JOHN Swift once again stole the show with a stunning solo goal to give Reading a 1-0 win over Barnsley.

Here's how we rated the players' performances this afternoon:

 

Luke Southwood: 7/10 - Made a couple of decent saves, particularly in the first half to deny Cauley Woodrow.

 

Andy Yiadom: 7/10 - Good skill out wide to carve out a couple of crossing opportunities. Also played an absolute peach of a cross which was begging to be tapped in but nobody attacked the ball.

 

Liam Moore: 6/10 - Had a couple of let-offs today. Barnsley had a host of chances they really should have converted but thankfully their finishing was poor.

 

Scott Dann: 7/10 - Simialrly to Moore, was caught out once or twice at the back, but also showed his quality and experience at times. Very unlucky not to score on his full debut.

 

Baba Rahman: 7/10 - Lots of energy and always looks to get in behind and stretch the play but needs to work on his delivery.

 

Josh Laurent: 5/10 - Surprisingly very poor, not his best game in a Reading shirt by a country mile. Passing was well off the mark throughout most of the game despite being back in a more familiar position. Nearly redeemed himself with a wonder goal from range but it wasn’t to be. 

 

Danny Drinkwater: 7/10 - Did a good job of protecting the back four and controlled the tempo of the game with his passing.

 

Tom Dele-Bashiru: 6/10 -  Not as effective out wide as he is through the middle but he put in a decent shift. Did have the ball in the net in the first half but needed to hold his run.

 

John Swift: 8/10 - Was hardly involved in the game for the first 70 minutes or so but showed his quality with a stunning solo goal to give Reading the opening goal. Reading are definitely very reliant on the ex-Chelsea midfielder who will surely be in demand come January.

 

Ovie Ejaria: 6/10 - A bit hit and miss. Flashes of skill here and there but was also isolated for much of the game and struggled to really get involved. 

 

George Puscas: 6/10 - Showed lots of determination to chase down loose balls but struggled to get himself into any dangerous attacking positions. 

 

Femi Azeez: 6/10 - Great to see the exciting young forward back in action but really should have done better when Swift sent him in behind. Needs to have the confidence to shoot on his weaker side.