Town victorious on the road
- Huddersfield Town beat Reading 3-4
- Terriers extend unbeaten run to nine
- Goals from Danel Sinani and Danny Ward (x3)
Huddersfield Town came out on top in a seven-goal Sky Bet Championship thriller against Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
An end-to-end game throughout, a Danel Sinani strike and Danny Ward hat-trick sealed victory for the Terriers.
Extending their unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions, Town started the game the brighter of the two sides, with Sorba Thomas winning the first corner of the game within the third minute.
However, it was the hosts who would go on to break the deadlock, with Lucas Joao putting Reading ahead in the fifth minute.
The Terriers instantly responded to conceding, with their pressure paying off in the ninth minute. Pipa made a diagonal run towards the box before passing to Sinani, whose shot from 25 yards took a deflection off a Reading defender and into the bottom corner!
As if that wasn’t enough, Town took the lead six minutes later thanks to Wardy! Following a period of attacking pressure from the Terriers, the ball bounced around the area with both Thomas and Sinani trying their luck, before eventually falling to Ward to tuck it away! The goal was the striker’s 50th in the Sky Bet Championship.
Lee Nicholls was called into action not long after, making a brave save at the feet of a Reading attacker a few yards out, who was eventually flagged offside.
The hosts equalised the scoreline in the 23rd minute thanks to George Pușcaș.
Once again, the Terriers instantly responded to conceding, with Wardy bagging his brace! Having initially collected the ball from a free-kick, Luke Southwood fumbled having hit the ground, seeing the ball fall to Ward, who stuck it away without hesitation!
Town then came close to adding their third with Ward turning provider for Josh Koroma. Unfortunately, JK took a moment too long to shoot, allowing Reading just enough time to block him.
The game slowed for a period, but with Town still putting the pressure on going forward.
The 45th minute saw Reading equalise for the second time. Jonathan Hogg was forced to concede a corner off a Reading cross from the right. Michael Morrison tried to steer it towards goal, seeing it take a heavy deflection off Tom Lees on its way in.
The second half picked up where the first had finished, with both sides flying forward at every opportunity.
The 53rd minute saw the seventh goal of the game, and with it Wardy’s hat-trick! Town’s first league hat-trick since Danny Ward vs Watford in 2014! Koroma juggled the ball past a defender, before Wardy sent it crashing into the back of the net from range!
The game showed no signs of slowing down, with both teams flying forward at pace.
Nicholls made a HUGE save in the 66th minute to deny the Royals their equaliser. Following a Reading corner, he threw himself at the feet of an attacker to deny them.
Five minutes later, Nicholls received Town’s first yellow card of the game for taking too long to move the ball.
The 75th minute saw Southwood showcase a strong save to deny Thomas! Hoggy played a great ball over the top, which Thomas latched onto and flew clean through, only to be denied by the hosts ‘keeper!
As the minutes continued to count down to full-time, Matty Pearson got himself between the ball and Puscas to deny Reading a clear strike on goal, taking a blow to the thigh in the process.
Town continued to work hard, with the referee finally blowing his whistle to see the Terriers leave the Select Car Leasing Stadium with all three Sky Bet Championship points.
Town’s Line-Up (4-3-2-1)
Lee Nicholls; Harry Toffolo, Tom Lees, Matty Pearson, Pipa; Lewis O’Brien, Jonathan Hogg; Josh Koroma (Jon Russell, 66’), Danel Sinani (Josh Ruffels, 78‘), Sorba Thomas; Danny Ward (Jordan Rhodes, 82’)
Unused Subs
Nicholas Bilokapic; Ollie Turton, Naby Sarr, Aaron Rowe
Town Scorers
Danel Sinani (9’), Danny Ward (15, 25’, 53’)
Town Booking
Lee Nicholls, 71’
