Wigan Athletic 0-0 Reading: Player Ratings

Anssi Jaakkola: 7

Made some crucial saves to make sure Reading went home with a clean sheet, although his distribution was unconvincing.

Chris Gunter: 4

Weak defensively and didn’t offer much going forwards. His confidence was completely lacking - not helped by a particularly unforgiving travelling contingent - and he had an afternoon to forget.

John O’Shea: 6

Solid display from the veteran who won his headers and did the simple stuff well.

Liam Moore: 6

The same as O’Shea. No scares at the back, and the clean sheet should do his confidence some good.

Tyler Blackett: 5

Not too bad defensively but, like Gunter, he didn’t get forward enough and create in the final third. Needs to be more confident and decisive in getting the ball into the box when he has the opportunity.

Andy Rinomhota: 5

Composed in possession, hard-working, and offered something different with some driving runs from midfield.

Liam Kelly: 5

Kept his spot as the deep-lying playmaker and didn’t too badly, but he needs to have a bigger impact on the game than he did.

John Swift: 4

He was presumably brought into the midfield to add some creativity, but he played far too deep for that to happen. Sloppy in possession, and too often easily muscled off the ball. Had a few pops from range in the second half.

Sone Aluko: 4

Another typically sloppy afternoon for Aluko who didn’t make enough happen. Brought off for Loader to jeers from the away end.

Yakou Meite: 5

Struggled to get into the game, with little service coming his way from his teammates. Hitting the post in the first half was the closest he came to scoring, and he was withdrawn in the second half after a tiring, fruitless afternoon.

Garath McCleary: 6

The man who looked most like making things happen for Reading on the day. Played most of the game on the left wing, often cutting inside to link up the play and drive at goal, but also stretched the play well. Despite being out injured for so long, he’s already the team’s most reliable winger.

Subs

Danny Loader: 6

Bright, energetic, and tried to cause Wigan problems by running at their defence. Basically, he showed the confidence and enthusiasm that’s been so conspicuous by its absence this season. He didn’t create much outright, but there’s no reason to take him out of the matchday squad based on his showing at the DW.

Josh Sims: 6

Similarly proactive to Loader, Sims made himself busy and looked sharp without managing that crucial moment.

Marc McNulty: 5

Good for him to get some more minutes on the clock, but he couldn’t quite get that all-important chance to grab a winner.

Average: 5.28/10

Who was your man of the match? Vote in our poll below, or through this link.