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

Reading square off against Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon looking for the victory which will keep the club in the top three of the Championship standings.

Meanwhile, the 23rd-placed Terriers make the trip to Berkshire under a new head coach after the appointment of Mark Fotheringham earlier this week.

Match preview

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After Reading suffered heavy defeats to Sheffield United and Sunderland, the assumption with some was that their excellent start to the campaign was beginning to fizzle out.

However, despite being faced with a trip to a Wigan Athletic side that had lost just once in eight games, the Royals came away with a 1-0 win courtesy of Thomas Ince's 63rd-minute goal.

Reading have only scored 10 times in as many games and have conceded four more goals than they have netted, but results such as the one in the North-West are keeping Paul Ince's side punching above their weight.

Although a prolonged promotion push may eventually prove to be too much, Reading deserve to be judged on their merits, and they currently appear capable of collecting maximum points on a regular basis.

Nevertheless, with Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers to follow this fixture, Ince will be aware of the importance of getting a seventh win on the board this weekend.

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As for Huddersfield, it is all change at the John Smith's Stadium with Fotheringham having been appointed as the replacement for Danny Schofield.

The Scot is taking on his first senior job in the dugout, but the Terriers hierarchy are optimistic that he can deliver an instant upturn in results.

Huddersfield got back to winning ways last time out under caretaker charge, an early Jordan Rhodes goal securing a 1-0 triumph over Cardiff City.

However, the Yorkshire side have lost each of their three away fixtures this campaign, scoring just two times in the process.

Team News

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Given the size of the club's injury list, Ince may see no reason to make any unenforced changes to his Reading starting lineup.

Although there is scope for Tyrese Fornah to drop back into a deeper midfield position to allow for a more attack-minded side to be named, Ince could show preference to the side which prevailed at Wigan.

Andy Carroll is unlikely to come into consideration for a starting role having only recently returned to the club.

Huddersfield's team selection remains an unknown with Fotheringham taking charge of his first match.

He may be prepared to stick with the team which defeated Cardiff for now, although the likes of Luke Mbete, Sorba Thomas and Danny Ward are all in contention for a recall.

Reading possible starting lineup:

Lumley; Yiadom, Holmes, McIntyre; Hoilett, Hendrick, Hutchinson, Rahman; Fornah, Ince; Joao

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:

Nicholls; Turton, Lees, Helik, Nakayama; Kasumu, Camara; Holmes, Anjorin, Rudoni; Rhodes

We say: Reading 2-1 Huddersfield Town

Huddersfield will be full of enthusiasm under a new head coach and having prevailed in their last fixture. However, we cannot back against Reading at their home ground right now, leading us to predict a hard-fought win for the Royals as they continue to impress towards the top of the table.

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