On a roll: Huddersfield Town make it six of the best to boost promotion dream

This was unquestionably the case last night and while Huddersfield Town against Reading may lack the antagonism and raw, unadulterated passion of die Mannschaft versus Oranje, there was no shortage of motivation for German-born David Wagner or his Dutch managerial counterpart Jaap Stam.

Yet Wagner’s joy at the final whistle had little to do with procuring European bragging rights, but everything to do with Huddersfield’s astonishing promotion pitch.

The latest success arrived thanks to another storybook entry in their compelling season from an unlikely hero in Philip Billing, which secured Town’s sixth league win on the spin at this level for the first time since November 1999.

The Dane picked the perfect moment to record his first home goal, firing in from close range eight minutes from time after Tommy Smith’s shot was blocked by Ali Al-Habsi as Town afforded themselves another tumultuous Tuesday, seven days on from their last-gasp victory at Rotherham United.

Royals goalkeeper Al-Habsi had earlier provided the drama when he kept out a tame 36th-minute spot-kick from Rajiv Van La Parra, meaning Town must wait that little bit longer to score their first league penalty since February 7, 2015.

Discussions had taken place ahead of Town’s first penalty award in the Championship this season, with Van La Parra assuming responsibility, despite Izzy Brown – who scored from 12 yards in the recent FA Cup win at Rochdale – being on the pitch.

Shortly after the miss, a clearly agitated Brown, who had apparently been suffering with a spot of illness ahead of the game, was replaced.

But in the event, it was Billing’s contribution that proved the key one as the Terriers moved within four points of second-placed Brighton.

Wagner left no one in any doubt about what was on the line before kick-off, labelling the occasion as his side’s “biggest game of the season”.

For seemingly the umpteenth time this term, Wagner’s charges remained on message to secure a huge psychological fillip and lay claim to being the main contender capable of breaking the current top-two hegemony of Newcastle United and Brighton.

After consequential league wins over Leeds United and Brighton in their past two home games, Town recorded another high-powered home victory of considerable gravitas – incredibly their 11th win in their past 13 league outings.

Typically high-octane and proactive, Huddersfield had much the better of an opening half hour in which Reading clearly struggled to cope in the face of a swirling wind, with their defending far from convincing.

Town’s best opportunity arrived following a driving run and shot from Van La Parra, which fizzed just wide, and they also posed plenty of danger from a number of crosses too.

But after being non-existent as an attacking force, the Royals picked their moment and pieced together an exquisite move that so nearly saw them profit on 34 minutes when Huddersfield were momentarily caught short of numbers down their right.

The ball was distributed to Roy Beerens and the Dutchman – match-winner in the reverse fixture in Berkshire – cut inside before firing a delightful curler that was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Danny Ward.

It was the precursor to a open spell up to the interval, with the main talking point coming when Van La Parra saw his insipid penalty beaten away by Al-Habsi after Tyler Blackett was penalised for bringing down Brown.

At the other end, Ward soon showed his mettle again to block Lewis Grabban’s effort from close range before the former Rotherham man steered the ball inches wide following Jonathan Obita’s dangerous low cross.

Moments before the break, Al-Habsi smartly denied Brown’s replacement Jack Payne, with both sides having reasons to be positive ahead of a big second half in the seasons for each of them.

Danny Williams spurned an early chance for Reading, but it was Town who possessed more of the conviction on the restart, with the visitors increasingly content to settle for a point.

Nahki Wells saw an angled shot flash just off target, while Elias Kachunga also went close.

Midway through the half, Al-Habsi was almost caught out by a wind-assisted corner from Aaron Mooy, but he tipped the ball over in the nick of time.

But persistent Town kept plugging away and got their cherished moment when Billing steered home a rebound, with a late Yann Kermorgant free-kick flying just over in stoppage-time.

Huddersfield Town: Ward; Smith, Hefele, Schindler, Lowe; Mooy, Billing, Kachunga, Brown (Payne 38), Van La Parra (Lolley 66); Wells (Quaner 87). Unused substitutes: Coddington, Whitehead, Hudson, Cranie.

Reading: Al-Habsi; Gunter, Moore, Blackett, Obita; Williams; Kelly, Mutch (Swift 71); McCleary (Popa 61), Grabban (Kermorgant 71), Beerens. Unused substitutes: Jaakkola, McShane, Evans, Meite.

Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland).