When : Saturday 22nd January 2022, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
Huddersfield are next in line to get their 3 points and they are a fairly decent team so, again, this will be no cakewalk (though I suspect Huddersfield might find it so) especially given Reading’s utterly ***** home form.
The level of the Terriers decency is very decent indeed at the moment, sat as they are in 7th place, and having had a free week will be nicely up for the the game. Form is also a major plus for them at the moment as they have not been defeated since 27th November and since then they’ve run up 7 games in the league producing 3 wins and 4 draws. They have also played and won at Burnley in the cup so it’s a game that’s really going to test even the most hardcore of Reading’s support.
Goals are reasonably spread around the Huddersfield squad with Danny Ward being the main threat on 7 goals from 23 starts so far, they have the usual threat from set plays through defender Matthew Pearson and plenty of threat in other areas via Danny Sinani, Duane Holmes and Sorba Thomas. Add to this a team that seems to be rarely disrupted by injuries or suspensions (8 players with 20+ starts so far) and the Reading management are going to have their work cut out to devise a tactic than gives a breakthrough.
Alex Vallejo is the only injury issue for the Town while Southwood is probably the only completely fit player that Reading have at the moment (we’ll probably find Yiadom and/or Rahman pulled a muscle or something carrying luggage back to their car, presuming they’re back in time).
Trying to be a bit more positive though, the return of our Ghanaians should at least give some better balance to defence and not mean quite so many players are having to “fill in”. And this wretched run has to end sometime doesn’t it ?
Referee
This game sees Robert Jones take command in search of his first Reading win in five games
Previously
14 Sep 19 > Middlesbrough 1-0 Reading
16 Feb 19 > Sheffield United 4-0 Reading
26 Dec 18 > Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Reading
03 Aug 18 > Reading 1-2 Derby County
13 Mar 18 > Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 Reading
30 Jan 18 > Burton Albion 1-3 Reading
Historically
The first time Reading played Huddersfield was at Elm Park in October 1975, since then then there has been another 23 home league games and, overall, Reading have the edge by 12 wins to 4 and have scored 36 to the Terrier’s 24. Recently though it’s been anyone’s game with 2 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats from the last 8 home games.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and go
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use a RoyalsTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)