The Royals are loving life in the playoffs, currently sitting pretty in sixth position. However, having played more than the teams around us, it is looking more and more likely the place won’t be ours by the end of the season.
A beautiful 3-0 win against Wigan Athletic was what took us back into the playoffs and now we’re looking behind us, just waiting for Stevenage to catch up.
Huddersfield Town are not in great form at the moment, having not won a game since a 1-0 victory vs Rotherham United due
to an own goal in early March. Their last match was against Plymouth Argyle, when they went 1-0 up but ended up losing 3-1, taking them into 10th.
The head-to-head between the sides is in Reading’s favour with 28 wins, 14 draws and 20 defeats. The Royals’ last win against the Terriers was a 2-1 win at home last season, with Harvey Knibbs and Ben Elliot cancelling out Matthew Pearson’s opener.
In this preview I will focus on key players going into the final six games of the season and I will give my predictions.
What? League One matchday 41
Season? 2025/26
Who? Huddersfield Town
Where? Accu Stadium
When? Friday April 3
Time? 15:00
Opposition manager? Liam Manning
Key players
There have been some key players in this playoff charge and I am going to give them their praise in this one.
It has come out that Kamari Doyle is injured for the Easter games so will not feature against either Huddersfield or Lincoln City, but he has been so important for us this season.
Doyle currently has five assists and four goals in the 39 league games he has played, but has been one of our key players. A little like Lewis Wing last season, nothing can be done without Doyle touching the ball and he is so expressive when he plays.
Even though he’s on loan, he gives his all for the club and it is wonderful to see.
It is a breath of fresh air having Daniel Kyerewaaa back in the lineup. His pace and skills are a joy to watch, but for me it’s the tracking-back that really makes him stand out.
Being played as a wing-back in a 3-4-2-1 formation probably isn’t how Kyerewaa saw his time at Reading going, but he is great there. Having only just come back from injury, I didn’t expect much, but I thought he had a great game on Saturday.
Jeriel Dorsett this season has been a revelation. What the hell happened to him over the summer because he has become a completely different player.
He is working wonders as a left-sided centre-back and Leam Richardson’s new 3-4-2-1 formation seems to suit Dorsett down to a tee. In terms of players in League One, he is currently up in the 90th percentile for defensive contributions and the 95th for aerial duels won.
He doesn’t touch the ball that much but the performances he has been putting in have him up there for my player of the season.
Finally, I can’t talk about revelations and not discuss Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan. Last season and this one, everyone (even I) were saying they didn’t think he has the capabilities of a number nine, that he works better on the wing.
However, he has once again proved me wrong. Ehibhatiomhan has scored nine goals in 2025/26, including a hat-trick against Luton Town and most recently a double against Wigan. I am so impressed with him and I hope this form continues for the rest of the season at a minimum.
My predictions
Joel Pereira will start in goal.
Paudie O’Connor, Derrick Williams and Dorsett make up the back three.
Ryan Nyambe, Lewis Wing, Liam Fraser and Haydon Roberts make up the middle four.
Daniel Kyerewaa and Charlie Savage will sit in behind the striker, who will be Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.
Score prediction: 1-1
Good luck to those going to the game!
Have a good Easter, and I will see some of you at the Lincoln game!
Come on you Royals!
