Leeds United 1-0 Reading: Player Ratings

Rafael: 7

Not overly troubled on the day by shots on target, although he made a smart close-range stop in the first half and a more acrobatic one in the second.

Andy Yiadom: 6

Didn’t get forward down the right as much as usual, although he was more of an attacking outlet than Richards on the other side. Penned back more in the second half.

Michael Morrison: 7

Reading were very well organised defensively, and a lot of that’s got to go down to the experienced Morrison. He led the backline really well, and decisively dealed with the danger on a number of occasions.

Liam Moore: 7

Put in some key blocks at the back to deny Leeds, and even could have won a penalty late on when he was used as an auxiliary striker. Bamboozled by Hernandez’ footwork for the winner.

Omar Richards: 6

A solid, mature first half that would have put him on for a 7/10, but he gave the ball away with a loose pass towards his own area in the build-up to the winner. Skied a shot over the bar late on in one of Reading’s clearer sights of goal.

John Swift: 5

The absence of Ovie Ejaria meant Reading had to rely more on Swift’s creativity, but he didn’t do enough to open up a resolute Leeds side. That’s a tall order when playing at Elland Road, but he was still too subdued to have an impact.

Pele: 7

Protected the defence well and was very composed on the ball, even bringing it up field with a powerful run on a few occasions.

Yakou Meite: 5

Not involved enough going forwards, even on the counter when you would have fancied his pace and direct running to cause problems. Afternoon probably summed up by a freekick that he blasted well over the bar in the second half.

Andy Rinomhota: 6

I’d expected him to line up quite deep in the midfield, but in reality he played more as a number ten, restricting Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips. He did that job well, and his energy higher up the pitch allowed Reading to win the ball back nicely for first-half counters. Less influential in the second half though.

Michael Olise: 6

Shoved into the first team at the last minute due to Ovie Ejaria’s injury, and he was really bright on the left. Kept the ball nicely and showed some brilliant touches in the first half to open up attacks, but the thing I was most impressed by was his maturity. Olise wasn’t fazed by starting in a seriously tough away match - with no time to prepare himself mentally. He kept the ball well and worked hard for the team - which Mark Bowen will be happy with.

However, his decision making in the final third needs sharpening up, with a few promising counter attacks fizzling out. He was also less effective going forwards in the second half when Leeds increasingly took a stranglehold of the game. But still an encouraging performance.

George Puscas: 5

A really isolated afternoon for Puscas, who lead the line as a lone striker for Reading but didn’t see much of the ball. When he did get it, his touch was generally decent, and he managed to help launch a counter in the first half with his hold-up play. He also forced a good save out of Casilla in the first half with a snapshot from range.

However, his touch got poorer in the second half, seemingly growing more frustrated as he was less involved. On one occasion, he cheaply gave away a freekick by handling the ball rather than being able to control it.

All in all, it appears that the big task for Bowen regarding Puscas is how to keep the striker motivated when the game’s going against him. Puscas’ hold-up play is certainly improving, but he needs to be more mature during tough periods.

Subs

Charlie Adam: 5

Replaced Swift in the second half to give Reading a different creative option in the middle of the park, but he didn’t have much of an impact.

Average: 6/10

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