Huddersfield Town had to make do with a point as substitute Ola John rescued Reading with an 84th-minute equaliser.

Chris Powell’s battling side twice led , with Jamie Paterson and Nahki Wells notching either side of a goal by Town old boy Ollie Norwood during an eventful first half.

But Reading always looked capable of a second leveller, and John struck to spell disappointment for the 266 away fans in a 14,379 crowd.

With Dean Whitehead suspended, Town boss Chris Powell rung the changes, handing full league debuts to Kyle Dempsey and Phil Billing in a midfield which also included Emyr Huws .

Dempsey, a £300,000 summer signing from Carlisle United, had started only one previous Town game, against Notts County in the Capital One Cup.

Danish teenager Billing had made two appearances from the bench, the most recent in this season’s 2-1 win at Charlton Athletic.

Sky Bet Championship - Reading (2) v Huddersfied Town (2) - Philip Billing.

Up front, Nahki Wells came in for illness-hit Ishmael Miller, with wingman Muzzy Carayol dropping to the bench.

Centre-back Joel Lynch made his 100th league appearance in a Town shirt as Powell’s side tried to bounce back from defeats by Derby County and Burnley.

Reading have made a habit of starting matches on the front foot, but they were rocked by Town’s storming opening to the game.

As a home attack broke down, the visitors countered and Wells played in Paterson for a low finish with just over a minute on the clock.

It might have been two goals for the Nottingham Forest loanee when Harry Bunn feed him up in the fifth minute, but this time Ali Al Habsi made the save.

And after good work by Billing and Dempsey, Paterson’s low cross from the right only just evaded Wells.

See match action pictures below

Jordan Obita had a shot deflected for a corner as Reading mounted their first meaningful attack, and by the 15th minute, they were level.

Mark Hudson’s foul on Garath McCleary conceded a free-kick on the Town right, and Norwood’s delivery beat keeper Jed Steer at his near post.

Just as Reading seemed to be taking a grip, Town regained the lead through Wells in the 26th minute.

Bunn’s pass freed the striker, and he drilled home his fourth goal of the season with real power and precision.

Sky Bet Championship - Reading (2) v Huddersfied Town (2) - Nahki Wells goal.

Town’s central trio were working well, and Billing soon regained his composure after being left hobbling by Danny Williams’ late tackle.

American midfielder Williams tried his luck after a neat back-heel by Nick Blackman, but this time Steer stooped to gather safely.

Town’s on-loan Aston Villa stopper then held a firm header by former Sheffield United striker Blackman.

Town began the second half with Joe Lolley, recalled from his loan to Scunthorpe United, on for scorer Paterson, who appeared to have taken a knock during the first period.

Reading made two changes, replacing McCleary and Lucas Piazon with Orlando Sa and Alex Fernandez.

Sa was soon in the thick of things, volleying over after Steer pushed Blackman’s shot against his right-hand post, then skewing a shot wide when well placed.

Reading were cranking up the pressure, but Town managed a counter-attack just after the hour, with Al Habsi saving from Wells.

Steer saved from defender Paul McShane before Town skipper Mark Hudson missed a great chance to create a two-goal advantage when he hacked the ball over as Reading struggled to deal with a corner.

Sky Bet Championship - Reading (2) v Huddersfied Town (2) - Mark Hudson holds his head after skying from close range

The home side made their third change after 74 minutes, when Ola John came on for Williams.

Centre-back Joel Lynch was booked for a late tackle on Matej Vydra, his fifth of the season and therefore spelling a suspension for Saturday’s home derby against Leeds United.

Meanwhile James Vaughan replaced Wells in Powell’s second change in the 79th minute.

Powell: Point at Reading will seem like a good one - in time

The home side finally found a way through when John produced a composed finish from the left-hand side of the area.

That left Town, who brought defender Tommy Smith on for Dempsey with a minute of normal time left, fighting to preserve a deserved point through five minutes of time added on.

Sky Bet Championship - Reading (2) v Huddersfied Town (2) - Chris Powell and Steve Clarke.