Northampton Town 0-0 Reading: Player Ratings

Sim's from a decent defensive showing but attacking misfire at Sixfields.

Joel Pereira: 7

Not troubled in the first half but did come up with the goods right before the whistle with a great moment of skill. A wayward (and pretty odd) back-pass almost went out for a needless corner, but Pereira did well to get across, control the ball and beat the onrushing attacker.

He was under more pressure after the interval and made an important, strong save to deny Tyler Roberts.

Tivonge Rushesha: 6

Stood up to aerial pressure pretty well in the first half, with the hosts seemingly targeting his side quite prominently. Looked a bit less sure of himself defensively after the restart, with no major problems.

Didn’t add much going forwards all afternoon (perhaps unsurprisingly with Reading needing to prioritise shoring up those full-backs spots defensively), and was taken off for Yiadom in the second half as an offensive switch.

Amadou Mbengue: 7

Snuffed out danger really well all afternoon, getting over to help Rushesha when needed. I’d have liked to see him be a bit more aggressive in possession, perhaps driving upfield with the ball, but I’m nitpicking.

Tyler Bindon: 7

Had a shaky moment a few minutes into the first half when he lost the ball a bit too cheaply, ultimately allowing Perry in for a shot that he fortunately steered into the side netting.

Recovered well from that uncharacteristic off-moment though, looking more composed later on and doing well aerially. Had a rare moment of open-play creativity in the second half, popping up on the left wing after a set-piece and putting in a good cross that Bodin nodded wide.

Kelvin Abrefa: 6

Noel Hunt made the right call bringing Abrefa in for Garcia at left-back: the latter had looked shaky on Tuesday, and the former added more security to the back four in another game of aerial danger from the home side. Looked solid today without really excelling.

Didn’t offer much going forwards in the first half but did improve after the break, looking keen to get forward in support of the left-winger, albeit to not much impact.

Harvey Knibbs: 6

Put himself about well in the middle as per usual but, generally speaking, this wasn’t a game for Knibbs to excel in. The direct nature of the hosts’ build-up didn’t allow much opportunity for Knibbs’ pressing, and he wasn’t that involved in Reading’s own attacks.

He did have some good moments though, being the one to be fouled for Nesta Guinness-Walker’s second yellow card. ‘Being fouled’ doesn’t normally warrant credit in the Player Ratings, but given a) the outcome of that foul and b) the fact that Knibbs was about to break into space for a dangerous attack, I’ll allow it.

Knibbs also created Reading’s best chance of the afternoon, getting to the byline and played in by Camara, and pulling the ball back for fellow midfielder Savage, who steered the chance wide.

Lewis Wing: 5

Another one of those games in which Wing was man-marked by the opposition and didn’t get that much room in which to express himself. Didn’t manage to get Reading going all afternoon and his passing was a mixed bag.

Charlie Savage: 5

Not anymore creative or influential than his fellow central midfielders and I found his set-piece deliveries a bit below-par. Did however manage Reading’s first shot on target - in the first half - with a deflected, decent effort from range.

Missed a golden opportunity in the second though - the chance of the game from Reading’s perspective. Knibbs set him up in the area with time to pick his finish, but he guided it wide of the far post, and I don’t think it’s unfair to say Savage really should have scored that.

Chem Campbell: 5

Given some of Reading's better chances in the first half to get at Northampton, being found in space to run at Guinness-Walker, but he tended to squander them, lacking the willingness/quality to take his man on and beat him. Quiet after the break too, on both flanks, and taken off for Carroll late on.

Jayden Wareham: 5

Worked hard and put himself about well but didn’t have much service. Drew a good save out of the ‘keeper from range in the first half and almost got on the end of a Wing through ball in the second, but otherwise a quiet afternoon. Taken off for Bodin.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: 5

Hopes were high of another positive Ehibhatiomhan performance after his excellent goal and second-half showing on Tuesday, but this was another frustrating afternoon for him. He added little from the left wing offensively, admittedly not being given that much service or space to run into (Northampton shutting him down better than Shrewsbury Town did). Withdrawn for Camara in the second half.

Subs

Mamadi Camara: 6

Came on at right-wing with a quarter of an hour to go and didn’t have a huge impact, but I liked some of his link-up play. One quick, first-time pass into Knibbs led to Guinness-Walker’s second yellow, and another one in behind (for the same teammate) ultimately led to Savage’s chance.

Billy Bodin: 5

Replaced Wareham as Reading's centre-forward and didn't have an impact, with his only real contribution being him nodding Bindon’s cross wide. Bodin isn’t a natural centre-forward and I’d have preferred Ehibhatiomhan being used there if Wareham had to be removed; Bodin’s tendency to drift out wide during attacks actually meant Reading sometimes lacked a box option in the closing stages.

Andy Yiadom and Tom Carroll: N/A

Both came on with a couple of minutes to go so weren't on the pitch long enough for a rating. Neither added much going forwards in their time on the pitch though, with the former having a particularly poor moment when he hashed a cross from a good position straight out for a goal-kick.

Average: 5.76/10

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