Match ends, Reading 1, Huddersfield Town 1.
Reading 1-1 Huddersfield Town
- From the section Football
Championship play-off hopefuls Reading saw their poor home form continue as they were held by Huddersfield.
Town took the lead after four minutes when Nahki Wells ran on to a long ball from Tommy Smith and fired home.
Reading were soon level when Pavel Pogrebnyak scored from the spot after Oliver Norwood tugged Jobi McAnuff's shirt inside the box.
Huddersfield had the best chances to win it, and went closest when Wells hit the post from an acute angle.
The Royals have now failed to win any of their last six home games but remain in sixth place because Nottingham Forest and Ipswich, the two teams closest to the play-off places, fought out a draw.
Huddersfield, who are safely in mid-table, came into the game on a run of only one win from their last 10 away matches but made the perfect start.
Smith's pass evaded Sean Morrison and Wells was left to run in on goal and beat Alex McCarthy with a low shot.
The Terriers' lead lasted just a few minutes, however, before referee Keith Stroud spotted Norwood's tug on McAnuff's shirt and pointed to the spot.
Pogrebnyak stepped up to send Huddersfield keeper Alex Smithies the wrong way, and score his 11th goal of the season.
Huddersfield came forward again, but McCarthy kept out Norwood's fierce drive and then tipped out Adam Clayton's curling effort before Wells hit the woodwork.
Reading also went close before half-time when Pogrebnyak saw his header pushed away, and Smithies was called into action again to deal with Michael Hector's well-struck shot.
It was the visitors who had the upper hand after the break but they failed to take their chances.
Paul Dixon shot tamely wide, Norwood was also off target and McCarthy kept out efforts from Oscar Gobern and Danny Ward.
When McCarthy was beaten, Jordan Obita had to clear off the line from a Murray Wallace header, but the home side held on for a point.
Reading manager Nigel Adkins: "We're still sixth and we're still in the play-offs. We picked up a point and we've just got to keep grinding away. We're at Charlton next and we've been free-scoring away from home.
"We went behind early on and that gave us a real challenge but we got ourselves back into it quickly, which was pleasing. It was a good point on the board and there's a good spirit among the players."
Huddersfield manager Mark Robins: "We controlled the first period really well and we were camped in their half at times. We passed the ball nicely and created quite a few chances and had one effort cleared off the line.
"I'm harsh on the players sometimes but they are trying to do the best they can and they did that today. I'm pleased with the way it's going."
Line-ups
Reading
- 21McCarthy
- 2Gunter
- 35Hector
- 23WilliamsSubstituted forAkpanat 81'minutes
- 5Pearce
- 15Morrison
- 12McClearyBooked at 18minsSubstituted forDrentheat 59'minutes
- 11McAnuff
- 7Pogrebnyak
- 19Robson-KanuSubstituted forLe Fondreat 74'minutes
- 37Obita
Substitutes
- 1Federici
- 3Kelly
- 9Le Fondre
- 10Drenthe
- 16Akpan
- 17Gorkss
- 25Taylor
Huddersfield
- 1Smithies
- 12Hammill
- 3Dixon
- 39GerrardSubstituted forWallaceat 45'minutes
- 5ClarkeBooked at 75mins
- 27SmithBooked at 1mins
- 8ClaytonBooked at 90mins
- 10Gobern
- 11WardSubstituted forScannellat 75'minutes
- 21Wells
- 4Norwood
Substitutes
- 2Woods
- 6Hogg
- 7Scannell
- 13Bennett
- 15Wallace
- 38Holmes
- 44Bunn
- Referee:
- Keith Stroud
- Attendance:
- 17,649
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamHuddersfield
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away22
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away10
- Corners
- Home4
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away11
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 1, Huddersfield Town 1.
Attempt missed. Sean Morrison (Reading) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Royston Drenthe following a set piece situation.
Booking
Adam Clayton (Huddersfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Adam Clayton (Huddersfield Town).
Jobi McAnuff (Reading) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Adam Le Fondre.
Nahki Wells (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Michael Hector (Reading).
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Murray Wallace.
Foul by Adam Clayton (Huddersfield Town).
Adam Le Fondre (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Reading. Jordan Obita tries a through ball, but Adam Le Fondre is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Hope Akpan replaces Daniel Williams.
Paul Dixon (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adam Le Fondre (Reading).
Attempt saved. Sean Scannell (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Murray Wallace (Huddersfield Town) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Adam Hammill with a cross.
Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Chris Gunter.
Tom Smith (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Royston Drenthe (Reading).
Booking
Oscar Gobern (Huddersfield Town) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Sean Scannell replaces Daniel Ward.
Attempt missed. Royston Drenthe (Reading) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Chris Gunter with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Adam Le Fondre replaces Hal Robson-Kanu.
Attempt missed. Oscar Gobern (Huddersfield Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Adam Hammill with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Alex McCarthy.
Attempt saved. Oscar Gobern (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Nahki Wells.
Attempt blocked. Nahki Wells (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Clayton.
Offside, Reading. Daniel Williams tries a through ball, but Royston Drenthe is caught offside.
Nahki Wells (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Michael Hector (Reading).
Foul by Adam Clayton (Huddersfield Town).
Jobi McAnuff (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Offside, Huddersfield Town. Daniel Ward tries a through ball, but Nahki Wells is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Daniel Ward (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt blocked. Peter Clarke (Huddersfield Town) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Hammill with a cross.
Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Chris Gunter.
Attempt blocked. Adam Clayton (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Adam Hammill (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.