Thomas stars as Terriers thrash Reading

Huddersfield winger Sorba Thomas took his assists tally to five for the season

Sorba Thomas inspired Huddersfield to a third straight Championship win as Reading's troubled start to the season continued.

The 22-year-old winger whipped in a cross for Lewis O'Brien to sidefoot the Terriers ahead and then sent an inswinging free-kick into the box for Matty Pearson to poke home the second.

Thomas capped a fine display with a solo run and low shot across Royals goalkeeper Rafael Cabral which found the bottom corner.

Reading's miserable afternoon was confirmed when Josh Koroma crossed for Josh Ward who rounded Cabral and tapped in a fourth.

Relive Saturday's EFL action

The Royals were the Championship pacesetters at the start of last season, but boss Veljko Paunovic is enduring a much tougher second season in charge, with his side losing four of their opening five league matches and shipping 16 goals in the process.

They named new signing Alen Halilovic on the bench and gave striker Junior Hoilett a first start of the season, but offered little and almost fell behind when Norwich loanee Danel Sinani - on his first start for Town - smacked a free-kick against the post with Rafael well beaten.

And after falling behind to O'Brien's clinical finish shortly before half-time they collapsed completely after the break as Thomas ran riot.

Huddersfield's biggest win of the season moved them up to fourth, while Reading dropped to 21st after a third straight defeat.

Huddersfield head coach Carlos Corberan told BBC Radio Leeds:

"The team did a very serious game today with some very good moments in attack, some good moments in defence, and good moments in counter-attacks and set-pieces, too, for a very positive result.

"We knew today to get a third win in the league was tough because so far only two teams had done this.

"For us it was one target to try to achieve this number of wins in a row because it allows the team to develop the level of confidence, the level of performance, the level of attack.

"No we need to use this break to recover and to continue improving the team because we know how important this is to compete in the next games."

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsHuddersfield

Formation 3-4-3

21Nicholls4Pearson32Lees26Samuels Colwill16Thomas6Hogg8O'Brien3Toffolo24Sinani25Ward10Koroma

21Nicholls4PearsonBooked at 59mins32LeesBooked at 81mins26Samuels Colwill16ThomasBooked at 31mins6Hogg8O'Brien3Toffolo24SinaniSubstituted forTurtonat 62'minutes25WardSubstituted forCampbellat 69'minutes10KoromaSubstituted forHolmesat 78'minutes

Substitutes

5Vallejo Mínguez15High19Holmes20Turton22Campbell23Sarr31Schofield

Reading

Formation 4-2-3-1

33Cabral Barbosa3Holmes4Morrison6Moore17Yiadom8Rinomhota28Laurent19Dele-Bashiru10Swift23Hoilett47Puscas

33Cabral Barbosa3Holmes4Morrison6Moore17YiadomBooked at 23mins8Rinomhota28Laurent19Dele-BashiruBooked at 51minsSubstituted forHalilovicat 70'minutes10SwiftSubstituted forTetekat 79'minutes23Hoilett47PuscasSubstituted forClarkeat 79'minutes

Substitutes

7Halilovic16Tetek22Southwood38Stickland39Clarke41Bristow42Sackey

Referee:Leigh DoughtyAttendance:146,013Match StatsHome TeamHuddersfieldAway TeamReadingPossessionHome52%Away48%ShotsHome16Away7Shots on TargetHome8Away1CornersHome5Away3FoulsHome10Away10Live TextPost update

Match ends, Huddersfield Town 4, Reading 0.

90'+5'Full Time

Second Half ends, Huddersfield Town 4, Reading 0.

90'+4'Post update

Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Thomas Holmes.

89'Post update

Offside, Huddersfield Town. Duane Holmes tries a through ball, but Oliver Turton is caught offside.

85'Post update

Lewis O'Brien (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.

85'Post update

Foul by Liam Moore (Reading).

84'Post update

Offside, Huddersfield Town. Oliver Turton tries a through ball, but Sorba Thomas is caught offside.

81'Booking

Tom Lees (Huddersfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

81'Post update

Foul by Tom Lees (Huddersfield Town).

81'Post update

Jahmari Clarke (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

81'Post update

Attempt saved. Fraizer Campbell (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Duane Holmes.

79'Substitution

Substitution, Reading. Jahmari Clarke replaces George Puscas.

79'Substitution

Substitution, Reading. Dejan Tetek replaces John Swift.

78'Substitution

Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Duane Holmes replaces Josh Koroma.

77'Post update

Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Andy Yiadom.

77'Post update

Attempt blocked. Lewis O'Brien (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

76'Post update

Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Andy Yiadom.

76'Post update

Attempt blocked. Josh Koroma (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sorba Thomas.

74'Post update

Fraizer Campbell (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.

74'Post update

Foul by John Swift (Reading).

Page 1 of 5rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward

Source: bbc.com