Noel Hunt Delighted With Reading's Clean Sheet In Hudds Draw

09/02/2025 12:56

The Royals picked up a third clean sheet in 2025 to grind out a valuable point on the road.

The Royals picked up a good point away from home at promotion-chasing Huddersfield Town with a 0-0 draw at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday.

Reading frustrated the home side with Huddersfield dominating the first half, but the Royals came out stronger in the second. This was our second successive clean sheet and our second away from home this season.

The point keeps us eighth, now two points behind Charlton Athletic in sixth. Manager Noel Hunt was very pleased with his side's display. Here is what he had to say, he spoke to the Reading Chronicle.

Hunt on the point and clean sheet

"A clean sheet is a big plus. Back-to-back clean sheets now, so we'll take that away from home. They're a tough team, a really good outfit who are well-drilled with a good manager. The boys had to be at their best to keep them out.

"I thought they were better than us in the first half and we grew into it in the second half and probably had the better chances and opportunities. We spoke about it at half-time, we had to tidy it up going into the final third and on another day, we could have nicked a goal.

"You come to these stadiums with these young lads, and they go 'wow.' We have the Select Car Leasing Stadium but when you come away it can be daunting for some of the young lads.

I don't think we started the game, in some points, as quick as have done, but we grew into it. The second half we tightened up around the final third, a bit braver with our passing forward."

Hunt on taking pride of the clean sheet

"It's huge. It's our second clean sheet in a year [away from home]. They deserve it, we're working hard in training and we're working hard defensively and in attacking areas.

"Goals win games and clean sheets win leagues so it's important that we have the pride to defend the cage and the box. I'm proud of the boys today."

Hunt on injuries

"[Pereira] landed awkwardly when he came for a low cross and he's punched it away. He seems okay now. We'll assess him again tonight and tomorrow.

"We probably used Amadou a little earlier than we wanted to, but Harlee has been superb for us in the last five or six weeks and it's a real shame. We're hoping it's not too bad and we caught it early. Fingers crossed for him."