Match ends, Huddersfield Town 0, Reading 1.
HuddersfieldHuddersfield Town0ReadingReading1
Nick Blackman's goal gave Reading a narrow win over their Championship counterparts Huddersfield in a tie low on quality in the FA Cup third round.
After a scrappy first half James Vaughan spurned the game's best chance, heading over at the back post from Jack Robinson's cross from the left byeline.
Blackman finished low into the corner after Hal Robson-Kanu's pass with the game's only shot on target.
Jonathan Hogg picked up a late second yellow card as Huddersfield fell short.
With just a point separating the two sides in the middle of the Championship it was always likely to be a tight match and the first period saw no goalmouth action.
In a contest short of chances Vaughan should have tested Royals goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen when he was picked out by Robinson's back-post cross.
But Royals boss Steve Clarke replaced Jamie Mackie, who had been booked on the stroke of half-time, with Blackman at the break and the change proved crucial.
Reading moved the ball quickly from a throw-in and Robson-Kanu played in Blackman, whose low left-footed shot beat goalkeeper Alex Smithies.
Hogg received a second yellow card following an altercation with Danny Williams in the closing minutes as the lacklustre hosts failed to threaten Reading's goal.
Huddersfield manager Chris Powell:
"It was a flat game with no real quality. It's a shame because we took it seriously and didn't make wholesale changes.
"I put out an attacking side but we never got ourselves or the game going. The only shot on target was a goal.
"We were looking for some bright play and some enthusiasm but I am at a loss as to how it could be like that.
"There was an opportunity there for certain players to stake a claim in the team. It's hard to fathom."
Reading manager Steve Clarke:
"The referee made such a dramatic scene with Mackie. He intimated that the next foul and Mackie would be off. I thought that was very harsh.
"The referee put himself under pressure from then on and I wasn't prepared to take the risk. Rather than leave the decision to the referee I took Mackie off.
"Nick is a good finisher and I had every confidence he would score.
"It was a very good away performance but not a classic game. I told the players at half-time the best way to enjoy a poor game is to win it."
Line-ups
Huddersfield
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Smithies
- 27SmithBooked at 29minsSubstituted forLolleyat 86'minutes
- 4HudsonBooked at 45mins
- 15M WallaceSubstituted forGerrardat 45'minutes
- 17Robinson
- 12HammillSubstituted forScannellat 66'minutes
- 10Coady
- 6HoggBooked at 90mins
- 30Bunn
- 9Vaughan
- 21Wells
Substitutes
- 5Gerrard
- 7Scannell
- 8Butterfield
- 18Lolley
- 28Gobern
- 31Allinson
- 37Peltier
Reading
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Andersen
- 2Gunter
- 5Pearce
- 15Hector
- 11Obita
- 8GuthrieSubstituted forSamuelat 77'minutes
- 6Norwood
- 23WilliamsBooked at 90mins
- 19MackieBooked at 17minsSubstituted forBlackmanat 45'minutes
- 10CoxSubstituted forCooperat 90+1'minutes
- 9Robson-KanuBooked at 88mins
Substitutes
- 1Federici
- 3Kelly
- 21Karacan
- 22Blackman
- 24Cummings
- 30Samuel
- 35Cooper
- Referee:
- Phil Gibbs
- Attendance:
- 7,980
Match Stats
Home TeamHuddersfieldAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home4
- Away2
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away1
- Corners
- Home2
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Huddersfield Town 0, Reading 1.
Post update
Foul by Sean Scannell (Huddersfield Town).
Post update
Nick Blackman (Reading) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Jake Cooper replaces Simon Cox.
Dismissal
Jonathan Hogg (Huddersfield Town) is shown the red card for fighting.
Booking
Daniel Williams (Reading) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Harry Bunn (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Michael Hector (Reading).
Booking
Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Sean Scannell (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading).
Substitution
Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Joe Lolley replaces Tommy Smith.
Post update
Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Oliver Norwood.
Post update
Sean Scannell (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Obita (Reading).
Post update
James Vaughan (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Michael Hector (Reading).
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Nahki Wells.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Dominic Samuel replaces Danny Guthrie.
