Reading FC 1-0 Ipswich Town: Player Ratings

Adam Federici: 7

Federici had few saves to make but the one he had to do something about, he handled well as the Australian deflected McGoldrick's shot wide. Commanding in the air and good with the ball at his feet, Alex McCarthy has some work to do if he's to win his spot back.

Chris Gunter: 8

An excellent performance from the captain who was excellent both in defence and attack, with his cross-field ball for Jake Taylor's goal a particular highlight. As one of the most senior players in the team, he's certainly been leading by example so far this season.

Alex Pearce: 7

A quiet yet strong performance from the Republic of Ireland international who did all that was asked of him to keep Ipswich out.

Michael Hector: 8

Sean who? Big Hec put in a fantastic display to keep the dangerous McGoldrick quiet and helped ease the fears of fans who worried about our defensive stability following Morrison's sale to Cardiff. While one game doesn't suddenly make him Rio Ferdinand (as brother Anton apparently described him after the game!) it's encouraging to see Hector step into the defence and put in such a brave and skillful performance.

Shaun Cummings: 7

The painful performances he put in at left-back last year seem a long way in the past and while I still don't think that Cummings is the answer in the position, he's put in some decent showings so far this season.

Hope Akpan: 6

This is a mark that might divide a few folk but for my money Akpan had an OK but unconvincing performance as the holding midfielder. He certainly did the ugly parts of the game well but at times his touch was lacking and some of his passes were woeful, with one 10 yard ping to Chris Gunter nearly setting up an Ipswich chance. Not the worst performance in the world but the former Crawley man will have to up his performances if he's to keep the likes of Guthrie, Karacan and Williams out of the side.

Jordan Obita: 7

Some promising moments from the 2014 player of the season, who looked comfortable occupying a position in the middle of the park. One burst in the first half was particularly pleasing but like Akpan I don't think he's quite yet at the level where he'd be selected in that position over the likes of Karacan etc.

Jake Taylor: 7

A player who's growing in confidence by the game and his finish for the goal capped a great 10 minutes from the midfielder who helped put Reading on the offensive after a period under pressure. As the game wore on he struggled to make much of an impact on the ball but he continued to work hard and press the Ipswich midfield.

Nick Blackman: 6

Like Akpan, Blackman had a pretty decent game but just lacked the final product to back up some hard work and endeavour. Still, this was a much better performance than we'd seen for most of last season and he's showing glimpses of why Reading paid Sheffield United a seven figure sum for the forward.

Simon Cox: 6

Cox fizzled out after a bright opening as he found time on the ball harder and harder to come by. At the risk of sounding repetitive, the forward gave his all for the team but could perhaps have done better with the ball in attacking areas and earned himself a silly yellow card shortly before he made way for Edwards. Cox is a player who's going to be key going forward and a performance like this is more than acceptable for a man who's only spent just over a week training with the squad.

Pavel Pogrebnyak: 7

Listeners to the Podcast and who read my reports from last season know of my soft spot for the big Russian and today was a perfect example of why he's entered my heart. The Russian worked his socks off for the side and his hold up play was a key reason that Reading were able to soak up a fair amount of pressure. Ipswich legend Mick Mills called him the difference maker on local radio and the striker did his very best to protect the lead on a day when chances were very thin on the ground.

SUBSTITUTES

Ryan Edwards: 6

Put in a very Jay Tabb performance on the same pitch where the original Tabby was strutting his stuff for Ipswich. Edwards isn't going to offer much of a physical threat but like another former Royal on the Ipswich books in Stephen Hunt, he's a dynamo that's perfectly happy to run through brick walls. Hard to judge his ability on the ball on this brief cameo but he doesn't look out of place as part of the squad.

Jake Cooper: NA

The man's a giant, I can say that much! Beyond that it was hard to read to much into our latest Academy Graduate who came on late as an extra defender to help shore things up.

Jack Stacey: NA

Like Cooper you can't read anything into just a few minutes on the pitch but anytime you see an Academy product on the pitch is a good thing.