Anthony Patterson: 5/10
First game of pre-season so understandably looked a little rusty, made one good save with his foot when the striker really should have scored and not at fault for the three goals but some suspect decision making at times.
Niall Huggins: 4/10
Today was a real struggle for Huggins, tried to get forward to support Roberts but often ran into dead ends and just didn’t look comfortable when he was close to the opposition. Even when he recovered after Patterson’s rush of blood, he tried to keep the ball in play and almost gave a goal away.
Nectar Triantis: 5/10
Won some high balls in and around the box, looked good on the ball and his distribution was impressive at times.
Tom Lavery: 5/10
Naturally a right back and had a difficult game against a physical striker, he stuck at it though and made a great goal line block in the second half.
Harrison Jones: 5/10
Defended OK down his side with most of Rayo’s best work coming on the opposite flank.
Alan Browne: 5/10
Started on the left wing and that went as well as you’d expect but looked a lot more comfortable when he moved inside into central midfield.
Dan Neil (C): 5/10
Showed flashes of his quality, when he dropped a shoulder and got away from a gaggle of opposition players to get us up the pitch and winning the ball occasionally high up the pitch but did little to protect a very mixed up back four.
Patrick Roberts: 5/10
Like Neil, we only saw flashes of him when he would tie the full back in knots but then he’d play the ball backwards rather than trying to make something happen. Did create Isidor’s only chance, winning the ball and getting the ball quickly to the striker and also having a shot late on blocked by his team-mate.
Enzo Le Fee: 5/10
Tried to play the ball quickly to Isidor a few times in the first half but the Rayo goalkeeper was always quick to clear. Looked brighter following the substitutions, when the willing runners of Tutierov and Aleksic came on.
Chris Rigg: 5/10
Tried a crazy Cruyff turn in the first half right on the edge of his own box and was punished for it with the opening goal coming directly from that error. Worked hard closing down but little of note on the ball.
Wilson Isidor: 5/10
Another who was returning from a stop-start pre-season and didn’t get a touch in the first 30 minutes. Had one effort on goal that was saved after Roberts won the ball high up and whipped in a nice cross that was begging for someone to get on the end of.
Substitutes
Blondy Nna Noukeu**: 6/10**
A comfortable afternoon for him with the game already won by the visitors.
Jenson Jones**: 6/10**
Came on for Lavery and looked tidy.
Milan Aleksic**: 6/10**
Was always a willing runner, showing his pace to try and break the lines. Final ball wasn’t great though and a little too greedy at times.
Timur Tutierov**: 7/10**
Came on and instantly showed the drive and application we were missing. Put himself about and was very unlucky not to score or even win a penalty after being fouled late on.
Man of the Match: Timur Tutierov
There were some very subdued displays from the starting XI but Tutierov came on and caused Rayo all sorts of problems. He troubled them with his pace, movement and willingness to battle. Really should have won a spot kick after being fouled following Aleksic playing him in and had a few reasonable chances to get on the scoresheet.