Tough Run Starts At Huddersfield Tonight

By Hob Nob Anyone?

It's third versus fourth tonight as Reading make the trip to Huddersfield looking to cement a place in the top six and keep in touch with the top two. With a visit to Brighton coming up at the weekend it's make or break time on an outside chance of automatic promotion. Only six points will do if Reading want to stay as contenders for a top two finish. The gap between Reading and seventh place is nine points but that could soon be eroded if these two games bring two defeats. Many, both inside and outside the club, still think that Reading's position in the table is somehow "false" rather than just suprising. Tonight's game is a real chance to prove our promotion credentials - if only we can avoid defeat.

When Huddersfield visited the Madejski Stadium earlier this season it was Reading that picked up the three points thanks to Roy Beerens who scored the only goal of the game. That was way back in September, but after the game Huddersfield were second and Reading were fourth - so little has changed since then. Both sides have had dips in form inbetween but it has been a suprisingly consistant league season from both clubs. Last season we were beaten 1-3 in the League at Huddersfield but drew 2-2 in the FA Cup before winning the replay 5-2 at home after being two goals down. There is a lot of recent history between the sides and the record is very evenly split.

Having waited a week for a game after last Tuesday night's dramatic 3-2 victory over Brentford, Reading have no new injury concerns. The Royals will have both Paul McShane and Joey van den Berg available for selection after they have completed their returns from injury. The return of McShane is great news as Reading look to tighten the defence and Jaap Stam is seriously spoilt for choice with loan defender Reece Oxford having to sit it out on the bench. Oxford will have to keep waiting with McShane and van den Berg probably both above him in the selection order.

Stam is also spoilt for choice in midfield. Swift scored an important first goal of the game against Brentford but Reading looked much improved after a triple substitution that included Evans joining the action as Reading turned the game around. Beerens will also be hoping to start but may find the competition for a starting place too tough. Grabban is yet to make a real impression at the club but Kermorgant looked strong when he played the last twenty minutes against Brentford. So many options!

Recent Meetings With Huddersfield

DATE	COMPETITION	OPPOSITION	SCORE	REPORT
24 September 2016	Championship	Huddersfield (HOME)	W: 1-0	Read report...
08 March 2016	Championship	Huddersfield (Away)	L: 1-3	Read report...
19 January 2016	FA Cup	Huddersfield (HOME)	W: 5-2	Read report...
09 January 2016	FA Cup	Huddersfield (Away)	D: 2-2	Read report...
03 November 2015	Championship	Huddersfield (HOME)	D: 2-2	Read report...
24 February 2015	Championship	Huddersfield (Away)	L: 0-3	Read report...
03 January 2015	FA Cup	Huddersfield (Away)	W: 1-0	Read report...
19 August 2014	Championship	Huddersfield (HOME)	L: 1-2	Read report...
29 March 2014	Championship	Huddersfield (HOME)	D: 1-1	Read report...
14 December 2013	Championship	Huddersfield (Away)	W: 1-0	Read report...

From the Discussion

AN Anonymous 19 Feb 2017 · 7:06pm

I try to pass off others' work as my own, so here is a HTFC view of the game: http://www.htafc.com/fixtures-results/match-preview/index.aspx?MatchId=3980959
SU Sutekh 20 Feb 2017 · 10:48am

Referee is Mr Tony Harrington, all the way from Cleveland http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/09/26/17/2CCA8FA100000578-3250108-image-a-241_1443284478127.jpg Previous 10 Dec 2016 > Reading 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday 06 Feb 2016 > Reading 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 26 Sep 2015 > Burnley 1-2 Reading 01 Oct 2014 > Leeds United 0-0 Reading Historically Never played a league game (or any first team game come to that) with Huddersfield until October 1975 but since then there have been 43 league games. This trip will be the 22nd time Reading have been to Huddersfield looking for some points and, despite the utter misery of the last couple…
TM tidus_mi2 20 Feb 2017 · 10:56am

I'm fully expecting us to lose both games against Huddersfield and Brighton so anything would be a positive really. Hopefully Mr Harrington's unbeaten record with us will persist.
KR Kuhl_Runnings 20 Feb 2017 · 11:08am

I must be one of very few people who is confident for this one. I know they were down to ten and that but we beat them earlier in the season when they were on similar form (top of the league at that point IIRC) and on paper I'm not sure if there defence is totally world beating. If we don't fanny around and if we defend better than recently I can't see why we cant do the double over a team that has had a few days to prepare to our week.
GF Gunny Fishcake 20 Feb 2017 · 12:17pm

I lost count of how many times we win against all odds , I think a draw at both games, would be well happy with that
NA Nameless 20 Feb 2017 · 12:25pm

Slightly bemusing first post on this thread. Where was it pasted from ? Certainly not written by someone with any Royals knowledge ! Quinn to start ? Ilori and Harriet 'doubts' ? Gunter a key player ?
IR Ian Royal 20 Feb 2017 · 1:03pm

Slightly bemusing first post on this thread. Where was it pasted from ? Certainly not written by someone with any Royals knowledge ! Quinn to start ? Ilori and Harriet 'doubts' ? Gunter a key player ? The Informant is troll, desperate for my attention usually.
GD gdroyal 20 Feb 2017 · 1:17pm

I think the game Huddersfield play is the one we are most susceptible to. They like to press and put defenders under pressure, I'm worried our defence might crumble with limited time on the ball, especially if Gunter and Blackett are two of the CBs.

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