News and Views
Tough Run Starts At Huddersfield Tonight
21 February 2017
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... |
Discussion On This Story:
Sutekh
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 of visits, Reading's record isn't to shabby for a long awkward northern trip managing 8 wins to Huddersfield's 10.
Reading have only conceded 1 goal in those 8 wins, so as long as we can keep a clan sheet there's a chance...
Really expecting to be totally and utterly battered by a team that we already know press very high and won't give us a moment's chance to arse about trying to decide which pass back will be the most dangerous to make. One would hope Stam has looked long and hard at how to stop Huddersfield and will throw in some devious team selection, or tactic, that catches everyone out.
Kuhl_Runnings
Hound
Defensively they don't look too special, so I'd be happy for us to try to keep it tight, play on the counter and not be too expansive. If we do go a goal down we've plenty of options to come on and change the shape of the side.
Anonymous
Ripped off in toto from here:
Poor form. Will update the original post to give credit where it's due.
I didn't think there was an art form to starting a pre-game thread. All the information was there.
Also, I'ts great to see a moderator Hitlering as usual on this portal. No wonder new posters post once then never return.
Graham is proud of this site, sadly the moderators, mainly yourself, are ruining it but trying to through your weight around because you actually have no power in any other area of your life.
I think Graham should know how his moderators are behaving actually.
Blind Bigot
This a massive game which I expect both sides to be determined to take all 3pts. Our home form lately has been excellent and given that your lads like to pass the ball, as we do too, then it should be a cracking match.I don't like making predictions because I usually get them wrong so I'll do what I did when we played Brighton & HA a few weeks back and hold my tongue. Here's to a good night of football!
Safe journey if you're travelling up!
BB (HTFC)
Sutekh
Reading do like to pass the ball, however if Huddersfield decide they want to win the game and think it's clever to try and mount attacks then expect Reading's passing game to amount to a load of piddling about in their defensive third while waiting for the most inappropriate moment to try and play Habsi into the game so he can go for the mis-hit pass to Kachunga or Lolley or whichever Terrier just happens to be passing by.
Please note though that, ridiculous as it sounds, sometimes that "plan" works and Reading somehow find themselves with a goal or two lead at the final whistle.
Emeraldroyal
Ditto
I feel a fulhamesque type stuffing coming on. Naturally I hope I'm wrong and I'll happily eat my words....
With few exceptions this season we've flattered to deceive I'm sorry.
Derby away first 25 minutes I thought we had turned a corner but subsequent performances have fed back into my negative attitude I'm afraid.
Huddy are on a proper run of form and play an attractive fluid style of football. Home game under the lights with their momentum, I can't see anything under than a loss I'm afraid.
LoyalRoyal22
I expect a similar performance to the one at pride park that we undeservedly lost.
The last game we had against a high pressing apponent (Fulham H) Stam put McCleary & Beerens upfront so we could exploit them with the pace when we're boxed in at the back. I hope he goes with McCleary & Grabban upfront to do something similar, don't think this game suits Yann.
Hoping for a line up of:
Al-Habsi
Gunter
Oxford
Moore
Mcshane
Obita
Williams
Kelly
Swift
McCleary
Grabban
royalp-we
I like the look of that side. Although I'd prefer to start Evans instead of Oxford so he can push up as a DM if needed; I think not starting with a DM would be suicidal with Mooy, Brown and Van la Parra roaming. I think Huddersfield tend to start with one up top and then a fluid midfield.
A bit like ourselves, really
Edit: Yet to see Oxford play but I'm now told apparently he can play CM...
CountryRoyal
Tough one to decide who to start. Do you go for the energy and drive of Williams early doors? Or the finesse and bit of extra quality of Swift, even though his all round game isn't great at the moment. Who would have a greater impact off the bench? Really difficult.
We def need either Evans or Oxf*rd in midfield though, can't afford to let this Huddersfield team over-run us in midfield and let them get too many opportunities at our defence.
I'm probably being pessimistic but I just don't see us getting anything out of this game, my only hope is that it's not a heavy, demoralising defeat which could have a knock on effect for the remainder of the games.
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