Huddersfield Town

First half goals from Jamie Vardy and an own goal from Anthony Gerrard succumbed Town to its second successive defeat.

The introduction of Duane Holmes and Sean Scannell lifted Town and it was the latter who had a big hand in the goal, which Paul Konchesky got the final touch on. The Terriers went in search of an equaliser and it looked like they might grab one before James Vaughan was shown Town’s first red card of the season.

Three changes to the team that lost to Watford before the international break were made by Mark Robins at the King Power Stadium. 

Oliver Norwood, Adam Clayton and Jazz Richards (calf) were replaced by Calum Woods, Oscar Gobern and Paul Dixon, who made the 300th appearance of his career in all competitions.

That meant that both of Town’s goal scorers from their last visit to Leicester would start from the bench, with match winner Sean Scannell alongside Clayton.

Town had scored in all three of their visits to the King Power Stadium since its opening and had a good number of attempts during the first 45 to continue that trend.

As we have become accustomed to this season, the majority fell to leading marksmen James Vaughan, but on all three occasions he was thwarted by Kasper Schmeichel.

That meant that at the interval, Town went in behind after seeing Jamie Vardy smash home an 11th minute opener. It was exactly what the Foxes’ early play deserved and capped a well worked move after David Nugent had found the Vardy 12 yards from goal, who confidently drove the ball past Alex Smithies.

Nugent had a glorious chance to notch midway through the second-half, but after Joel Lynch’s header had inadvertently sent him clear, he saw a low shot saved by Smithies. 

However, Town’s woes were doubled six minutes from half-time when Anthony Gerrard stooped to try and clear Anthony Knockaert’s corner, but only managed to divert the ball into the roof of his own net.

As aforementioned, the Terriers had plenty of chances to open their account during the first-half with both Vaughan and Danny Ward having efforts superbly saved by Schmeichel; the latter also saw a chipped shot land just over the Dane’s goal.

Robins waited until the 60th minute to make his changes and it was speed that he desired with Duane Holmes and Sean Scannell entering the fray.

The first 15 minutes of the half had been all Leicester with Lynch blocking at the far post to deny Knockaert and then Smithies produced a hat trick of saves in three minutes to deny Nugent twice and Andy King.

The Foxes didn’t look comfortable defending Town’s counters, though, and in the 67th minute the Terriers got their reward. Vaughan did excellently to dummy a ball forward, which released Scannell in on goal with only Wes Morgan to beat. Leicester’s captain was on the floor before he knew where the winger had gone, but Scannell’s shot would have gone wide had it not been for the faintest of touches from Paul Knochesky to divert it home.

Adam Clayton was introduced during the celebrations as Town went in search of an equaliser, but it was Leicester who fought back into the game with the Terriers pushing men forward. Substitute Matty James saw a shot superbly blocked by Gerrard before Lloyd Dyer missed an excellent chance to settle the clash.

Town’s hopes of getting an equaliser were dealt a severe blow with just over five minutes to play when Vaughan reacted to Marcin Wasilewski’s foul on the striker by pushing the Pole over, and as a result received his marching orders.

That wasn’t the end of the action for Town, though, and when Duane Holmes’ shot deflected up at goal it took a fingertip save from Schmeichel to keep the scores level. 

Town continued to throw men forward, but Leicester held firm to secure the three points.

Alex Smithies; Joel Lynch, Anthony Gerrard, Peter Clarke (c); Paul Dixon (Duane Holmes, 61), Oscar Gobern (Adam Clayton, 67), Jonathan Hogg, Calum Woods; Danny Ward, Adam Hammill (Sean Scannell, 61), James Vaughan

Ian Bennett, Oliver Norwood, Jon Stead, Martin Paterson

Bookings Leicester: Jamie Vardy 90,

Bookings Town: Adam Clayton 73,

Town red card: James Vaughan 84

Attendance: 22,297 

Away: 913