind him, although he wasn’t the only one at fault for that goal.

Craig’s lack of quality in possession was summed up somewhat in the second half when, with the ball going out near him for a Reading throw, he booted it into touch for a Lincoln throw. Badly needs Mbengue back for the next game.

Louie Holzman: 3

Looked a bit shaky in the first half at centre-back before being caught the wrong side of the ball by Ben House, then taking him down outside the area and being sent off. It was just a moment of switching-off, but he had to be sharper there, and Reading’s already-uphill struggle was made even more difficult by going down to 10.

Tyler Bindon: 6

Had a similar afternoon to the Blackpool game: again looking like the only competent and composed defender in an otherwise wayward unit. Put in some key blocks, particularly in the second half, to keep the score down.

Andre Garcia: 4

Had a torrid afternoon defensively, starting early when he was beaten at the back post for the header in the build-up for the opener. Added some quality going forwards in the first half from left-back - more so than Craig on the other side - but understandably this fell off when Reading went down to 10 men.

Beaten by his opposing winger three times in the second half, letting him into dangerous crossing space around Reading’s box. Wisely withdrawn for Abraham Kanu.

Harvey Knibbs: 4

Didn’t really have much more creativity or impact than his fellow central midfielders, but he put himself about out of possession a bit better than they did. Managed a tame effort in the second half which didn’t trouble the ‘keeper, but did at least give us our first shot of the game. Eh, it’s something at least.

Lewis Wing: 3

His worst showing in a Reading shirt. Usually on a Wing off day you at least get some composure in possession and a nominal attacking/creative threat, but all of that was absent. Sloppy too and offered little protection for the defence.

Charlie Savage: 3

Sloppy, ineffective, didn’t bring any quality to the midfield. His afternoon was summed up by an odd moment in the second half when, with the ball on the left in his own half, Savage passed it backwards towards the corner into space... only there wasn’t a teammate there. As with Wing, even on an off day you expect him to bring his own threat - in this case long shots - but we didn’t get that from Savage today.

Chem Campbell: 4

While he didn’t get a lot of service from a poor midfield before or after the red card, Campbell didn’t do enough with the ball when he got it. Sloppy (there’s that same word again), uninventive and eventually withdrawn for Jayden Wareham.

Sam Smith: 5

‘Feeding off scraps’ would be putting it too kindly - Smith had almost literally nothing to work with today. Worked pretty hard throughout, with his job getting even harder when Reading went down to 10, and should have had a penalty when he got through on goal (at 0-0) and was barged over.

Mamadi Camara: 5

I’d have probably marked Camara down a bit more if he’d been on the pitch for longer, but to be fair, he was only poor for the 37 minutes before he had to be withdrawn for Dean when Holzman was sent off. At least he managed a decent moment of quality in that time, playing Smith through in a move that should have ended with a penalty.

Subs

Harlee Dean: 5

Played most of the game due to replacing Camara in the first half after Holzman was sent off. Added a bit of calm at the back and even tried his hand at a few long throws in the second half, but he was caught out for the second goal, having no idea of the player making the run in behind him.

Abraham Kanu: 5

Replaced Garcia at left-back just after the hour mark as Noel Hunt looked to shore up his left-hand side. Did that OK enough, looking more convincing than Garcia had.

Jayden Wareham: 10

In a game in which Reading looked barely capable of picking up the proverbial banjo, let alone hitting the proverbial cow’s arse with it, Wareham actually managed a good, meaningful shot on target. Great technique to meet a delivery with an acrobatic overhead kick, getting his effort goal-bound, even if the ‘keeper saved it pretty easily.

(He actually gets an N/A, as per TTE rules, as he came on in the 80th minute).

Average: 4.46/10

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