Reading 3-0 Cardiff City: Player Ratings

Rafael - 7

Impressively versatile with his kicking, not stubbornly sticking to short or long passes for the hell of it. Made a few snapshot saves in the second-half and generally comes across as an experienced, safe pair of hands.

Andy Yiadom - 7

Did he dive for the penalty? It’s hopefully irrelevant and shouldn’t mask another bombastic outing down the right flank for the Ghanaian. Grabbed two assists with quick thinking long balls for the first and third goals.

Matt Miazga - 6

I’m loathe to give too much credit to the back three because Cardiff were toothless in attack. Miazga, Moore and Morrison did nothing wrong at all. They largely dealt with any crosses into the box and passed it around easily. But let’s wait until a more testing afternoon to judge their back-three credentials.

Liam Moore - 6

See above.

Michael Morrison - 6

See above, above.

Omar Richards - 7

One of the most impressive performers in midweek, Richards was again very confident going forward, mixed it with Cardiff’s bully boys and was sound in defence. At this rate, Tyler Blackett and Jordan Obita face a real battle to oust him when fit.

Pele - 6

Like the centre-backs, it’s hard to really judge the defensive midfielder in this game. His job was to sit in, tidy up and move the ball on. He did that perfectly well, but he’ll surely face many tougher days at the Mad Stad than this.

John Swift - 8

His best performance in a Reading shirt? Swift plays like a man unleashed in this 3-5-2 formation. Cardiff simply didn’t have enough men to deal with the Reading frontline and the midfielder drifted wide to cross impeccably for Puscas’ second, later breaking the line to seal the win with a goal of his own.

Ovie Ejaria - 8

What can’t this man do? Ejaria is a big lad, he can handle himself in a tussle. He’s also blessed with immaculate technique and could Cruyff-turn his way out of a shark attack. Add in a dash of creativity and ice cool composure and you’re left with a vibrant performance from the 21-year-old on Sunday.

George Puscas - 8

After two outings, the type of player that Puscas is is coming out. Will he chase defenders off the ball or slide in teammates with brilliant link-up play? Unlikely. But he will take the ball and run, with all his might, straight at goal. The Romanian’s first was a well-taken finish amid soft-touch defending but his second was the sort of poacher’s finish Reading have sorely missed.

Lucas Joao - 6

Not his day in front of goal, the striker opening up half chances during the second-half but unable to deliver the incisive finish of previous weeks.

Subs

Yakou Meite, Lucas Boye, Andy Rinomhota - N/A

All three arrived in the final ten minutes and Meite missed a penalty.

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