Preview: Huddersfield Town vs Reading - prediction, team news, lineups

Huddersfield Town will be looking to get back to winning ways when they welcome Reading to the Accu Stadium on Friday.

The hosts currently sit 10th in the League One table and are just four points off the playoffs, while Reading are sixth.

Match preview

Huddersfield will be without manager Liam Manning on Friday after he was granted compassionate leave for the rest of the season, with coaches Martin Drury and Jon Stead taking interim charge.

The Terriers are without a win in their last three games and suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat to fellow promotion contenders Plymouth Argyle last weekend, with Manning admitting it was their "worst game" since he took charge.

Huddersfield took the lead through Cameron Humphreys, but Plymouth produced an impressive comeback win thanks to goals from Owen Dale, Bim Pepple and Owen Oseni.

A win over Reading would be huge for Huddersfield's playoff bid and it is worth noting that they are unbeaten against the Royals in their last three meetings at home.

© Imago

Reading moved back into the top six last weekend with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over a struggling Wigan Athletic side.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan bagged a brace and Will Aimson scored an own goal as the Royals returned to winning ways after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Stevenage the previous weekend.

Ehibhatiomhan has done an admirable job deputising for Jack Marriott in recent weeks, having netted six goals in his last six games with Reading's top scorer currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Manager Leam Richardson has impressed since replacing Noel Hunt in October when Reading were just one place above the relegation zone, guiding them to 13 league wins, seven draws and six defeats.

Huddersfield Town League One form:

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Reading League One form:

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Team News

© Imago / Every Second Media

Huddersfield will have to make at least one change after goalkeeper Lee Nicholls picked up an injury against Plymouth, with the 33-year-old joining the likes of Bojan Radulovic, Joe Low, Radinio Balker and Ryan Hardie on the sidelines.

Jak Alnwick is set to replace Nicholls and Alfie May is expected to lead the line, with support in attack coming from Antony Evans and Marcus Harness.

Reading will be without Randell Williams and Benn Ward after Richardson confirmed the pair will be out for the rest of the season through injury.

Ehibhatiomhan will be hoping to continue his good form up front, while club captain Lewis Wing is set to be partnered in midfield by Liam Fraser.

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:

Nicholls; Feeney, Wallace, Roughan; Gooch, Ledson, Humphreys, Mumba; Harness, Evans; May

Reading possible starting lineup:

Pereira; Nyambe, O'Connor, Williams, Dorsett; Wing, Fraser; Doyle, Savage, Kyerewaa; Ehibhatiomhan

We say: Huddersfield Town 0-1 Reading

Reading are in better form than Huddersfield and we are backing them to pick up another important win on Friday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.