How they rated
DAVID BUTTON
Didn’t have much to do as Derby failed to have a single shot on target. Dealt with crosses well and ate up the clock from goal kicks.
ANDY YIADOM
Came so close to opening the scoring when he swivelled in the box and show his shot bounce off the base of the post.
TOM HOLMES
Strong aerially and looked assured next to Bindon as the two look to build a solid partnership and collected a vital clean sheet.
TYLER BINDON
Stayed switched on at the back to cut out any dangerous Derby attacks throughout the game to earn his team a clean sheet.
JERIEL DORSETT
Solid defensive display at leftback. Stayed disciplined without ever bursting forward to help out in attack. Replaced by Mola.
CHARLIE SAVAGE
Performed well considering it was his first league start since November at the base of midfield in place of Craig. Tidy in possession.
LEWIS WING
A quieter game from the midfielder who is usually so important to Reading’s play. Taken off late on.
HARVEY KNIBBS
Provided his usual infectious energy. Lacked sometimes in the final third, but worked so hard for his teammates.
FEMI AZEEZ
Plenty of energy and vigour, forced a save from Vickers with a stinging shot. Hit the post before Mukairu slotted in.
PAUL MUKAIRU
His excellent work on the wing should have resulted in a goal in the first-half. Right place, right time on the rebound to score the winner.
SAM SMITH
Made some promising runs and linked well in attack, but couldn’t take any of his chances.
SUBS 6 8 8
8 7 6 6 7 8 8
6
Michael Craig 6, Clinton Mola 6,
Tom McIntyre n/a, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan n/a, Amadou Mbengue 6
BY ANDY PRESTON
READING picked up three precious points with an impressive performance and win against promotion pushing Derby County.
After creating numerous chances in the first-half, the only goal of the game was scored when Paul Mukairu was well placed to slot in after Femi Azeez’s shot cannoned off the post.
The Royals stay in the relegation zone despite the win on Tuesday night, and are four points adrift of safety with a game in hand over Shrewsbury Town.
Ruben Selles made one change from the defeat at Wigan which saw Charlie Savage replace Michael Craig at the base of midfield.
The Rams visited Berkshire in strong form having not lost on the road since October and knowing that a win would guarantee them top spot ahead of Portsmouth.
Despite being opposite ends of the table, Reading put on an impressive first-half display, created plenty of chances, yet had nothing to show for it at the break.
Reading showed patience to try and break Derby down when Paul Mukairu worked the ball out wide instead of opting to take a speculative pop at goal. Femi Azeez swung a ball towards Sam Smith which was glanced wide by the striker.
Harvey Knibbs then showed his usual persistence to steal the ball in Derby’s half and fed the ball to Smith who was unable to get the ball out of his feet to get a strike away.
Instead of a 16th minute pitch invasion as in the last home match,
READING FC manager Ruben Selles praised his team’s performance after they defeated what he described as ‘one of the best’ sides in League One.
Paul Mukairu’s second-half rebound was enough to give the Royals all three points to boost their survival hopes.
“It was a squad game. We performed really well, I’m very happy with the result,” said Selles.
“We had something missing in the final third. We still need to improve and sometimes we missed that final pass.
“One (goal) was enough today but we had opportunities to close the game if the final pass was better.
“I’m happy because my team got three points and performed very well against one of the best teams in the category.
“We did a lot of good things and are in a moment where we are performing and competing and we can see the boys growing.
“Amid all of the things going on, that speaks really well about the dressing room.”
The Royals were also given their verdict of three points suspended following their pitch invasion against Port Vale which means the team will not lose the points unless another match is disrupted.
Selles continued: “If you see the cases that happened before in the football league, the statement that they put out today was in line with that.
“To get a straight three point
Reading came a whisker away from scoring when Andy Yiadom swivelled in the box and saw his shot bounce off the post.
The Royals continued to find space in the Rams’ half which was often led by the bursting pace of Azeez who failed to pick out Smith’s run and instead saw his pass cut out.
A lack of numbers in the box cost Reading the chance to go in front after Mukairu had done excellently to beat his full-back, but had no one deduction would have been over exaggerating that situation so I think the statement is fair. They thought it was not fair to put the punishment on us on the football side.”
The manager also explained his decision to substitute both full-backs.
He said: “With Andy Yiadom we know he had been out for a month He played last weekend fully and we know if he plays two games with only three days rest then the last part would be difficult for him with his knee to profit at the back post for what would have been the simplest of tap-ins.
The chances kept coming for the hosts when another Azeez sprung upfield again and with options both left and right, he chose to shoot and hit a stinging effort which was too hot to handle for Josh Vickers before Mukairu fired over from the rebound.
Derby’s best opening arrived in the 40th minute when Conor Hourihane looked to have beaten so we knew we would have to make a substitution,
“We thought they would have a new player to step in that position especially if they were losing. “We knew Andy would have difficulties coping with that in the second-half so we prepared Amadou (Mbengue) because Andy was a bit lower in his performance in terms of some statistics in physicality..
“With Jeriel (Dorsett) sometimes with players with his constitution, you run out of energy and it was a game for the squad.”