Joel Pereira: 6
Got down well to his right in the 15th minute to help Reading end the threat from a corner. Fought away a strong shot when Port Vale got free in the box late in the first half, stopping Reading from immediately conceding an equaliser.
Put two strong hands on a dangerous-looking effort that dropped towards the side netting in the 54th minute. Made a great save to his left when Reading were under severe pressure late in the game. Dove despairingly at the Port Vale goal but had been hung out to dry by his defence.
Ryan Nyambe: 5
Deployed as the wing back today, stepping up into the wide space on the right when Reading attacked. Drove into the Port Vale half with one dribble and created a chance in the first half – probably his best moment in the game.
Out of sync with Paudie O’Connor a few times in the second half, leading to misplaced passes, which wasn’t helped when Lane came on.
Paudie O’Connor: 5
Back in the side with no interruption after his facial injury against Bolton Wanderers, but was sporting a fetching new beard. Rose well to meet an early corner well and was unlucky to see his effort go wide.
Took a whack to his ankle when he stepped out and made a great tackle in open space late in the game. Made a dangerous passback to Pereira that almost found the bottom corner.
Derrick Williams: 6
Returned to the lineup for the first time since the Boxing Day rout of Plymouth Argyle with his trademark coolness on the ball in the first half.
Got a crucial block on an effort from Port Vale from a corner, stopping a sure goal in the 15th minute. Stepped out of the backline to intercept a through ball into the box from Vale towards the end of the half.
Made a crucial intervention when a ball bounced up for a Vale attacker in the box, kicking it out for a corner.
Benn Ward: 6
Started the game as the left-back today, sliding into the back three when Nyambe pushed up in possession. Played some nice passes through for Kadan Young, helping to spring him with a few chances to run at the defence in the first half. That concluded with the ball over the top that Young used to win the penalty.
Made a mistake that saw him booked early in the second half, skipping away from one onrushing attacker but losing control and stepping onto the ankle of the next player. Withdrawn midway through the period to prevent any chance of a second yellow.
Liam Fraser: 5
Up and down in the first half. Smartly drew in two players on the edge of the box before setting Wing up for a shot. Sloppy at times with his passing though and gave the ball in a dangerous spot in his own half at one point.
Not one of the worst offenders in the second half and did help to shepherd the ball out of play a few times.
Lewis Wing: 5
Found a few opportunities to shoot in the opening stages but couldn’t quite wrap his foot around it on the slick surface. Fine on the ball through the first two thirds today but couldn’t find any way through Port Vale’s back three to Marriott.
Stepped to the spot when Young earned a penalty, and made no mistake, thudding it into the corner and finding the net despite the keeper guessing right.
Kamari Doyle: 7
Started again on the right side with the close support of Nyambe meaning he could spend more time inside the field. Created two shots in the opening 20 minutes, first cutting inside and setting Young free, and then spinning in the box and curling his own effort just wide of the post.
Buzzed around well, stealing the ball from Port Vale in their half a few times to immediately restart a possession.
Made a wonderful turn in the middle of the park just before the hour mark, taking the ball 40 yards up the field and putting Young into space on the left side. Won Reading a free-kick in his own box to clear the danger from a corner.
Charlie Savage: 4
Started again in the 10 spot, shifting over into the left half space to let Kamari Doyle share the centre.
Struggled to make any impact on the game, especially in the second half and often seemed out of coordination with Marriott in the attempted press. Just couldn’t get on with the pitch all day and struggled with Vale’s physical nature, winning only 25% of his duels.
Kadan Young: 7
Got on the radar of Port Vale’s defenders early in the game and helped stretch the field wide. Forced a save out of the ‘keeper with his deflected effort within five minutes, latching onto Doyle’s through ball.
Absolutely stung Gauci’s palms in the 34th minute with a thundering strike. Shortly after earned Reading their penalty by getting free again on the left side and darting into the box.
Took a tumble when the keeper came through him for a potentially soft penalty, but he had earned a reward with his first half.
Picked up Reading’s only shot of the second half but was withdrawn late on for Randell Williams.
Jack Marriott: 5
Very quiet in the first half, only touching the ball six times as Port Vale had their three defenders sitting deep on the fallow pitch. Continued to run valiantly, but couldn’t quite corral it, giving away a few fouls and misplaced passes.
Helped Reading to hold the ball for a minute with some good play around the 80th minute, stepping in to be an outlet and winning a foul.
Subs
Jeriel Dorsett: 5
Booked for timewasting when he delayed on a throw in. Made a vital sliding clearance out of the box. Got caught upfield and couldn’t get back to help cut out the cross for Vale’s opener.
Randell Williams: 5
Made his first appearance since January 4. Put in some hard work during a scrappy entrance to the game but couldn’t corral the ball, at one point passing it plain out of play.
Paddy Lane: 4
Went out to the right side to replace Doyle. Given one of Reading’s only chances to shoot in the box in the second half and scooped the ball out of the stadium. Deflected the ball into his own box at one point.
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan: N/A
Brought on late but failed to make an impact on the game.
Finley Burns: N/A
Didn’t actually walk to the line first as Reading were preparing Yiadom, but the need to withdraw Williams saw Burns called up quickly. Smartly earned a foul to help Reading breathe by showing his shoulders to an onrushing Vale forward.
Couldn’t get close enough to the player in behind as Reading conceded in the last minute.
Average: 5.35/10
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