Huddersfield Town player ratings as Lasse Sorensen rescues late point against Reading
Reading took a first-half lead from the penalty spot against the run of play and were seconds from victory when substitute Sorensen popped up with a 96th-minute goal
Lee Nicholls - 5
Had to intervene to stop Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan off Reading’s first threatening attack of the game just before half time, but then brought down Charlie Savage with a clumsy challenge to concede a penalty that Lewis Wing put away.
Radinio Balker - 7
Overlapped Harness to get into the box and cross for Alfie May at one point early on. Looked to get a foot on the ball with a good sliding tackle to try and stop Ehibhatiomhan before Nicholls saved it and then gave away the penalty. Taken off in what we presume was a planned change having only just returned from injury.
Murray Wallace - 6
Left scrambling as Ehibhatiomhan charged into the box off a through ball he seemingly expected to go the other side of him. Solid otherwise. Finished the game as an extra centre-forward.
Sean Roughan - 7
Like Balker, was given a bit of license to push forward like a left-back when the time was right. Played some useful balls in to Alfie May and got into some good crossing positions, delivering a couple of decent balls into the box that just needed a finish, including creating a great chance for Ryan Ledson that he should have buried. Claimed the assist for Sorensen’s equaliser with a ball from deep, with a tip of the cap to George Sebine for dragging the defender away from Sorensen’s path.
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Lynden Gooch - 5
Much better off the ball on this occasion, particularly in the first half. Deliveries into the box left a bit to be desired, and wasted a great chance from a free kick by curling straight at the keeper.
Marcus Harness - 5
A little wayward with his passing in the opening minutes but grew into the game for the rest of the first half. Put a decent effort not too far wide on 21 minutes. Level dropped off again for a spell in the second half as he just couldn’t get the ball to work for him. Felt a foul from Jeriel Dorsett as he charged through on Joel Pereira should have been a penalty and a red card; it was given as a free kick (right, we think?) and a yellow (a bit lenient). Put a dangerous ball across the face of goal in injury time.
Cameron Humphreys - 7
Played behind the rest of the midfield four and used the ball well from deep positions. Unfortunately committed to the press too soon and in doing so opened up half the pitch on the move that produced Reading’s penalty.
Marcus McGuane - 6
Protected the ball really well, to the frustration of the opposition. Put in a decent hour before being replaced by Ryan Ledson.
Bali Mumba - 5
Solid but unspectacular on the left flank. Had a pretty even running battle with Ryan Nyambe.
Bojan Radulovic - 6
A very welcome return to the starting line-up. Definitely made a positive difference to Town’s build-up play, but just not quite there on some of the crucial details yet. Robbed Derrick Williams and then lobbed Pereira to find the net early on, but was belatedly (and correctly) whistled for having pulled Williams’ shirt to win the ball. Twice caught offside at the end of good moves. Committed a few clumsy fouls. Good to get an hour into him.
Alfie May - 5
Had the right ideas and seemed to enjoy playing off Bojan Radulovic, playing a few neat little flicks to try and bring him into the game. Went down with 14 minutes on the clock with what looked to be a shoulder injury but was able to play on until just before the hour. Finishing was poor
Substitutes
David Kasumu (for May 59) - Came on to partner Harness at number 10 just behind a lone striker. Great run and ball in for Harness soon after coming on. Put a late effort a long way off target. Couldn’t quite reach Harness’ late cross at the back post. 6
George Sebine (for Radulovic 59) - 19-year-old academy striker on for his league debut. Tidy first touch off a Town free kick but then looped his shot well off target. Worked hard to try and win knockdown and press the Reading defence. We don’t think he quite got a touch on Roughan’s forward pass for Sorensen’s goal, but his presence was vital. 6
Ryan Ledson (for McGuane 63) - Great movement to meet Roughan’s cross with ten minutes to go but put his header straight at Pereira then was denied on the follow-up too - should have done better with the first attempt really. 5
Josh Feeney (for Balker 63) - Took over at centre-back. A bit ponderous on the ball at times, to the frustration of the crowd, and wasteful with some over-hit long balls to the flanks. 5
Lasse Sorensen (for Gooch 76) - Saw out the game at wing-back and recued a point with a fine finish to the bottom corner. 7
Unused substitutes: Jak Alnwick, Antony Evans.
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