Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield Town surprised Carlos Corberan’s West Bromwich Albion with a stoppage-time winner as the Terriers produced the perfect response to Norwich City’s 4-0 home defeat on Saturday last week.
Jack Rudoni scored in the 96th minute with a low left-footed shot that went wide of the right post.
This gave the Terriers their first win of the season and also ended Albion’s 100% home start.
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Huddersfield took the lead in the 33rd minute thanks to a goal from Delano Burgzorg on his full debut for the Terriers, only for John Swift to equalize in the 52nd minute, with his third goal in consecutive home games in this season.
But moments after Albion substitute Josh Maja almost won the match, Huddersfield slumped at the other end and Rudoni kept his composure to complete a classic smash for former club Corberan.
In response Huddersfield owner Kevin Nagle called last Saturday’s 4-0 home defeat to Norwich City “unacceptable”, “disappointing” veteran Terriers boss Warnock has made four changes and deployed a changed formation to 3-5-2.
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In addition to new midfielder Ben Wiles making his debut after arriving from Rotherham United, Burgzorg, David Kasumu and Jaheim Headley all made their first appearances of the season.
Signed too late to bring in new full-back Pipa, and unlikely to lose any more players over the summer break, Albion’s two changes were both in defense.
One of them was forced, due to Semi Ajayi’s absence through illness – but beyond that the Baggies looked lost.
Combined with Jed Wallace’s delicious backheel and Matt Phillips’ smart running and a poorly deflected cross that almost opened up the away defense, this left Albion’s creativity at a loss.
limit.
And, on a day where local fans loudly expressed their collective displeasure with the club’s owners for 12 minutes, the players did not match the mood of the fans.
The Baggies’ lack of fire was exposed when Huddersfield took the lead in the 33rd minute.
It was a good enough strike from Spezia striker Burgzorg, but Albion goalkeeper Alex Palmer may have been disappointed to be beaten at close range.
ly close.
Albion lasted until the seventh minute of the second half, as Swift continued his happy habit of scoring in every home game this season.
Jayson Molumby’s incisive pass sent it back to Brandon Thomas-Asante, the Albion striker promptly spotting Swift sprinting clear down the inside right channel in space, in position on the right His goal was in Swift’s path and the Albion midfielder pounced home with a powerful right-footed finish.
Neither side really created any clear-cut chances other than Yuta Nakayama’s long ball finding fellow sub Kian Harratt, who could only find the side-netting from a narrow angle.
But, when Terriers keeper Lee Nicholls dived to his left to keep out Maja’s shot, the visitors broke quickly down the right, Harratt worked the ball back to the unattended Rudoni and he pulled back the trigger to send the 855 away fans in the 23,094 crowd home happy.
Who’s next?
Both sides now have a clear fortnight before their next game because of the September international break.
Albion will resume with an away trip to Bristol City, on Saturday, 16 September, when Huddersfield face a local derby at home to one of Warnock’s many former clubs, Rotherham United.
Carlos Corberan, West Bromwich Albion Head Coach: “The Championship is a tough league.
Conceding two goals is too many to win this league.
“In the first half , we did not press well.
“In the second half we had to change our form to improve.
” Huddersfield Town Boss
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