Blackpool 0-3 Reading: Player Ratings

Joel Pereira: 7

Not called into any incredible heroics, but he was dependable whenever required. Made a good one-on-one stop in the first half and kept his concentration in the second.

Kelvin Abrefa: 7

Solid defensively and got forward really well. Had one shot blocked in the first half and popped up in the box a couple more times in the second, demonstrating the kind of energy and attacking confidence that are so important in what’s effectively a wingback role as the right winger tucks infield.

Paudie O’Connor: 7

Played a vital part in Reading grinding out a first away clean sheet of the season, providing the kind of physicality and authority at the back which the Royals have really lacked in previous trips to Blackpool.

Not too exposed when the hosts tried to get in behind, and did really well on one occasion in the first half to hold off Ashley Fletcher who would otherwise have had a clean run on goal.

Derrick Williams: 7

Similar thoughts to his centre-back partner really, and overall a pleasingly event-free afternoon for both of them.

Jeriel Dorsett: 6

No major problems with his performance, although I didn’t think he added as much in possession as Abrefa did on the other side – admittedly in a more withdrawn role, essentially that of a third centre-back. Taken off for Yiadom shortly after the second goal in an attempt to shore things up on that side, and the hosts had been getting more joy there after the restart.

Lewis Wing: 6

A pretty quiet afternoon for Wing, who had less of the ball in this away game, with other attacking players doing more damage. Slotted away his penalty nicely for 2-0 and did well to play Abrefa in down the right later on, but not a lot on the whole to say about him.

Charlie Savage: 6

A tidy showing but also pretty low-key, like his midfield partner. Went close with a long-range effort at 1-0, and put in a really nice cross to the back post in the second half which almost set up Abrefa for a header.

Randell Williams: 6

This was one of those odd performances when an attacking player didn’t really do a huge amount for the most part, but still popped up with a goal.

Williams was quiet on the whole, not all that involved going forwards, although he was given a new role: that of a right winger on paper, but frequently tucking infield as Abrefa overlapped. Took his goal nicely, prodding home after a couple of saves.

Kamari Doyle: 7

A really nice finish to open the scoring – just the kind of striker’s play (the movement and the shot) you always like to see in a number 10. Went close shortly after, firing over the bar on the counter, although he could have played Savage in.

A quieter second half and he was replaced by Rinomhota very late on.

Daniel Kyerewaa: 8

There’s no question: Kyerewaa was Reading’s man of the match today. Although he wasn’t a constant threat throughout the 90, he was involved in all three goals from the left wing, showing great positivity and intelligence to cut infield to devastating effect.

Set up Doyle in the first instance to give Reading the lead in the first half. Charged into the box and was felled for Wing’s penalty in the second half, and caused the initial danger for the third when his long-range shot was spilled.

All in all this was Kyerewaa’s breakout performance in a Reading shirt and will hopefully lead to similarly impressive showings in the future.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 6

A pretty familiar Long Kelvin performance. He’s still not a consistently effective striker in his all-round play to give Reading another dimension up top, but he’s doing the right things in front of goal, getting on the end of chances, and unlucky not to have scored a couple.

Played in by Kyerewaa in the first half and beat the keeper, only for his effort to be cleared by a last-ditch intervention. And he was denied in the second half by a close-range save right before Williams tucked home.

Replaced by Patton very late on.

Subs

Andy Yiadom: 7

Given a fairly easy defensive job, coming on at 2-0 to face a dispirited Blackpool side. Pulled off one moment of magic in the final third though, bursting into the box at the byline, cutting infield and firing off target.

Andy Rinomhota, Andre Garcia and Sean Patton: N/A

All came on too late to get a grade, but the former gets an honorary 10/10 for making his second Reading debut, and the latter does likewise for his first league debut.

Average: 6.6/10

Who was your MOTM against Blackpool? Vote below or through this link.

(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','//scripts.poll-maker.com/3012/pollembed.js','qp');Poll Creator