CONOR Hourihane is hoping to ‘put a smile on people’s faces’ when Barnsley finish their season at promotion-chasing Reading from 3pm on Saturday.
The Royals are seventh, outside the play-off places on goal difference.
They need to better the result of sixth-placed Leyton Orient who have a much better goal difference and visit Huddersfield Town for their final league game.
Reading have been in promotion contention for most of the season, slipping out of the top six with a 1-0 loss to Lincoln City in their last home game then winning 5-1 at Mansfield and 2-0 at Bristol Rovers.
There is major uncertainty over the future of the club with the EFL imposing a deadline of Monday for controversial owner Dai Yongge to sell.
They have been under a transfer embargo, only bringing in two loan players and a free transfer this season, while they have one of the youngest teams in the country.
Ruben Selles left in December to join Championship club Hull City and was replaced by former Reading and Ireland forward Noel Hunt in his first permanent head coach role.
Hourihane told the Chronicle: “They have had a brilliant season.
“I am a real admirer of them and how they have gone about their business in the right way with the right mindset and everyone buying into it when there is such turmoil at the club.
“It’s well-documented that it’s a bit messy.
“But it shows when you get a group of people together with everyone buying in and wanting to achieve results, it can happen no matter the circumstances.
“I think it’s good for us that they have something to play for. It adds energy and atmosphere.
“There will be a good crowd there no doubt.
“It will be a good challenge for our lads and let’s see what they can come up with.”
The Reds lost their final home game of the season to bottom club Shrewsbury Town.
Hourihane said: “Shrewsbury was really really disappointing.
“It was a big reality check and a slap in the face.
“Reading will be completely different. Shrewsbury sat back but this will be open and frantic because of how Reading play and the results they need.
“We just want to finish the season in a good place.
“Last Saturday was not good enough and we want to put a smile on people’s faces.”
Barnsley have the eighth best away record in the division but, after winning ten games on the road before New Year’s Eve, their ten away games in 2025 have brought seven losses, two wins and a draw.
The last time the Reds won their final game of a league season was in 2020 when Clarke Oduor’s stoppage-time winner at Brentford kept them in the Championship during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Former Barnsley captain Andy Yiadom returned from a long-term knee injury in March and is now a regular in Reading squads, mainly on the bench.
The two clubs have met 83 times, with Barnsley winning 27 and losing 32.
The Reds are unbeaten in the last four meetings but their only win in the last 13 across 11 years was a 3-1 success in Berkshire last season thanks to goals by Herbie Kane, Devante Cole and Max Watters.
Since then, there have been two 2-2 draws at Oakwell. This season, Davis Keillor-Dunn put the Reds in front then Sam Smith – who has since moved to Wrexham – struck twice for Reading before Josh Earl levelled.
