Reading will be taking nothing for granted when they host Huddersfield Town at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday as they look to consolidate their position in the top six.

The Royals' playoff hopes took a blow on Tuesday courtesy of an unexpected 3-1 defeat at home to struggling Barnsley, but they were let off the hook somewhat as fellow contenders Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion also lost.

As a result, Reading remain in the much-coveted sixth place, two points clear of their nearest rivals Forest with a healthy goal difference compared to the teams below them.

Despite currently leading the race for the final playoff place, manager Nigel Adkins will be telling his side that they can't afford a repeat of their performance in midweek as they are unlikely to be let off the hook too many more times.

The defeat was their first in six games, and a return to winning ways sooner rather than later is vital for the Royals if they are to cling on to sixth place.

However, they have struggled at the Madejski recently, not winning in front of their own fans since January and picking up just two points from a possible 15 in that time.

They will be without the suspended Danny Guthrie, but Adkins will be buoyed by the news that Sean Morrison and Wayne Bridge are both nearing returns from injuries.

Huddersfield, meanwhile, are suffering a disappointing end to their season and will look to turn their form around in the final eight matches of the campaign.

They twice squandered a lead in their 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough on Tuesday, making it five matches without a win for Mark Robins's side, who now sit 16th in the table.

Their recent record against Reading is not much better either, with four straight defeats without scoring against the Royals.

Town have not found the back of the net in their last three matches on the road, while they have only won one of their last 10 away games in the league.

Robins will be hopeful that Keith Southern and top scorer James Vaughan are available to return to the side, but Joel Lynch and Jon Stead are still absent.

Recent form

Reading: DDWDWL

Huddersfield: WLDLLD

Possible starting lineups

Reading: McCarthy; Gunter, Pearce, Gorkss, Obita; McCleary, Akpan, McAnuff, Robson-Kanu; Pogrebnyak, Le Fondre

Huddersfield: Smithies; Wallace, Gerrard, Clarke; Hammill, Clayton, Southern, Norwood, Dixon; Wells, Vaughan

Sports Mole says: 2-0

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