After a decent performance in the midweek defeat to Everton, I went into this game feeling positive about Town’s prospects but I didn’t see this result coming at all. Town dominated an admittedly poor Reading team from start to finish and fully deserved their emphatic victory.
While Sorba Thomas stood out as the star man on the day, several other players were very good too and I can’t think of a single Town player that was under par. With that in mind, expect some high scores to follow…
Lee Nicholls – 7 out of 10
Had very little work to do in terms of saving shots, with Reading limited to potshots from outside the box. However, he did come off his line confidently on several occasions, once cutting out a threatening attack with a clever header when he was outside his area. Calm and composed.
Matty Pearson – 8 out of 10
Scored his second goal of the season which is great for a centre back, even more so when you consider he’s also had two other goals harshly disallowed. While Sorba Thomas deserves credit for his incredible deliveries, Pearson obviously has the knack for getting on the end of them. At the other end of the pitch he was solid and did the dirty work well.
Tom Lees – 7 out of 10
Solid without being exceptional in the middle of the defensive three. Covered well on the few occasions Colwill was caught out of position, taking a sensible yellow card to snuff out a Reading breakaway at one point.
Levi Colwill – 7 out of 10
Made the most of the space Reading allowed him and frequently drove up field with the ball and played some lovely diagonal passes to start off attacks. He didn’t always get things right and was caught in possession at times when overconfidence meant he tried to do a bit too much.
Sorba Thomas – 10 out of 10
I’ve not given many ten out of tens yet on this blog but I’ve not seen many better performances from a Town player since starting up back in 2017. Thomas was sensational yesterday, his deadball deliveries were unplayable at times and he terrorised Reading’s back line with direct dribbling and clever movement off the ball. His work rate was outstanding too, meaning he was able to still get forward even when having to track back as a wingback. His goal came when he was pushed forward into the front three. As he’s our star player right now, it may be best to start him up top and build the rest of the team around making the most of his talents. It’s still early days in his Town career but I’m already worried we’ll sell him before we’ve seen the best of him.
Jonathan Hogg – 7 out of 10
There was one moment when Swift got the better of him near the byline and made him look very slow but otherwise he snuffed out Reading’s biggest threat and buzzed about in front of defence. Solid and reliable, which provided a platform for the other players to get forward and entertain.
Lewis O’Brien – 7 out of 10
Had a terrible start to the game, where he couldn’t get his eye in and repeatedly gave the ball away but improved after. His tireless running was the reason he was in the box to score the opening goal. Being honest, I’m not sure he’s ready for a move to the Premier League yet based on his recent performances he looks like a decent Championship player. It may be better for his career to have another year in the Championship to improve his game rather than going backward waiting for a chance from the bench in a Premier League team.
Harry Toffolo – 7 out of 10
A disciplined and controlled effort. He looked absolutely done in after 70 minutes but kept going anyway. With a fortnight to recover before the next game he’ll hopefully be back to full fitness as he’s not looked right in the last few games.
Daniel Sinani – 8 out of 10
Looks to be a real talent and was hungry for the ball. He was unlucky not to score when his strike bounced out from the inside of the post. I particularly liked the way he linked up things in the final third, taking the ball in tight spaces and finding ways through the opposition defence. He adds that creativity that we’ve been sorely missing in the final third.
Danny Ward – 8 out of 10
Capped off an all round improvement in his game with a well-taken goal. Josh Koroma did the hard work to set him up but he showed good composure to take a touch to get round the keeper rather than lashing it straight at the stopper. Town had more players getting forward against Reading which gave Ward more options to play off and meant he wasn’t so isolated. He looked hugely relieved when he came off the pitch, suggesting the confidence boost of getting that goal may mean we see more from him in future games.
Josh Koroma – 7 out 10
Nearly edged up to an 8 rather than a 7 because of the superb dribble that set up Ward’s goal but was quiet for long periods of the game. While he didn’t provide the same kind of threat as Thomas, he managed to get into shooting positions on a few occasions but found most of his shots blocked.
Substitutes
Oli Turton – 7 out of 10
Made some decent runs down the wing and made a couple of useful tackles.
Fraizer Campbell – 6 out of 10
We were already 4-0 up at the point he came on so the game was effectively over. Did a decent job of closing down space and putting pressure on the defence.
Duane Holmes – 6 out of 10
Like Campbell, came onto the pitch when the game was winding down so didn’t have much to do.
TS, I pretty much ,as usual, agree with your assessment although a ten for Thomas is slightly generous, his defensive work needs refining but hut he’s not a natural wingback. In general was an understandably overwhelmingly far too positive a reaction to the last two games and our league position. The start of both games seems to have been forgotten in many headlines, but we were a very accomplished side at times yesterday especially in the second half and in the mid-section in the previous game
At the moment we have three lauded players; one for the possibility of him becoming a Premiership player, another because he has been selected for the England U21s; the pair are significant footballers and will be so for this season, but initially yesterday they gave a poor representation of themselves by exhibiting the common Huddersfield Town blight of losing the ball whilst in possession and passing the ball into touch, thankfully their form returned in the latter stages. The third keeps going to the well and bringing up sparkling water.
O’Brien has never been a reliable ball distributer, goal scorer or creator, but he is a massively dynamic and industrious asset to the team, as he demonstrated with a well-taken goal, although post-Covid he, along with Toffolo, doesn’t yet seem to have his previous energy levels, Colwill has, does and will make mistakes but it is a pleasure to have him in the team.
Thomas is a godsend, what he does better than any Town player has for many years is finding centre halves heads and feet with all types of crosses, could Sinani be equally gifted? We are blessed to have him and similarly blessed with an abundance of centre halves taking advantage of his skills. Defensively he still needs help as was self-evident at times in the second half, which on reflection could have been the reason behind the surprise omission of Sarr in order to select two right footers in the back three to help cover for him.
I was impressed by Ward not least for his coolly taken goal but he more than matched Campbell’s forte of being an energetic pest, he was much better on the ball and he looks fit and doesn’t stand in front of keepers and stay offside at corners, well except against Fulham! How many goals have been chalked off for this demeanour? There are others, apart from against Everton, Pearson put the ball in the net from a Sinani corner, except a lazy Campbell stood in an offside position interfering with the goalkeeper’s vision. Interestingly Campbell was double dozy in the identical position for Lees’ goal but wasn’t given offside presumably as this involved a different assistant referee and/or the ‘keeper had a clearer view of the ball on this occasion? Offside is always a possible outcome with this tactic if the opposition, as seems to be the case at the moment, doesn’t place sentries on the posts.
It’s great to be fourth in the table but all but one of the teams we haven’t lost to are easily in the bottom half of the table and weak opponents, a bit of perspective is required especially as in many games, we haven’t performed very well for long periods. I feel happiest for CC.
I think that Campbell standing where he does is part of the CC plan for dead ball situations and not just because he is slow getting back onside. Most of the time it’ll work as the referees overlook things like that when there is a clear goal scored. As you say it depends on how the officials interpret the current rules as we’ve had one given and one ruled out.
As in TS’s blog, the worry is that now Sorba Thomas has shown what he can do he will become a big target in the next transfer window(s). Once again Town may be tempted to sell the family silver if a big enough fee is offered. O’Brien is not ready for the Premier League. You can’t blame him for wanting to get on and then there is of course, the salary, but I can only see him having a bit part from the bench or even just making a B team. Another season at Town would do him (and Town) a power of good. Unless there is something happening behind the scenes of which none of us is aware, I don’t expect any more “ins” or “outs” before the deadline. As it is now with most of the squad fit, we are struggling to give everyone game time, so another body would make it even more difficult unless it is as a replacement for injury or departure.
Only able to see the extended highlights but it’s one of those occasions when you just have to watch them again & again.
To sit 4th over an international break gives us all a pleasant warm feeling.
I wouldn’t argue with your 10/10 for Sorba Thomas. Anyone who scores and credited with 2 assists must surely deserve a 10.
I liked Colwill from the off in pre-season; he’s going to be a big plus this season.
I’m pleased for the entire defence with another clean sheet. I’m sure a lot of it comes from having a confident assured ‘keeper.
And I’m delighted that Sinani is producing (and still Diarra in the wings – my hobbyhorse).
And having written off Ward, all credit to him and to CC for picking him.
To score 4 goals with no Pipa and Toffolo not yet back to his best, it’s dreamland.
At last, someone agrees with me on Lewis O’Brien (or at least partially TerrierSpirit). He was an absolute disgrace until he scored the goal. If that had been Bacuna there would have been multiple moaners on here slating him. He did improve in the second half but for me he was out worst player and only worth a 5. Hopefully his head will be back in Huddersfield now until the January transfer window and we will see much better from him on a consistent basis.
Thomas needs a point knocking off for needlessly being booked.
I think O’Brien has been off it all season so far, just wondering whether he has some covid issue thats holding him back, ie lack of full fitness or its taking its toll on him
Sure we should see a better version after the break
Quite happy to give him the benefit of the doubt for a few games before i start to think Leeds have turned his head.
All credit to O’Brien for not throwing his toys out of the pram and pressurising his employers to reduce the transfer fee. At the age of 22, the opportunity to get a big-money contract in the Premier League would have turned the heads of many.
He now has 4 months on an improved contract plus he’ll be right in the shop window. What further motivation does he need to now knuckle down and really show everyone what he can do? In an ideal world, both for O’Brien and for Town, his performances will stimulate greater competition for his signature in January. And just to put a cherry on the cake, he may sign for a large Premier League club and be immediately loaned back to Town for the second half of the season.