Home comforts for Royals...
Paul Ince's side recorded their seventh win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Huddersfield Town in RG2.
The Terriers had the first shot of the match when Jordan Rhodes struck from distance but Royals’ ‘keeper Joe Lumley was more than equal to the tame effort.
The hosts first attack saw Tom Ince’s cross met by Andy Carroll, before Nesta Guinness-Walker followed up with a dangerous ball that was well claimed by Town ‘keeper Lee Nicholls.
Yuta Nakayama then fired a shot at goal from the edge of the area, but Lumley held the ball well.
Carroll, on his first start since returning to the club last month, then picked out Junior Hoilett who won a corner, from which the striker saw his shot go over the bar.
Ince then put a free kick to the back post that was headed back across goal by Carroll however Nicholls cut it out.
The Royals created the next opportunity when Hoilett got up the pitch and turned his man before putting in a cross that was headed wide by Jeff Hendrick.
Lucas Joao was unfortunate to see the sting taken out of his shot but although it fell to Carroll, Nicholls rose highest to win the ball.
But the hosts would not be denied for long with Tom McIntyre heading in Ince’s corner to make it 1-0!
And minutes later we doubled our lead when Hendrick’s low cross was seemingly cut out by Terriers’ defender Michal Helik only for his clearance to go into the net via the head of Nicholls.
Sorba Thomas saw the first yellow of the match when he brought down Hoilett when the winger was about to enter the box with the resultant free kick from Ince going just wide of the post.
The Royals were in a confident mood and Ince almost made it three when he received Guinness-Walker’s cut back, but his attempt went just over the bar.
Half time: Reading 2-0 Huddersfield Town
Nicholls was the first ‘keeper tested of the second half when Tom Holmes poked Carroll’s knock down goalward.
Welsh international Thomas then whipped a cross in, but Hoilett was on hand to clear the danger.
The Yorkshire side continued to look for a route back into the game with Ollie Turton picking out substitute Danny Ward, but the forward couldn’t direct his headed effort on target.
McIntyre almost grabbed his second of the game but his header went just the wrong side of the post.
David Kasumu tried to catch Lumley off his line, but the midfielder was only able to find the advertising hoardings.
Thomas then ran with the ball and cut into the box but Holmes stopped his cross.
But the Royals weren’t done yet at the other end with substitute Yakou Meite pouncing on a defensive mix up to beat Nicholls to the ball and fire the ball over the line!
Hendrick’s shot from range whistled past the post with the Royals seemingly not done yet as they attempted to add to the scoreline.
However, the visitors grabbed a late consolation when skipper Tom Lees headed in Thomas’ corner.
Fornah and Hendrick went close in the final minute of stoppage time as the Royals sealed a fifth home win of the campaign.
Full time: Reading 3-1 Huddersfield Town
Reading: Lumley (GK), Yiadom (C) (Fornah 65’), Holmes, McIntyre, Guinness-Walker, Hendrick, Hutchinson, Ince, Hoilett, Joao (Loum 78’), Carroll (Meite 72’).
Unused Subs: Bouzanis (GK), Ejaria, Mbengue, Abbey.
Scorers: McIntyre (29’), Nicholls (35’ OG), Meite (81’)
Huddersfield Town: Nicholls (GK), Turton (Mbete 70’), Lees (C), Helik, Nakayama (Jackson HT), Russell, Kasumu, Holmes (Ward HT) Rudoni (Mahoney 70’), Thomas, Rhodes.
Unused Subs: Bilokapic (GK), Hogg, Camara.
Yellow cards: Thomas (40’), Kasumu (49’), Mahoney (74’).
Scorer: Lees (90+4).
Attendance: 16,684 (728 Away Fans)