Paul Wheelock rates the Rovers in their win at Reading...

PAUL ROBINSON 8 Made only one save of note, from Jobi McAnuff, but was a commanding and reassuring presence throughout.

ADAM HENLEY 8 Selected ahead of Todd Kane, the recalled right-back played his part as Rovers made it three straight clean sheets.

GRANT HANLEY 9 Did not put a foot wrong, the centre-back has yet to lose or concede a goal since taking over as Rovers’ skipper.

MATT KILGALLON 8 Outstanding alongside Hanley although could count himself fortunate not to concede a second-half penalty.

TOMMY SPURR 8 Kept tricky winger Garath McCleary quiet and was always a willing runner for Craig Conway on the overlap.

TOM CAIRNEY 7 Tried to play on after hurting his ankle before eventually coming off just before the hour mark.

JASON LOWE 8 His determination and desire played a big part in setting up Craig Conway’s winning goal.

LEE WILLIAMSON 8 Got better as the game wore on and, like Lowe, did a lot of the dirty work in midfield.

CRAIG CONWAY 8 Capped his full debut with a goal – and went desperately close to a second too from a free kick.

RUDY GESTEDE 8 Not too far wide with a 20-yard effort midway through the first half, the big striker put in a shift.

JORDAN RHODES 8 Went close to the goal his tireless performance deserved. Helped create the game’s decisive strike.

Substitutions :CHRIS TAYLOR LUKE VARNEY

Subs not used
Simon Eastwood, Todd Kane, David Dunn, Marcus Olsson, Corry Evans.

Reading line-up
Alex McCarthy, Chris Gunter, Kaspars Gorkss, Alex Pearce, Jordan Obita, Garath McCleary (Royston Drenthe 63), Hope Akpan (Danny Guthrie 63), Danny Williams, Jobi McAnuff, Adam Le Fondre, Pavel Pogrebnyak (Hal Robson-Kanu 63). Subs not used: Adam Federici, Stephen Kelly, Nick Blackman, Michael Hector.

Man of the match
GRANT HANLEY
The centre-back led from the front in what was a real captain’s performance.

Villain
ALEX McCARTHY
The Reading goalkeeper’s heroics denied Jordan Rhodes the goal he deserved.

Key moment Craig Conway’s 36th-minute winner. It gave Rovers something to defend – and defend it they did magnificently.

Ref watch Graham Scott dished out seven bookings, turned down a strong Reading penalty appeal and, incredibly, added 11 minutes of injury-time.