Reading 1-2 Norwich City: Player Ratings

Rafael: 7

Would’ve been a lot worse if it weren’t for Rafa in between the sticks. Denied Teemu Pukki with two fantastic saves in the first half, and couldn’t do anything about the two conceded goals.

Tom Holmes: 5

Thought he did his job well. As with the rest of the back four though, he struggled to play forward with accuracy through the high Norwich City press.

Michael Morrison: 5

Won his aerial battles well as usual, but didn't really do anything that was stand out good or stand out bad.

Liam Moore: 5

Although it was a dive for the penalty, I still feel it was naive of Liam to dive in the way he did, and much unlike him. I have a feeling he’ll agree with me on that one too.

Lewis Gibson: 5

Showed his ability on the ball with a couple of scorching long-range passes in the first half, but he’ll find it difficult to fill Omar Richards’ boots. He’s a centre back playing left back so can’t fault him too much.

Andy Rinomhota: 4

Big mistake for the first goal. All night we really lacked the quality to play through the Norwich press and his mistake was a sign of things to come. Never really recovered from it.

Josh Laurent: 5

Felt he played well in the first 45, as did the majority of his team mates, but he really started to look leggy in the second half as Norwich showed their class. Random observation of the day: I am *convinced* that we play worse when Laurent plays in short sleeves - he swapped to short sleeves at half time against Bournemouth, Stoke City, Preston and now Norwich.

Sone Aluko: 5

Good work for the goal and looked tidy enough in possession when we did have chances to go forward. Was sacrificed early in the second half for Sam Baldock, perhaps a bit unfairly.

Alfa Semedo: 4

Played really poorly in my opinion. He just does not have the passing ability or quality on the ball to play as far up the pitch as Pauno has done for the majority. It’s a conundrum the boss will have to solve.

Ovie Ejaria: 6

Looked really sharp in the first half and got a fortuitous assist. Norwich did very well to nullify his threat in the second half as they asserted their dominance.

Michael Olise: 6

Olise and Ejaria were our two biggest threats all evening. Not only did Olise look threatening on the ball, I also think he did his dirty work pretty well too. Went close with a free kick late one after inadvertently scoring the equaliser in the first half.

Substitutes

Sam Baldock: 5

I do feel for Sam Baldock. Since he signed he just hasn’t been able to fit into any of the manager’s tactical styles, and Wednesday night showed that again. One of Joao’s biggest qualities is the ability to hold the ball up when we’re under the cosh a bit, something Baldock proved again he can’t do against Norwich - but not for the want of trying.

Tomas Esteves: 5

Came on to try and add some flair and something different going forward. Gave the ball away in dangerous areas a couple of times, which is a bad trait that he needs to get out of doing.

Tom McIntyre/Jayden Onen; N/A

Neither were really on the pitch to do anything of note. Says something about our current strength in depth if, with all due respect, we’re bringing on McIntyre as a midfielder and an academy graduate for his debut when we’re chasing the game against the league leaders. Injuries are hurting us now. Badly.

Average: 5.15/10

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