7 Patterson: Didn’t have much to do but dealt with high balls and crosses well.

7 Hume: Solid defensively and attacking influence grew after the break. Went close early in second half.

7 Ballard: Mature performance and, alongside Batth, won what could have been testing battle against Carroll and Long.

7 Batth: Used his experience to deal with Reading threat. Solid.

7 Alese: Good first half block to deny Hoilett. Impressive in the second half.

7 Michut: Assured midfield performance. Did the ugly stuff in the first half and bossed it in the second half.

7 Neil: Scrappy first half but as tireless as ever. Like Michut, influence on the ball grew after the break.

6 Amad: Frustrating afternoon for the Manchester United loanee.

8 Roberts: Took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half. Deserved his goal. The stand-out player on the pitch.

6 Clarke: No shortage of effort but didn’t quite happen for him.

6 Gelhardt: Frustrating home debut. Was feeding off scraps in the first half. Unlucky early in the second.

Substitutes:

7 Pritchard (for Diallo, 65): Classy cameo from the bench, helped Sunderland wear Reading down

O’Nien (for Neil, 75): N/A

Lihadji (for Gelhardt, 75): N/A

Bennette (for Clarke, 81) N/A

Ba (for Michut, 81): N/A

Subs not used: Bass, Ekwah

READING: LUMLEY 7, Yiadom 6, Sarr 6, Mbengue 6, Baba 5 (Azeez, 87), Hoilett 6 (Dann, 78), McIntyre 6, (Fornah, 87)  Hendrick 6, Ince 5, Long 6 (Meite, 77) Carroll 6

Subs: Bouzanis, Guiness-Walker, Casadei,

Man of the Match: Patrick Roberts. Took control of the game after the break. Created a string of chances before firing home late winner