Reading FC 1-1 Bolton Wanderers: Player Ratings

Anssi Jaakola — 6

Surprise starter No. 1 of 5, Jaakola made a couple of sharp stops to deny Adam Le Fondre and can’t really be blamed for the goal. Counting against him were a couple of questionable punches and rushed kicks that did little to help his team.

Pelle Clement — 6

Fair play to Clement, I’ve been a vocal critic of him lately and he took on an unfamiliar role pretty competently on Tuesday night. Didn’t over extend himself and kept his wing calm from a defensive perspective.

Liam Moore — 6

Still seems to lack the perfect amount of discipline and anticipation for a centre-back but also has a canny knack of keeping relatively blameless.

Tom Holmes — 6

A debut worth remembering for the 17-year-old in the sense that he won a few headers and didn’t look too out of place. Caught out by Le Fondre’s greater anticipation however he’s clearly of the academy ilk that knows its way around the possession game.

Chris Gunter — 6

Over to left-back for Gunter this week and his attacking impetus dropped as a result. That said, Bolton hardly had any threat down either flanks and technically the Welshman has to be credited with that.

Dave Edwards — 5

I’m not entirely sure what Edwards’ role was tonight. Reading lost the midfield battle, failed to keep possession and weren’t a threat down the middle. No smoke without fire.

George Evans — 5

See above. I barely noticed he was playing.

Liam Kelly — 5

He actually started the game well with a few good pings across the pitch sadly a big feature of Kelly’s game is that he can’t stay in one for the whole 90 minutes. Dropped off massively in the second half and was very fortunate not to give Le Fondre a goal off an underhit backpass.

Sone Aluko — 5

Credit must go to Aluko for not shirking, he seemingly always wants the ball and continually brushes himself off and goes again. Sadly, it just never results in anything.

Mo Barrow — 6

Got the goal but that stats will attest that he had the least amount of the ball of any Reading player. That’s just not good enough and the winger’s wandering on Tuesday night did little to help.

Chris Martin — 6

Escapes a five purely because he never actually got the chance to aim at goal in the 18-yard box, bar an early chip that went a few inches over. Dropped deep to help the play, if only to little effect.

Subs

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson - 6

Had the best chance to snatch a late winner but drilled a volley into the crowd right in front of him. Harsh to expect him to do much more with it, mind.

John Swift — 6

Barely given 15 minutes to change the game, and while he spooned his only effort over the bar he occupied an advanced central midfield space that his teammates didn’t seem interested in.

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