Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 Reading FC: Player Ratings

Ali Al Habsi: 5

Not called upon to do much except pick the ball out of the net. Could perhaps have been quicker onto Baldock and Murphy, and seemed to be waiting for them to reach him. But had no chance with Knockaert's rocket.

Chris Gunter: 4

A dull and blunt performance in attack, and not very secure in defence either. Murphy had plenty of joy running at him. Even by Gunter's standards his passing was poor, climaxing in a wild wallop into the corner aimed vaguely at McCleary.

Paul McShane: 5

Good to have the captain back. But he was out-muscled by Baldock for the first goal and probably needs a couple of games before he starts roaring again.

George Evans: 4

Much too lightweight. Tried a couple of more ambitious diagonals early in the game but when they didn't work he retreated into a safe and pointless game of passing it sideways. Lacks the arrogance to be a genuine play maker.

Liam Moore: 5

Calm and assured most of the time. Did nothing obviously wrong. But somehow lightweight as well. One of many players in the team who seemed not to be exerting the amount of fight and fierceness the occasion demanded.

Tyler Blackett: 7

My Reading man of the match. Even with the brilliant Knockaert coming at him he stood tall and firm most of the time, and managed also to maraud productively down the left producing a couple of excellent crosses. In a team that's getting worse, he's getting better.

Jordon Mutch: 4

The first time I saw him I was surprised how tall he was. And this was a game for someone to stand tall. But Mutch wasn't it. Had a couple of promising runs in the first half but disappeared in the second.

Roy Beerens: 6

One of our better players, especially in the first half when his trickery and balance created a couple of rare opportunities. The final ball let him down, as it often does, but when Roynaldo starts unleashing his step-overs there's always hope.

Danny Williams: 7

In a weak team performance, Williams put in a standout shift. Back in his preferred central position, he was always on the move and available. With a bit of luck, and a bit of better heading, he could have scored a couple of goals, and everything could have been different.

Garath McCleary: 4

Another dismal performance from McCleary. What's happened to him? Barely made a run at a defender all game and seemed caught between the roles of winger and no 10, unsure of what his contribution should be. Beerens showed him up.

Yann Kermogant: 4

Nothing worked for him. With the ball staying mostly on the ground there was not much call for his usual flicks and dabs. When he tried to muscle it with the centre halves, he got called up for fouls. And his free kick went straight into the middle of the wall.

Substitutes

John Swift: 4

Did nothing useful when he came on for Mutch. In fact he was much of a muchness. Encouraged a tiny moment of hope when he lined up a free-kick just outside the area but banged it straight into the wall.

Liam Kelly: 5

Buzzed about in typical fashion when he came on for Evans, but wasn't much of an improvement. And his intercepted pass created a clear opening for Knockaert's goal.

Lewis Grabban: 4

Don't remember a single thing he did.

Average: 4.8.

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