Opposition Lowdown: Playoff Chasers Huddersfield Town

Murray Wallace of Huddersfield Town / | Getty Images Form Huddersfield Town finished last season in 10th place in League One, three places and 11 points behind Reading. This season marks their second straight season in the third tier, having been relegated from the Championship during the 2023/24 campaign after finishing 23rd. The Terriers still hold hopes of challenging for a playoff place, currently sitting 10th, four places and four points off Reading, who hold the final playoff place in sixth.

Huddersfield’s recent form has been poor, seeing one win, two draws and two losses in their last five league matches. Their home form has been much better than their away though, with the Terriers picking up 39 out of their 57 points at the Accu Stadium. They come into Friday’s game off the back of a 3-1 away defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

The two sides last met in Reading’s first home game of the season, back in August, with Huddersfield claiming a 0-2 away win after goals from Jack Whatmough and Cameron Ashia. The boss Interim: Martin Drury and Jon Stead: Huddersfield manager Liam Manning was granted compassionate leave for the remainder of the season last week, with coaches Martin Drury and John Stead taking charge for their final seven games. Manning was appointed Huddersfield boss in January, following the sacking of Lee Grant, who lasted eight months in charge.

Drury joined Manning as assistant manager, with former Town striker Stead also joining his coaching team, returning to the team for whom he made 77 appearances. Squad Huddersfield signed six players during the winter transfer window with three joining on permanent deals and three coming in on loan. Their permanent additions were goalkeepers Jak Alnwick and Nik Tzanev, who joined from Cardiff City and Newport County respectively, while winger Bali Mumba was bought from League One rivals Plymouth for an undisclosed fee.