Noel Hunt lauds ‘leader’ Liam Fraser after Reading overcome AFC Wimbledon

Reading manager Noel Hunt praised midfielder Liam Fraser for his leadership qualities in the 2-1 Carabao Cup second-round home victory over AFC Wimbledon.

Fraser, a free transfer from Crawley during the summer, scored his first goal for the club with a 30-yard piledriver in the first half.

Although Omar Bugiel equalised soon after, Reading won the tie through Mamadi Camara in the 70th minute.

Hunt said: “It was a great goal from Liam. He’s been brilliant since he came here.

“He’s a leader and he’s a winner. He has big competition in his position but, when he’s come in, he commits himself 100 per cent. We love the boy.”

Hunt added: “We’re delighted to get through to the next round. We played some really good stuff at times and, ultimately, the end result is pleasing.

“At this club, everyone has to give everything for as long as they are on the pitch. The players have really battled away.”

Wimbledon won by the same scoreline at the same venue in League One 10 days ago.

“It’s disappointing and frustrating to lose,” manager Johnnie Johnson said. “There was very little in the game.

“Probably the biggest frustration is Reading’s second goal, which ends up being the winner. We got played through too easily for that one.

“The first one [Fraser] was obviously a bit of a ‘worldie’. Maybe we could have got a bit more pressure on the ball but he’s picked out the top corner.

“We gave it everything to try to get back in it.”