The Royals endured a frustrating afternoon in North Wales to lose in the league for the first time this season.
Conceded three today but faced an xGOT (expected goals on target) of 2.7, so had a lot to do. Made four saves and was alert early on to gather up a bouncing ball into the box.
Continued to have issues delivering to the right side of the field and often sees the ball intercepted there. Wrexham’s press seemed to cause Pereira some issues today, and he was a little sluggish on the ball at times.
Couldn’t do anything about the first goal, which was delivered into the box well and headed home from close range.
Made a really good stop in the scramble for Wrexham’s second goal, and was understandably frustrated with his defenders for allowing another.
Maybe would like another crack at the third goal, but the midfielder had so much time to pick his spot, placing it right in the corner.
I thought this was the first game where Craig’s inverted positioning in buildup was a little bit of an issue for Reading. This was often because Wrexham were willing to go through the thirds extremely quickly, which prevented Craig from getting back into a defensive position, leaving Mbengue with too much to do.
So, do you blame that on the player or on the system? Well, Craig could have done better with some of the goals, finding himself worrying about the man behind him for the first, rather than challenging Palmer and helping Mbengue with the larger man. Did do well to get across and delayed Marriott in a counter-attack shortly after and give Pereira an easy enough save to make.
Didn’t make a strong enough challenge when the ball fell to him in the scrap for Wrexham’s second and just was nowhere near Wrexham’s third, not even in the television picture.
This is three games into the season, and Craig has been playing this position for… three games, so we should expect errors, but remember what he did well, threading some nice balls through the middle and progressing the ball into the final third 16 times.
Given a tough job in the air with Ollie Palmer tending to stalk over to his side today, and was often left with more than just the large forward to manage in the backline. Was jumped over for the opening goal, but may have expected more help from his fullback when facing a blindside attacker.
Still decent with his legs today, delivering a good number of accurate long balls and winning the majority of his ground duels, but struggled a bit in the air.
Had a lot of time on the ball and showed how classy he can be on it, often doing his best to bait a player forward onto the ball, and if he couldn’t do that, he’d deliver the ball accurately over a long distance as well as in neat triangles around his halfway line.
Defensively, things could have been worse without him. Bindon actually cleared the first ball into the box during the sequence for Wrexham’s opener, and wasn’t targeted with the second cross.
Potentially could have been given a penalty today when he was hauled down in the box, and has become a dangerous target for Reading at set plays, clearly marked out by opposing coaches. Proved it late in the first half with a header off the crossbar from Wing’s free kick delivery.
Continued to do his job throughout and shares little blame for the three goals today.
Had trouble stopping the ball coming in from his side in the first half, with both crosses for the first two goals coming from his side. Needed to do more with the cross for Wrexham’s opener but got caught in two minds with Savage also closing.
Caught out of position for Wrexham’s second, jumping in to try to contest a play in the centre of the field, and seeing his side exposed by a fast break.
Not his day.
Continued his deep-lying playmaker role and pushed an exquisite ball over the top early on for Ehibhatiomhan to latch onto. Captains the team with good passion and leads by example always wanting the ball and asking for his teammates to show for it.
Put some good set-piece deliveries in that helped Reading put shots towards the goal.
Struggled a little more today than he has in the opening weeks. Gave away a clumsy foul early on that allowed Wrexham a delivery into the box. This formed a theme, with Elliott honestly still probably Reading’s best midfielder today, but letting his frustration get the better of him at times on the way to four free-kicks conceded and a booking.
Did make one excellent sidestep late in the first half to make himself room for a shot but put his finish well clear of the goal. Enjoyed collaborating with Akande when over his right-hand side, but saw a lot of the play going down the other side, or shared with Craig when over there.
Delivered some nice searching inswingers from the left space, which is something we get from Savage that we don’t get when Harvey Knibbs is in the team, but couldn’t quite connect enough today to make them tell.
Needed to communicate a little better with Dorsett for Wrexham’s first goal, when both players got caught midway between their starting position and the Wrexham crosser on the ball with neither really closing. Not to blame for Wrexham’s third despite his proximity, with Ehibhatiomhan giving up on the play.
Savage could do with diving in just a little less... but he is a Savage after all! Occasionally though, his attempts to get the ball will lead to a man being able to step around Reading’s press and attack the backline, which is an issue for the team structure, and risks bookings. I don’t want him to put a cap on his energy, just manage it.
With Reading down to already a third option this season at right-wing, Akande was going to need a better performance than he gave against West Ham United in midweek. He did that, battling well with the ball in some tight situations and allowing
Was a little isolated on the wide right at times but used that position well in the first half to pounce and drive what was probably a cross just wide of the far post. Shortly after he wriggled around the last wide defender to put a cross into the box that Ehibhatiomhan couldn’t quite find a shot from.
Continued to battle and will have done himself no disservice with this performance.
While Smith can often play “larger than his size”, he struggled today with Wrexham’s big backline. Took the ball down well from one ball out of defence down the right side midway through the first but went down too easily under the challenge rather than driving into space.
Found his task frustrating today and was booked for dissent when arguing with the referee shortly after Bindon was pulled down in the box.
Not his day, and withdrawn for Wareham with Reading chasing the game.
Used his strength well early on to tussle around his defender and take down an aerial ball and may well be a better target for long kicks than Smith at times. Should have done better with a fantastic ball forward from Wing early on and sometimes needs to be ready to use his body more when challenged strongly. He’s got a huge frame, so needs to make the most of it.
Drove really nicely into the Wrexham third in the early stages, but couldn’t quite slip the ball through for Elliott to finish. Should have got a better shot away when Akande found him in the box, but drove into Cleworth.
Was maybe fouled for Wrexham’s third goal, but honestly on replay it doesn’t look like much unless there’s a difficult to spot trip, and needed to do more to contest the resulting play, as Wing helpfully (and loudly) reminded him.
Not his best game today, but clearly still Reading’s biggest threat going forward, with lots of defensive attention given his way.
Actually got some reps in midfield today, replacing Savage rather than Craig. Made a good run into the box (not found) but then gave away a free-kick within two minutes of being brought on.
Won the ball back well in Wrexham’s third at one point to start an attack, and probably should have had a goal late in the game, with the ball appearing to cross the line from his well struck ball off the crossbar.
Helped Reading cycle the ball through the box and back out for another delivery at one point when he couldn’t find space for a shot.
Didn’t do much of note, good or bad.
Came on too late to get a rating.
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