Reading FC were once again beaten on home soil as Danny Ward’s hat-trick proved the difference in a 4-3 Huddersfield Town victory at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

A wild first half saw the two teams head into the break level at 3-3 but Ward’s third goal in the 53rd minute proved enough for all three points as Reading failed to mount a late comeback.

Veljko Paunovic made three changes from the team that was beaten by Luton Town, switching formations from a 4-3-3 to a 5-3-2 with Josh Laurent as the third central defender alongside Michael Morrison and Tom Holmes.

Andy Yiadom and Baba Rahman regained their places as the two wide defenders after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations while Danny Drinkwater started with Andy Rinomhota in midfield behind John Swift. George Puscas was joined by Lucas Joao up front as Paunovic opted for two strikers.

A frantic and dramatic opening half an hour saw five goals traded between the two teams as defending totally went out the window at the SCL. Lucas Joao got the scoring underway in the 5th minute when he latched onto a Baba Rahman through ball before expertly finishing past Lee Nichols in the Huddersfield net for his first goal of the season.

But the lead lasted just four minutes, Daniel Sinani driving to the edge of the box before seeing his shot deflected off Michael Morrison, wrong-footing Luke Southwood and ending up nestled in the bottom corner.

Reading’s quick start was completely wiped out in the 15th minute when Danny Ward made it 2-1 to the visitors. The Royals had looked defensively vulnerable from the opening seconds and were punished for failing to clear their lines when a Terriers shot fell to the feet of Ward six yards from goal. Huddersfield’s top scorer made no mistake with the finish.

But Reading came roaring back and were once again level in the 22nd minute through a rare George Puscas strike. A quick counter saw Swift drive with the ball before feeding the striker streaking through on goal.  A touch to take it out of his feet set up the shot and when it did arrive it was clinically dispatched into the bottom corner.

Parity lasted just three minutes. With their next attack, Huddersfield swung a free-kick into the box and Southwood rose highest to grab it but as he hit the ground, disaster struck. The goalkeeper lost the ball and when it fell to the feet of Ward, there was only one possible outcome. 3-2 Huddersfield.

And just when it seemed it would be another half of frustration for the Royals, Reading got themselves back on level terms in the final moments. An inswing corner was met firmly by Michael Morrison, giving Nichols no chance as it took a touch off a Huddersfield player and wound up in the back of the net.

By half-time Reading had switched to a back four with Laurent moving into midfield and they remained unchanged for the second half as they looked to continue how they ended the first 45. Instead, though, it was Huddersfield who regained control, Ward notching his hat-trick in stunning fashion with a shot from distance. 

The Royals fought back after going behind for the third time and nearly equalised from a corner when Morrison and Holmes both saw efforts blocked before Laurent couldn’t quite put the finishing touch on a Rinomhota cross.

Huddersfield presented a threat on the counter the whole afternoon and nearly made it 5-3 when Sorba Thomas went through on the Terriers’ right side, but Southwood got a strong hand to his shot. Moments later Puscas had a chance of his own, but he couldn’t keep his volley down after latching onto Yiadom’s cross.

Paunovic threw on Junior Hoilett, Tom Dele-Bashiru, and Jahmari Clarke as Reading chased a late equaliser but they never truly threatened Huddersfield in the closing stages as the Royals were consigned to another tough defeat at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

READING FC XI: Southwood, Yiadom, Holmes (Clarke 94’), Morrison, Baba Rahman; Drinkwater (Dele-Bashiru 86’), Laurent (Hoilett 75’), Rinomhota; Swift, Puscas, Joao