Reading earned their first clean sheet of the season as Alen Halilovic netted to give the Royals three points against Middlesbrough.
The Royals have now won three games in a row in the Championship to recover from a tricky start to the season.
LUKE SOUTHWOOD 7: Brave to come out and smother the ball that led to Matt Crooks’ red card. Not tested often but solid when he was.
DEJAN TETEK: Did a superb job playing out of position at right-back. Full of running and put in several important tackles throughout the match.
ANDY YIADOM 8: Stepped in at centre-back and was given the captain’s armband. A very assured display, used his experience to guide a makeshift back four.
JOSH LAURENT 8: Didn’t look at all out of place playing at centre-back, formed a good partnership with Laurent and was tidy in possession.
BABA RAHMAN 7: Provided a useful outlet on the left at times when he was allowed to get forward and worked hard defensively.
TOM DELE-BASHIRU 7: Should have found the net early in the second-half when he was played through by Drinkwater one-on-one but had his shot saved.
DANNY DRINKWATER 7: Threaded a superb ball through to Dele-Bashiru to set him on goal. Used his experience to keep Reading ticking in midfield.
JOHN SWIFT 8: Another accomplished performance and added another assist to his tally as he set up Halilovic to score the winner.
ALEN HALILOVIC 8: Worked hard to help out defensively and scored the all important goal with a scuffed finish to score his first Reading goal.
OVIE EJAIRA 7: Produced a few moments of magic with his excellent footwork but didn’t always provide the cutting edge needed.
JUNIOR HOILETT 6: Was kept quiet for large periods of the game and didn’t have too many sights of goal but played his part in the build up for Halilovic’s goal.
Paunovic
