Walsall 1-1 Reading (4-2 Pens): Player Ratings
Reading are poor across the board with one notable absence as they crash out of the EFL Trophy.
David Button: 3
Button was the oldest player on the pitch for Reading, and yet somehow made the most rookie mistake of the night. The veteran ‘keeper spent much of Reading’s 70% of possession in the first half well up the pitch, something that came back to haunt him.
Button came comically far off his line to try to clean up a ball over the top already being contested by the defence. Mistiming his tackle, he chopped down the Walsall player and was sent off for his troubles.
Just a few minutes earlier Button had given a warning sign by coming when he had successfully made the challenge before heading it away.
Made a few stops in the first half, but none of them will be the remembered play for Button in this game.
Ashqar Ahmed: 3
Sloppy in possession of the ball tonight, and though he carried some threat with his running, mostly couldn’t take the ball past more than one man without losing it. Allowed his full-back to get in behind a few too many times tonight, leading to him having to recover and make risky tackles.
Found himself sent off late in the game for a second yellow card, lunging and bringing down his man when he may have been the last man back in any case. May have given away a goal if he hadn’t, and was frustrated as he walked off the pitch.
Harlee Dean: 5
Interesting to see Dean for a full 90 minutes today, if only to see his match fitness. Dean made some mistakes in possession in the first half, as did many of the Reading team, but was able to get some crucial blocks and cross clearances as Walsall took 12 shots in the first half.
Helped Norcott after he came on, ensuring he took as much time as possible when Reading were trying to see the game out.
Louie Holzman: 6
Probably Reading’s best player on the night, and Walsall could have broken through in the first half without his influence. Made several crucial blocks though he was guilty of some of the sloppy play in possession.
Likes to play long diagonal balls from the centre-back positions, and tried it several times in the first half, but couldn’t find an aerial challenge to match the quality of the pass from the forward players.
Scored his penalty with authority, doing everything Reading needed tonight.
Andre Garcia: 4
Was dispossessed consistently in the first half, often leading to Walsall having the chance to immediately attack Reading’s third. Found himself the only player capable of progressing the ball down the field with his legs, but often overran it and lost the ball.
With Garcia having started a good number of League One games it’s easy to forget his age made him young even among tonight’s Reading team. Garcia played “up”, acting as though he had responsibility to take care of the playmaking for Reading tonight but just felt as though he was trying to do too much.
Michael Craig: 5
Played in midfield for only the second time this season, but was often in spaces that he frequently finds himself in as a right-back. Useful in short play but couldn’t find too many targets downfield.
He was one of the few experienced players on the field and was more comfortable in possession than many others, but couldn’t produce enough in the first half to start moves into the final third, usually giving that responsibility to Savage. Withdrawn in the second half.
Charlie Savage: 5
One of the few Reading players who could find a pass forward in the first half, and Reading’s left side was more productive in the few times they went forward. Did also give the ball away with a few speculative balls over the top to Reading’s wide players, but Reading struggled to get ample challenges from those players in the first half.
Withdrawn at half-time with an eye on the weekend.
Tyler Sackey: 5
Struggled to get much going with Osho for large periods of the game and was sloppy in possession at many times. Had Reading’s best chance of the game ahead of the first goal, getting into space in the box to get a shot off, but slicing it wide.
Corrected the mistake shortly after when he made the intervention that almost led to Reading booking their passage through the cup. Arriving in a scramble in the box, Sackey was the only player able to direct the ball up and out of the melee, eventually finding the top-left corner.
Booted the ball clear a few times in the final moments and unlucky to ultimately be on the losing side.
Emmanuel Osho: 4
Not at the races today and really struggled in his battle with the Walsall full-back. Unable to win a challenge in the air, and Reading’s sloppiness behind him on the field led to Osho not getting many chances with the ball at his feet.
He was useful late in the game when he had to drop back to cover where Ahmed had been playing, at right-back. Won the ball back in the box a few times but couldn’t clear it away far enough to stop it coming right back at Reading.
Jayden Wareham: 5
Had a poor first half, with the ball often bouncing off him when Reading tried to play into him. Came into the game more in the second, especially after Reading had players sent off.
Helped to create Reading’s best chance before their goal, squaring it across the box for Sackey to get a clear shot away. Took down the ball well with a beautiful touch late in the game and won Reading a free-kick with five minutes to go to help them break out of their own half.
Unfortunately ended his night by missing his penalty. Took the responsibility to step up first but didn’t get his shot far enough into the corner.
Mamadi Camara: 4
Enjoyed a few good interactions with Savage down the left but gave the ball away as consistently as the rest of the frontline. In one particular moment he tried to move the ball forward and lost it but was then gifted it back. Camara then tried the same move again which again... didn’t work. That typified his evening.
Subs
Charlie Wellens: 5
Gave Reading a lift in the second half with his energy in the challenge: Savage had been weaker in the challenge after his yellow card. Missed his penalty, putting it almost in the same spot that Wareham had just missed in.
Jay Senga: 5
A little tidier moving the ball forward than Craig had been in the game to that point when he came on. Mostly asked to defend, especially once Reading were down to nine men, and cleared a few balls out of the box.
Tom Norcott: 6
Forced on for Reading in unusual circumstances with Button getting sent off, Norcott had a nervy first five but quickly calmed down. Punched away several crosses into the box and, though Walsall’s finishing left something to be desired, Norcott was able to catch and smother multiple efforts on goal in the final 15 minutes.
Took large swathes of time out of the game and earned Johnson a yellow card with a cheeky bit of gamesmanship for the ref. Didn’t have to make a truly excellent save and couldn’t have been expected to save the close range equaliser.
Abraham Kanu: 5
Got a few headed clearances away from deep within the box despite coming on with not long to go. Unfortunately he couldn’t keep track of Johnson for his last minute equaliser but wasn’t the only one.
Got his penalty up into the top corner enough to beat the ‘keeper and keep Reading alive in the shootout.
Average: 4.6/10
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