READING fell to a fourth consecutive Championship defeat after a frantic goal packed match against Huddersfield Town at home.
Lucas Joao gave the Royals an ideal start by putting them in front after just five minutes.
But in a first-half packed with goals, Huddersfield twice had the lead but were snuffed out just before the break by Michael Morrison’s header.
One goal in the second-half was enough to win the game for the visitors as Danny Ward hit a sensational strike to seal his hat-trick.
Reading are now winless at home in their last nine matches.
Lucas Joao was named up front alongside George Puscas in his first start of the season, while Andy Yiadom and Baba Rahman returned to the starting eleven after their early exit from the African Cup of Nations.
Veljko Paunovic’s side went into the contest without a win in their last eight home matches, leaving them just a place outside of the relegation zone, while Huddersfield were unbeaten in their last five away trips.
A change of shape from Wednesday’s defeat to Luton Town saw Josh Laurent drop into a back three with Tom Holmes and captain Michael Morrison.
The change in formation benefitted the Royals when Baba Rahman got forward and slotted a pass through to Lucas Joao, and the striker took a touch into his stride and then fired the ball in for the opener.
Huddersfield looked to hit back instantly but Morrison got in the way with two vital blocks.
But with luck going against the Royals, Huddersfield found the net when Danel Sinani’s shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off Morrison to find its way in.
The Terriers turned the game on its head with a quick turnaround when they took the lead in the 15th minute. Morrison got his body in the way of two shots but it wasn’t enough as the ball dropped for Danny Ward who stroked it past Luke Southwood into the corner.
But the frantic action continued at each end and it wasn’t long before Reading levelled the game.
John Swift opened up the Huddersfield defence to slide a through ball to Puscas who charged into the box and arrowed an excellent finish into the far corner to score his first Championship goal of the season.
Just two minutes after squaring the game, Reading found themselves behind again in a relentless opening 25 minutes at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Southwood came out to pluck the ball from the air from Huddersfield’s free-kick, but he dropped the ball on his landing straight at the feet of Ward who was left with an easy tap- in for his second of the afternoon.
The visitors were slicing open the Reading defence at will and threatened to bag a fourth but Tom Holmes did superbly to protect his goalkeeper with a last ditch block.
The scoring wasn’t done yet for the half which saw the Royals net an equaliser just before the break in a breathless first-half.
Morrison got on the end of Swift’s corner and found the net via a deflection to wrap up an astounding first 45 minutes.
The goalscoring action was far from done and Huddersfield picked up where they left off in the first-half.
Just seven minutes after the restart, Ward scored a stunner to notch his hat-trick. From just outside the box, he let fly with an unstoppable shot that flew into the top corner.
Reading pressed to find another leveller when Morrison and Holmes both came close from a corner.
With 20 minutes left, Andy Rinomhota crossed for Josh Laurent, but the midfielder miscued his volley that dribbled wide.
The Terriers had a chance to seal the game with a fifth goal on the break when Sorba Thomas burst down the right. But instead of squaring the ball to tee up his teammate, he struck for goal and was stopped by a strong Southwood save..
Reading’s first switch saw Junior Hoilett replace Laurent as Paunovic’s men pushed hard to get a result with just 15 minutes left on the clock.
Puscas had another sniff at goal with a tricky chance but didn’t connect properly with a volley that sailed high and wide.
Tom Dele-Bashiru entered the pitch for the final five minutes.
The hosts dominated the ball in search of a fourth goal, but were frustrated as Huddersfield held on to claim three points.
Reading remain in 21st position, just three points above the relegation zone after their fourth consecutive loss.
The Royals are back in Championship action next weekend away at Queens Park Rangers.
Reading: Southwood, Yiadom, Holmes, Morrison (c), Rahman, Laurent, Drinkwater, Rinomhota, Swift, Joao, Puscas
Subs: Holden, Bristow, Ashcroft, Dele-Bashiru, Hoilett, Camara, Clarke
Huddersfield: Nicholls, Pipa, Toffolo, Pearson, Hogg (c), O’Brien, Koroma, Thomas, Sinani, Ward, Lees
Subs: Bilokapic, Rhodes, Ruffels, Turton, Sarr, Rowe, Russell
Goals: Joao 5’, Sinani 9’, Ward 15’,25’, 53’, Puscas 23’,
