Huddersfield Town player ratings from gutsy, hard-fought win at Reading
Jack Whatmough and league debutant Cameron Ashia both got second-half goals from set pieces in a rough and ready clash
Owen Goodman - 7
Not given loads to do first half, despite Reading getting into the Town box plenty of times. Great reaction save after the to stop Ben Elliott’s deflected shot, when he would have had every right to have been caught wrong-footed.
Lasse Sorensen - 6
Had his ups and downs during his hour on the pitch, but broadly positive.
Jack Whatmough - 8
Shook off a knock to the back of the knee in the first half. Very physical performance, particularly when Reading tried to go long. Put that to effect as he gave Town the lead off Miller’s corner, reacting first to a loose ball and poking past the keeper. Fabulous match-saving challenge late on to stop Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan getting clean through on Goodman, then was in the right place to help pressure the Reading defence as Town scored their second.
Joe Low - 7
Again just made everything look easy off the ball thanks to his excellent anticipation. Went off on 61 minutes to be replaced by Josh Feeney.
Mickel Miller - 7
Picked up where he left off last weekend by starting at left-back. Really bright in the early going, getting past his man with ease and creating a great chance for Joe Taylor after doing well to get to byline and keep the ball in play. Was given a closer watch by Reading after that, and was moved onto the wing on the hour in an effort to ask different questions. Great corner delivery as Town went ahead through Whatmough.
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Herbie Kane - 7
Unusually sloppy with some of his passing in the first half-hour, much to the frustration of the forwards. Far, far better in the second half. Created Ashia’s goal with a free kick from virtually the same position he provided for Low’s goal last week.
Ryan Ledson - 7
Same comments we’ve been making all summer: calm, composed, solid work on and off the ball.
Alfie May - 7
Started at number 10. Spent too long on the ball in the build-up at times in the first half, missing chances to release players into space and giving Reading time to recover. Very lively, though, and kept plugging away, looking more and more dangerous as the second half went on. A brilliant irritant as the minutes ticked down.
Ben Wiles - 6
Pretty quiet showing compared with his extremely lively and effective showing against Leyton Orient, albeit against a much more solid defence. Believe it was him who let Finley Burns go unmarked at a corner and win a header that he should have buried. Can’t fault the work rate in general though.
Ruben Roosken - 6
Worked hard on the left wing and got into some good positions, but not able to make much of them. Went off 15 minutes into the second half.
Joe Taylor - 6
Should have done better from May’s cutback on the half hour, shooting virtually straight at Joel Pereira when he had time to pick out any corner. Made several good runs that went ignored by his teammates — and some that they were able to pick out. Unlucky Wiles couldn’t get to his low cross from the right shortly before Town went ahead.
Substitutes
Josh Feeney (for Low 61) - Competitive debut. Picked up where Low left off as Whatmough’s centre-back partner. 7
Sean Roughan (for Roosken 61) - Again impressive with his interceptions as Reading attempts to break forward. 7
Lynden Gooch (for Sorensen 61) - Took over at right-back. 6
Dion Charles (for Taylor 77) - Sent on up front soon after the first goal to bring fresh legs and be a nuisance in the forward line. Did a great job with it and cleverly won the free kick from which Town got their second goal. 7
Cameron Ashia (for Wiles 84) - On for his league debut, for much the same reason as Charles. Buried his chance when it came his way, putting a side-footed volley into the bottom corner off a half-defended Kane set piece. 7
Unused substitutes: Lee Nicholls, David Kasumu.
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