THRILLING BILLING
PHIL BILLING’S late goal kept the Terriers hot on the heels of the Championship’s top two.
Billing struck eight minutes from time, sweeping home the loose ball after Royals keeper Ali Al-Habsi had beaten away Tommy Smith’s powerful shot.
His goal spared the blushes of Rajiv van La Parra, who fluffed his lines when Huddersfield won a rare penalty – and left Izzy Brown feeling sick in more ways than one.
On-loan Chelsea midfielder Brown wanted to take the Terriers’ first Championship spot-kick of the season when he was tripped 10 minutes before the break.
Head coach David Wagner preferred Van La Parra instead.
But the Dutch winger was denied when Al-Habsi dived full-length to his left to push the kick aside.
Wagner immediately took off Brown, who had been battling illness before the game. It was a dramatic twist in a match between the season’s two surprise promotion contenders.
The Royals had almost taken the lead seconds before Al-Habsi’s heroics, with Huddersfield keeper Danny Ward flying to his left to tip a Roy Beerens right-foot shot onto the bar.
After Van La Parra’s spot-kick agony, Ward was sharp again to block Lewis Grabban at point-blank range after Jordan Obita had headed Chris Gunter’s corner back across goal.
Grabban, on loan from Bournemouth, swept a shot just beyond the far post following Obita’s cross on the run.
There was still time before the interval for Huddersfield full-back Chris Lowe to drive in a cross-shot that Al-Habsi beat out at the near post, and for substitute Jack Payne to shoot just wide.
Town had charged to third place on the back of five straight league wins and are now four points behind Brighton and five adrift of leaders Newcastle.
They continued to apply pressure after half-time, with Nahki Wells driving right across goal when he was played in by Elias Kachunga.
The visitors were relieved just before the hour when Kachunga, Town’s top scorer, volleyed just wide.
However, it was Billing who had the final word to end Reading’s six-match unbeaten league run.
HUDDERSFIELD ........... 1 READING ................... 0