Huddersfield Town vs Reading: Match Preview

07/02/2025 16:55

Can the Royals build on last Saturday's win over Bolton Wanderers by winning at Huddersfield?

After a strong victory over Bolton Wanderers, thanks to the first penalty for Reading at home since 2023, the Royals are looking to break away from the other 44-point teams and close the gap to fifth-place Huddersfield Town.

Victory against the Trotters means Reading are right back into the playoff push alongside three other teams, all on the same points. With Barnsley dropping points again, it means a victory against the Terriers can bring the Royals into top-four contention.

Huddersfield on the other hand aren't performing very well at the moment. Three losses on the bounce - against Bolton, Birmingham City and Northampton Town - means they're now only four points ahead of the chasing pack.

In the reverse fixture the Royals were victorious 2-1 due to goals from Ben Elliott and Harvey Knibbs. Will history repeat itself or will the Terriers battle their way through a strong Reading defence?

In this preview I will comment on the impact of substitutes, say a bit about the transfer window, look back on players who have played for both and give my predictions for the match!

What? League One matchday 29

Season? 2024/25

Who? Huddersfield Town

When? Saturday February 8

Where? John Smith's Stadium

Time? 15:00

Opposition manager? Michael Duff

Impact of subs

The reason I have brought this up is that I saw an interesting stat the other day. We are the only team in the 92 this season to have not had a goal scored by a substitute. Hopefully this means I can jinx it and we get one this weekend, but we will see.

This season we have largely been unable to field any sort of experience off the bench due to plenty of injuries and a lack of players in general. But it has meant we've had a lot of youth players come through to make a big impact on the first team. These players include Jayden Wareham, Andre Garcia, Adrian Akande and Kelvin Abrefa.

These four in particular have come in due to injuries to others, and they've thrived in their respective positions. Garcia has been deployed in the most positions, playing left-back, left-wing and right-wing for a game as well. He has performed pretty well in all of these positions and has been given the credit he deserves (mostly by me haha).

Wareham has been another player who has had to come into the side, being deployed off the left and most recently up front due to Sam Smith's departure. He has settled in very well and, although we do have a new signing in Billy Bodin, I think for the next few games he should start as he played really well against Bolton.

The transfer window

I will also very briefly talk about the transfer window.

What a window it was! Only two players left the club with Tyler Bindon coming back on loan for the rest of the season and Smith the other one to go. Although it was really sad to see them go, they both brought in good money for the club and we have been able to replace Smith - as well as apparently looking at free transfers too.

Obviously getting Bindon back on loan is amazing for this season. He's a star and a rock in the defence. But he's not who I want to talk about.

Bodin on loan from Burton Albion looks to be Smith's replacement. When he steps onto the field he'll become only the third player ever to have played for Reading, Oxford United and Swindon Town.

The striker/winger played 89 times for Oxford, scoring 10 goals, and 16 games for Swindon, scoring three. His most prolific club was Bristol Rovers, where he played 95 games, scoring 35 goals.

He looks to be a similar player to Smith but he likes to have the ball to his feet rather than winning a header. I'm glad we've been able to bring someone in who has good experience and I hope he fits the team well.

Players who have played for both

There are 14 players who have played for both clubs. Here are four of them now.

Simon Church played for the Royals between 2009 and 2011, making 104 appearances. In this time he scored 22 goals and got two assists. In 2012 he signed for Huddersfield on loan, where he played seven games, scoring one and assisting one.

The first of Paul Ince's signings on this list is his son Tom Ince,played 54 games for the Royals, scoring 11 goals and getting six assists. He appeared for Huddersfield in 2017 where he played 37 games and scored three times.

The second of those signings is Naby Sarr. Signing on a free from Huddersfield, Sarr played 25 games for Reading, scoring one and assisting one. While at Huddersfield between 2020 and 2022, he managed 63 games and scored seven goals.

Last on the list is Danny Williams. Between 2013 and 2016 Danny Williams played 151 games for Reading, scoring 14 and getting six assists. He signed for Huddersfield in 2017 and went on to make 30 appearances, scoring once.

My lineup

With the window now shut, we have survived and kept most of our squad. It's now a question to whether we will be able to keep pushing for playoffs with the players we do have.

Joel Pereira will be the starting goalkeeper for the rest of the season as he is one of the most key players in this squad.

With Andy Yiadom and Amadou Mbengue close to returning, the defence may change soon, but I expect Michael Craig, Bindon, Harlee Dean and Garcia to start this time.

The midfield is another area that could change soon, with Elliott being another who is close to returning from injury. But I would go with the all-reliable Lewis Wing, Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs combo.

Up front could see the debut of Billy Bodin, but I think that, due to how well they played against Bolton, Kelvin Ehibhationham, Jayden Wareham and Chem Campbell will start the game at Huddersfield.

Score prediction: 1-0 Royals!

Good luck to those travelling to the game.

Make sure to support the lads.

Come on you Royals!