Red card proves costly '¨as Town are toppled

Van La Parra was dismissed in the 26th minute, just three minutes after he had been cautioned for a foul.

Though he had earned Huddersfield a free-kick, he continued to harangue referee James Linington and was shown red for dissent.

“We don’t have to use too many words about this situation,” said Wagner. “Rajiv knows that this was a mistake. He knows that this was not correct.

“Mistakes happen in football and this was a big one. Anything more I have to say about this, I will speak with him internally.

“The referee was right in this decision. Rajiv has to react in a different way in this moment.”

Huddersfield slipped from first to second after this defeat.

“I was disappointed about the result but proud about the performance,” added Wagner added. “We were the better team in the second half.

“Even with one man less, we were still able to try for the equaliser or even win the game. We accept this and go forward.

“We know that we have deserved every point that we have got until now. But we are still hungry and greedy for more.”

Reading, undefeated in eight matches in all competitions, almost went in front soon after the dismissal, when John Swift struck a post from 30 yards.

But they did go ahead in the 41st minute, when Roy Beerens’s far-post effort wickedly deflected off Tommy Smith and flew past goalkeeper Danny Ward.

Reading flattered to deceive after the break, though Ward saved well from Stephen Quinn, and Huddersfield launched a fierce late rally.

Nahki Wells, twice, Michael Hefele and Elias Kachunga went close but to no avail.

“It was a hard, very tough game,” said Reading manager Jaap Stam. “We knew it was going to be like that from the start.

“Huddersfield are a tough side as a unit, as a team. And they also have some quality players. We wanted to play our own game and find a solution of how we could break them. We can do a lot better.”

Reading: Al Habsi, Gunter, McShane, Liam Moore, Obita (Watson 46), Swift (Quinn 70), van den Berg (Evans 53), Williams, Harriott, Kermorgant, Beerens. Unused substitutes: Mendes, Samuel, Gravenberch, Jaakkola.

Huddersfield Town: Ward, Smith, Hudson, Schindler, Lowe (Cranie 80), Hogg, Mooy, Kachunga, Palmer (Bunn 28), van La Parra, Wells, Bunn (Hefele 81). Unused substitutes: Whitehead, Scannell, Coleman, Payne.

Referee: J Linington (Isle of Wight).

Man of the match: Aaron Mooy.