Paun checked by hero Ward
15, 25, 53
3
By STEVE JUDGE at the Madejski Stadium
DANNY WARD’S hat-trick piled on the troubles for under-fire Reading boss Veljko Paunovic.
Huddersfield jumped into sixth spot with a fifth straight loss of a torrid start to 2022 for Royals.
Ward scored twice in a tackle-free opening 25, which brought five goals, then won it with a stunning 53rd-minute strike.
It was the first treble by a Huddersfield player since Ward downed Watford 4-1 in May 2014.
Lucas Joao marked his first start since August by putting Royals ahead after five minutes only for Danel Sinani to level four minutes later.
Terriers boss Carlos Corberan said: “The first half we attacked well and defended poorly. Second half we did not attack well but defended better.
“For me Danny Ward is a special striker because he can work in linking up the play, pressing the opposition and finishing like he showed today.”
This was a second sevengoal clash in three home games for Reading after a 7-0 beating by Fulham. At least this time Royals fans could cheer three goals.
Paunovic said: “It was better than other games in the horrible month of January. We started the game very well but our problems in defence still endure and we have to look to minimise mistakes, eradicate the naivety and stop the bleeding.”
The tide turned when Baba Rahman sent Joao clear to take one touch and fired over keeper Lee Nicholls.
But that lasted just four minutes as Sinani’s 20yard shot deflected off Morrison.
Huddersfield grabbed their second when Sorba Thomas’ saw his shot blocked then fired the rebound straight to Ward who made no mistake from seven yards.
But the Terriers were caught on the break again midway through the half, with John Swift feeding Puskas to put a shot across Nicholls into the left corner.
The cries of ‘You’re not singing anymore’ were still ringing out of the home end when Southwood dropped Thomas’ free-kick and Ward restored the lead.
If the visitors defending in transition was bad, it was nothing compared to the non-existent marking from Swift’s corner headed in by an unmarked Morrison.
But there was no doubting the quality of Ward’s third, as he latched onto Josh Koroma’s lay off and thumped a 20-yarder.
Southwood 5; Yiadom 6, Holmes 5 (Clarke 90), Morrison 6, Baba 6; Laurent 6 (Hoilett 76), Drinkwater 6 (Dele-Bashiru); Rinomhota 7, Puscas 7, Swift 7; Joao 7.
Bristow, Holden, Ashcroft, Camara.
Nicholls 7; Pipa 7, Pearson 6, Lees 6, Toffolo 5; Hogg 6, O’Brien 7; Sinani 6 (Ruffels 79); Thomas 8, Ward 9 (Rhodes 82), Koroma 7 (Russell 66, 6).
Bilokapic, Rhodes, Turton, Sarr, Rowe.
Danny Ward. Stunning strike to complete composed hat-trick. Robert Jones 7.