Huddersfield Town 1, Reading 2
A double strike by Lucas Joao wiped out an early goal by Fraizer Campbell as Huddersfield Town’s winning run at home came to an end at the hands of Reading.
Campbell got Town off to a fine start with a header after 6 minutes but the Terriers eventually wilted under constant aerial pressure from the Royals and Lucas Joao got the equaliser after 52 minutes before hitting what became the winner in the 65th minute.
Isaac Mbenza went wide with the goal at his mercy and had another shot saved as Town tried to get the equaliser but lack of cutting edge still plagues the the Terriers.
Town boss Carlos Corberan had named another unchanged starting line-up after their late winner against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday for the visit of Reading who started the day in the play off spots above them.
And the Terriers quickly took the lead after just 6 minutes when Fraizer Campbell headed home Isaac Mbenza’s right wing cross after a bright start by the visitors for his 5th goal of the season.
Sone Aluko forced a save from Ryan Schofield as Reading battled back and Schofield had to come out of his box a couple of times to clear long passes played behind their defence – a clear tactic that Reading tried throughout the game with mixed results.
Aluko dragged a shot wide in the 31st minute when the visitors escaped Town’s press, with captain Jonathan Hogg stifling Jonathan Swift at every opportunity, and a lucky ricochet fell kindly for the Reading front man who should have done better.
Swift evaded his man marker once, with swift finding enough space to pass to a forward only for Naby Sarr to come across and execute a great tackle in first half injury time but Town had their manager Carlos Corberan shouting in frustration at slack defending to give away a free kick soon after.
The Terriers escaped punishment after Swift’s free kick into the box found the head of Thomas Holmes only for Schofield to make another great save from close range.
Town were under pressure immediately after the break, and Lucas Joao won a free kick of the edge of the D, after a challenge by Carel Eiting after 49 minutes, but Swift’s dipping free kick went just over the bar.
Town broke swiftly and Lewis O’Brien’s left wing cross was too far in front of Mbenza’s outstretched foot after a slick break by the Terriers started by Harry Toffolo.
Lucas Joao punishes Huddersfield Town as poor finishing costs them against Reading
Lucas Joao rolled the ball past Schofield after the restart after Town switched off and Rarmani Edmonds-Green was caught out by the Brazilian after a ball over the top from Tom McIntyre.
Ovie Ejaria skipped past Pipa and threw himself to the floor after 58 minutes seeking a penalty but the referee was unconvinced as Reading continued to heap pressure on the Terriers.
Hogg had a massive shout for handball turned down after he sent a rebound back into the Reading area after Mbenza’s corner was only half cleared.
But with momentum firmly with Reading their manager Veljko Paunovic made the first change, bringing on Michael Olise for Swift after 61 minutes.
Juninho Bacuna won a free kick on the left corner of the 18-yard box but Sarr was deemed offside as he attempted to go for goal again after the ball pinged around the area following Mbenza’s free kick.
Reading took the game on its head when Lucas Joao received the ball from Olise on the edge of the Town area, turned, and hammered in a low shot that beat Schofield and flew into the bottom corner in the 65thminute.
Alex Pritchard was Town’s first change, replacing Carel Eiting after 70 but Town could not cope with the waves of Reading pressure.
Mbenza had a tame shot saved by Rafael Cabral while Bacuna saw his later shot blocked and Mbenza saw a golden chance to equalise go agonisingly wide with 4 minutes to go.
There were two more changes as Joao took a knock and came off to be replaced by Alfa Semedo after 81 minutes, and he was followed by a double change which saw Tomas Esteves and Sam Baldock come on for Ejaria and Aluko
Edmonds-Green was taken off in the 87th minute as striker Kieran Phillips made his senior debut with Town seeking the equaliser but Esteves hit the crossbar with just Schofield to beat as Town were caught upfield on the break and their winning streak at home came to an end and they slipped to defeat.
GOALS – Huddersfield Town 1, Reading 2
Huddersfield Town 1, Reading 0: 6. Fraizer Campbell headed in Isaac Mbenza’s right wing cross to hit his 5th goal of the season.
Huddersfield Town 1, Reading 1: 52. Lucas Joao stroked his 15th goal of the season past after he outfoxed Rarmani Edmonds-Green to get to a long ball over the top from Reading.
Huddersfield Town 1, Reading 2: 65. Lucas Joao received the box from Michael Olise just outside the edge of the Town area and he had space to turn and hammer in a low shot that beat Ryan Schofield into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.
MATCH STATS – Huddersfield Town 1, Reading 2
Huddersfield Town: Schofield, Pipa, Edmonds-Green (Phillips 87), Sarr, Toffolo, Hogg, Eiting (Pritchard 70), Mbenza, Bacuna, O’Brien, Campbell
Huddersfield Town subs not used: Hamer, Vallejo, Duhaney, Crichlow, Brown, Rowe, Jackson
Booked: Mbenza 44 (time wasting at a corner); Toffolo 70 (foul on Thomas Holmes)
Goal: Campbell 6
Reading: Cabral, Holmes, Morrison, McIntyre, Richards, Rinomhota, Laurent, Aluko (Esteves 87), Swift (Olise 61), Ejaria (Baldock 87), Joao (Semedo 81)
Reading Subs not used: Southwood, Watson, East, Puscas, Dorsett
Booking: Holmes 63 (foul on Juninho Bacuna)
Goals: Lucas Joao 52, 65
Referee: Jeremy Simpson