Reading FC v Huddersfield Town: Match Preview

Reading FC

Form (all comps): DLDWW

Defender Anton Ferdinand is available after six weeks out but will have to displace Michael Hector or Paul McShane at the heart of Reading’s defence. Hal Robson-Kanu (ankle) and Stephen Quinn (knee) are both long-term injury absentees.

Reading produced a spirited performance in the second half against Brighton to come back from a goal down against league leaders Brighton on Saturday. After a tight first half the Royals went behind early in the second thanks to a goal from Jamie Murphy. Reading then spurned a number of decent openings – including when Reading had three men over and Vydra was unable to convert – before Vydra pounced after Stockdale had saved from a Nick Blackman drive to score his first Reading goal. Reading will now be looking to kick on and be more clinical when they face Huddersfield Town at Madejski Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Huddersfield Town FC

Form (all comps): LLWDL

James Vaughan is available again for The Terriers after serving a three game suspension for his red card against Ipswich. Dean Whithead picked up his fifth booking of the season against Burnley and will serve a mandatory one-match suspension against The Royals. Tommy Smith (shoulder), Jonathan Hogg (thigh) and Sean Scannell (hamstring) all sat out Saturday’s match.

The Terriers will look to bounce back after back-to-back defeats against Derby and most recently Burnley on Saturday. Huddersfield completed the double over Reading last season winning 2-1 at the Madejski in August before sweeping them aside 3-0 in the reverse fixture. The Royals only consolation was a 1-0 victory when the two sides met in the third round of the FA Cup, a result that saw Reading on their way to a subsequent FA Cup Semi-Final place.

Lineups From Last Game

Reading (v Brighton): Ali Al-Habsi, A. Taylor, P. McShane, C. Gunter, M. Hector, G. McCleary (P. Hurtado 73), D. Williams, O. Norwood, Orlando Sá (L. Piazon 73), N. Blackman, M. Vydra.

Huddersfiled (v Burnley): J Steer, M. Hudson, M. Cranie, J. Lynch, J. Davidson, D. Whitehead (F. Bojaj 90), M. Carayol, (K. Dempsey 72), I. Miller (N. Wells 59), J. Paterson, E. Huws, H. Bunn.

What The Opposition Think

I'm not sure I'd go quite as far as to say it's been a disaster, but it's certainly been bad. I still think we'll be relegated unless we make changes to the management team. Although I think Powell hasn't been helped by a board who look inept when it comes to football knowledge selling our better players and replacing them with cheaper alternatives, he isn't the man to get us out of this mess.

Last Five Meetings

24 Feb 2015: Huddersfield Town 3-0 Reading (League Championship)

03 Jan 2015: Huddersfield Town 0-1 Reading (FA Cup)

19 Aug 2014 Reading 1-2 Huddersfield Town (League Championship)

29 Mar 2014: Reading 1-1 Huddersfield Town (League Championship)

14 Dec 2013: Huddersfield Town 0-1 Reading (League Championship)

Head To Head

Reading v Huddersfield: W:22 D:9 L:13

YouTube History

Prediction

Reading 2-0 Huddersfield Town