Reading 2-0 Fleetwood Town: Player Ratings

11/02/2024 01:45 PM

Harry rates the Royals as they eased their way into the second round of the FA Cup.

David Button: 7

Despite not being able to trouble us for sustained periods of time, the visitors did conjure up a few decent chances - most of which repelled by Button. Shot-stopping has been his let-down really in a Reading shirt, but credit where credit is due: he made two or three really impressive stops - both at 0-0 and 1-0.

Ashqar Ahmed: 7

The first time I've seen Ahmed play, and he really impressed. He was caught out a couple of times defensively early on, but found his feet and looked a real threat throughout.

He was substituted around the 70-minute mark, but had done enough to please the couple of thousand fans in attendance. Ahmed is a different profile completely to Michael Craig who currently occupies the right-back spot, but a good option to have.

Louie Holzman: 6

Didn't really have a huge amount to do, but dealt with everything he needed to deal with comfortably enough. One particular moment stood out in the second half where Fleetwood found themselves in on goal but Holzman recovered with a great tackle.

Tyler Bindon: 7

It was a surprise to see him start, I must say, but it's been a long time since we've had a centre-back that fills me with the confidence that Bindon does.

Yes, he'll have tougher tests than Fleetwood, but he always seems to look a class above. He grabbed the opening goal too (which I may or may not have missed, having my half-time Chicken Balti Pie). He was substituted early to save him for more important games, but the stand-in skipper had already made his mark on the game by then.

Tivonge Rushesha: 6

Rushesha is one of the players that we saw a lot of early last season because, well, Ruben Selles didn't really have a choice, but haven't seen much of since. It was interesting to see him play at left-back today, but he did his job well enough and saw a lot of the ball.

Shay Spencer: 6

Spencer was tidy enough in midfield, playing at the base of a trio behind Elliott and Savage. He wasn't really challenged much defensively, but looked assured in possession.

Ben Elliott: 6

It was no surprise that most of our promising moves were conjured up by, or heavily involved, either Elliott or Savage.

It was a really scrappy game in truth, but when Elliott had the ball he more often than not protected it, and in doing the basics really well he looked a level above his counterparts in the Fleetwood midfield.

Charlie Savage: 7

Like Elliott, Savage saw a lot of the ball - but the difference in rating is purely because Savage created that little bit more when he had it.

He grabbed the assist for the opener and played a couple of really nice through balls, one in particular that fed Wareham through on goal.

Mamadi Camara: 6

He found himself in promising positions a couple of times, particularly in the first half, and looked a decent enough threat down the right-hand side. He still seems to be finding his feet though after returning from injury, and was brought off on the hour.

Jayden Wareham: 6

He did well to bully his way through and create the second goal, but he really should have walked away with a brace today in my opinion.

He missed a sitter from a rebound in the first half, saw an effort saved in the second from the aforementioned Savage pass, and fluffed his lines after rounding the 'keeper late on. He was a threat and looked okay enough in build-up, but he himself will be disappointed he hasn't come away on the scoresheet.

Chem Campbell: 5

I'm not really sure what to think of Campbell at this stage. I really want him to do well, as I do all of our players, but he just looks a bit below the level of his team mates at the moment.

Whether that's a fitness or sharpness thing, or a confidence issue, I'm not sure. But he missed another absolute sitter today which won't do that any good.

Subs

Amadou Mbengue: 6

A little bit of a surprise to see him called upon, but it made a bit more sense when it was shown to be Bindon he was replacing. Mbengue wasn't really called upon at all once he came on which was nice to see.

Adrian Akande: 6

Looked pretty sharp when he came on for Camara, and managed to get himself into crossing positions a couple of times, but couldn't create anything of real note.

Michael Craig: 6

Entered alongside Knibbs to help see out the game and helped us do just that.

Harvey Knibbs: 6

Ditto Craig really. Another one I was surprised to see enter the fray, but fortunately enough the game was done by the time he came on and Fleetwood weren't offering much at all.

Basil Tuma: N/A

Came on after the 80th minute so gets an N/A. He did get one moment after a defender seemed to pull his hammy and Tuma found himself on the ball as part of a four-on-one, but he got ushered off the ball and should've done better.

Average: 6.2/10

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