EFL Trophy: Walsall 1-1 Reading (won 4-2 on pens) - player ratings

Sam Hornby - 7 

Hero - Guilty of spilling the ball for Reading's goal in an otherwise faultless display but made amends with a pair of penalty saves in the shoot-out.

Oisin McEntee - 8 

Milestone - Offered solid support to Browne in behind on his 50th Walsall appearance and almost scored when he was denied by Tom Norcott late on.

Donervon Daniels - 7 

Good - Strong in the air and played a couple of nice diagonal balls to set Walsall on attacks down the right during the first half.

Evan Weir - 7 

Posed a threat with a number of dangerous set piece deliveries and looked confident venturing forward from the back.

Jack Earing - 7 

Flashes - Had a chance smothered by Reading's defence late in the first half and released Lowe before Ashqar Ahmed was shown a second yellow for hauling him down.

Rico Browne - 7 

Bright - Combined effectively with George Hall early on and set-up a golden early chance for Albert Adomah with a low flashing cross although he faded after the hour-mark.

George Hall - 8

Electrifying - A livewire both on and off the ball. Stole the ball with some determined play in the build-up to Johnson's early chance and linked play well down the right.

Charlie Lakin - 7 

Tireless - Had a few neat touches and played a key role in the press with a tireless display to win the ball high up the pitch on a number of occasions. 

Taylor Allen - 7 

Threat - Played at left wing-back and proved a threat down the flank with a couple of dangerous crosses before being replaced on the hour.

Danny Johnson - 7 

Crucial - Squandered a great opportunity midway into the first half when he failed to keep his close-range finish down but forced penalties with a last-gasp equaliser.

Albert Adomah - 7 

Creative - Pressed tirelessly to force Reading into mistakes and always looked to make things happen but missed a gilt-edged chance early on with the goal of his mercy. 

Substitutes 

Nathan Lowe (for Hall, 60) 7

Poked a low finish wide of the target and got a vital flick on Reyes Cleary's cross to set-up Johnson's leveller.

Liam Gordon (for Allen, 60) 7

Looked to get forward following his introduction and released Cleary down the left in the build-up to Walsall's goal.

Connor Barrett (for Browne, 77) 

Linked well with Adomah down the right and provided Walsall with fresh energy in the closing stages. 

Reyes Cleary (for Lakin, 78) 

Played an instrumental role in Walsall's leveller with a darting run and cross before converting the winning spot-kick.

Unused: Simkin, Okagbue, Thomas