Huddersfield 2-0 Reading: Terriers boss Neil Warnock ends on a high with win against relegated Royals

Josh Koroma of Huddersfield and Kelvin Abrefa of Reading battle for possession at the John Smith's Stadium

Huddersfield said farewell to Neil Warnock with a win that typified the spirit the team has shown since the veteran manager took the reins in February.

Josh Koroma and Joseph Hungbo conjured up two excellent goals as the Terriers chalked up their seventh win in the 15 games in which Warnock has been in charge - a run that hauled them out of the relegation zone.

With nothing to play for, the game had a distinct end-of-season feel to it, but the Terriers stepped up the pace in the second half to make it six wins from their last nine matches.

Warnock has said he has no plans to remain as manager at the start of next season but may seek another managerial "project" towards the end of next term.

This match was long billed as a potential last-day relegation fight, but Huddersfield secured safety with a win over Sheffield United in midweek - which also relegated the Royals - and the visitors' winless streak extended to 13 games with defeat at the John Smith's Stadium.

Reading, seeking to give their fans something to enjoy after a miserable run of six defeats and six draws stretching back to February, almost opened the scoring in the third minute when Shane Long's shot deflected into the path of Cesare Casadei, whose header clipped the post.

In a first half of few chances, Jordan Rhodes almost capitalised on a slack backpass from Naby Sarr, only to be denied by Coniah Boyce-Clarke's excellent sliding challenge.

The Terriers improved after the break, with half-time substitute Ben Jackson curling a shot just wide, before Koroma broke the deadlock in the 49th minute.

The winger cut in from the left flank and curled a shot into the far corner for a goal that lit up an afternoon that had been unremarkable.

Sarr produced a stunning goalline clearance to prevent a second Huddersfield goal after Rhodes' cross had been hooked goalwards by Jack Rudoni.

The Terriers were not to be denied and, with eight minutes left, Hungbo produced another spectacular strike to finish Huddersfield's season in style.

Huddersfield manager Neil Warnock told BBC Radio Leeds:

On his farewell from the fans: "It was so emotional. Everyone stayed behind, didn't they?

"There wasn't one part of the Huddersfield fans that went off home early, and it's really touching.

"They all know it was a difficult job, and I don't think many managers would have come in and turned it around like that. I'm really pleased with the [prospective] new owner Kevin [Nagle] here, that we've managed to keep that Championship level, because it's a good club and should be in this level, and pushing for the Premier League.

On the game: "The first half was as bad as it's ever been, watching a game of football. I said to [Reading interim manager] Noel Hunt before the end of that first half 'how bad is this, Noel?' and he agreed with me.

"I did say a few words at half-time and made a few adjustments. I wanted to get Josh [Koroma] down the left and cutting in on his right, and it came off.

"And what can you say about [Joseph] Hungbo? He had a nightmare and then goes inside and scored a goal like that. It's a manager's dream."

Reading interim manager Noel Hunt told BBC Radio Berkshire:

"I'm a little bit disappointed in terms of the performance because we didn't do what we know we can do. We didn't earn the right to play, weren't aggressive enough with the channel balls. We had the chances in the first 15 minutes but we stopped doing it.

"The week they've had has been a tough one but they've been fantastic, if a little bit below par today in terms of the performance. But they kept going.

"They were gutted [after relegation] and everyone in that dressing room today, it hurts them.

"I don't want to talk about Lucas [Joao]. I think we've wasted enough time on people who aren't committed to giving 100% to the club. I got a text message on Thursday after the game and after that it was best to just leave it at that in terms of commitment.

"I don't want to talk about the negatives with the positives that are in that dressing room. Everyone should be invested, emotionally, physically and mentally in this football club, and if you're not, you're cheating the club and your team-mates."