Reading 2-2 Huddersfield: Late Ola John strike earns point for Royals

Reading's poor run continued as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night, making it four matches without a victory.

Lowly Huddersfield went ahead in only the second minute of the Sky Bet Championship clash at the Madejski Stadium when Jamie Paterson took advantage of poor home defensive work.

Reading equalised in the 15th minute when Oliver Norwood's speculative 30-yard free-kick somehow eluded Huddersfield keeper Jed Steer.

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Huddersfield went back in front through a close-range effort from Nahki Wells before the break but Reading rescued a point when substitute Ola John levelled six minutes from the end with his first goal for the club.

After a run of six wins in seven matches, Reading had lost form - collecting just two points from their previous three matches from draws with Rotherham and Brighton.

Huddersfield had won only one of their previous six games and only three all season. They had lost 2-1 to Derby and Burnley in their outings before visiting the Madejski.

But it was Huddersfield who began the brighter and they were ahead within 64 seconds after home left-back Jordan Obita misplaced an intended pass to Anton Ferdinand.

Paterson ran on to the loose ball and kept a cool head when guiding past stranded Reading goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi with an angled drive. Huddersfield could have gone further ahead soon after as Paterson sent in a powerful drive but Al Habsi saved well low down.

Reading appeared stunned but gradually regained their composure and got themselves level thanks to a tinge of good fortune.

Norwood took a free-kick wide on the right flank and fired it towards the near post of Steer, who reacted too late and the ball bounced once before flying into the net. Whether Norwood meant it or not, it reinvigorated Reading. They started to dominate the game without looking too threatening.

But more poor defending allowed Huddersfield to regain their lead in the 26th minute. Harry Bunn slipped the ball to Wells and he beat Al Habsi with a rising shot into the roof of the net.

Reading made little headway in their attempts to claw back the deficit before half-time and manager Steve Clarke brought on substitutes Orlando Sa and Alex Fernandez at the break.

It almost paid off immediately, when Steer tipped a fierce shot from Nick Blackman onto the post and Sa blazed the rebound over. Blackman then set up Sa but the Portuguese was again off target.

Huddersfield sat back, often with 10 players behind the ball, and were quite content to keep what they had.

Central defenders Joel Lynch and Mark Hudson kept Reading at bay with a series of strong challenges and the home side were forced to try their luck from distance.

But substitute John, who had been on the pitch only 10 minutes, drove home from a tight angle in the 84th minute to salvage a point for Reading.

Speaking after the game, Reading manager Clarke admitted that his side had turned in a woeful first half display that was their worst of the Sky Bet Championship campaign so far.

"There was quite a lot of strange things in our first half performance," Clarke said. "People were making individual errors, a lot of players were not playing to their maximum potential.

"That's the poorest we've played in a first half this season. But I take my share of responsibility as well because I put the team on the pitch. Whether it's a point gained or two points dropped, we'll find out come May."

Having conceded the late equaliser, Huddersfield boss Chris Powell admitted that he was disappointed with the final result.

"I feel a bit frustrated and disappointed that we couldn't hold out," Powell said. "But when I wake up tomorrow, I'll recognise this as a good point away from home against a good side.

"Reading had a lot of possession but, having such a good start and first half, we were pegged back and our defensive qualities came out. It was just a shame we couldn't hold on."