Huddersfield Town made it two home wins in five days following an emphatic 4-0 win over Charlton Athletic at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Karlan Grant gave Town the lead in the first half against his former club before substitute Steve Mounié looked to have sealed all three vital Sky Bet Championship points for Town with his goal late on.
Grant then notched again in the closing stages before Juninho Bacuna’s stunning stoppage time strike rounded off a perfect afternoon for the Terriers in West Yorkshire.
Off the back on Tuesday night’s 2-1 win against Bristol City, Danny Cowley made just the one change to the Town side that started in midweek, with Trevoh Chalobah coming in for Jonathan Hogg who was ruled out with the injury he sustained in that game.
Notable other team news saw winger Collin Quaner return to the Town squad for the first time under the Cowleys after a long period out with injury; he replaced Andy King in the match day squad who was out with a hamstring issue.
Having started under the West Yorkshire sunshine, Town had the bright start to match with some early pressure on the Addicks’ back-line.
Despite that, it was the visitors who had the first real chance of the game. After a quick counter attack, Erhun Oztumer forced Jonas Lössl to get down low to his left and gather the ball, with a strike from the edge of the penalty area.
With 25 minutes on the clock, that remained the only real scare for Town at the back. The game continued to be played in the Charlton half, and it soon paid dividends for the Terriers.
The visitors were caught in possession inside their own box by former Charlton man Karlan Grant and he made no mistake with the goal in sight, finishing past Dillon Phillips to give Town the lead against his former club.
Danny Cowley’s side were on the up and could have made it two in quick succession. Chris Willock dropped his shoulder to get past two defenders but couldn’t keep his left-footed effort on target, like he had done in midweek.
The chances continued to come for Town with Emile Smith Rowe the next to go close. His drilled shot was pushed away by Phillips, with Grant’s rebound coming back off the post as he went in search of his second goal of the afternoon.
Grant continued to be at the centre of the action in search of that second. Danny Simpson’s floated cross from the right found Town’s no.16 but he couldn’t quite get the right connection on it, glancing wide.
The first 45’s final opportunity did go to Charlton, however. Lyle Taylor was able to work space before firing a deflected effort at goal, that Lössl had to tip around the post to ensure the Terriers went into the break with a 1-0 lead.
Town began the second half with a similar intensity to what was often on show in the opening 45 minutes. Now attacking the Fantastic Media Stand, it was Smith Rowe who had Town’s first attempt of the half, but his curled effort was well-stopped.
Charlton were also in search of a goal as well, and probably would have had one had it not been for Harry Toffolo. Town’s left-back timed his sliding block perfectly to deny Adam Matthews finishing into an empty net.
Town nearly benefited from that, from the resulting corner. A quick break lead by Willock had Town on the front foot, the winger played a nice one-two with Smith Rowe before seeing his low effort stopped by an on-rushing Phillips.
A frantic start to the second 45 continued as the visitors went their closest yet to getting an equaliser. Deji Oshilaja worked some space down the right and picked out Josh Cullen in the box who fired over.
Soon after, Town midfielder Alex Pritchard made a welcome return to action, returning to the pitch for the first time since recovering from a knee injury, as a 70th minute substitute.
Five minutes later, Town had their second and some breathing space. Toffolo’s whipped cross from the left found substitute Steve Mounié, who had only just on.
The Benin international diverted the ball past the ‘keeper with one of his first touches since coming on to stretch the advantage to two goals with 15 minutes left to play.
Town then had a third in the last of the 90 minutes. Juninho Bacuna tricked his way past multiple Charlton defenders before setting in Karlan Grant who kept his composure to score his first brace of the season.
It was four with one of the last kicks of the game as Juninho Bacuna’s effort from range found the net to round off a perfect afternoon for Danny Cowley’s side at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Next up for Town is the short trip over to Elland Road for a West Yorkshire derby with Leeds United in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday 7 March 2020; 3pm kick-off.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-2-3-1)
Jonas Lössl; Harry Toffolo, Christopher Schindler (c), Richard Stearman, Danny Simpson, Lewis O’Brien, Trevoh Chalobah, Karlan Grant, Emile Smith Rowe (Alex Pritchard, 70’), Chris Willock (Juninho Bacuna, 65’), Fraizer Campbell (Steve Mounié, 73’)
Unused subs
Joel Coleman, Elias Kachunga, Collin Quaner, Jon Gorenc Stanković
CHARLTON ATHLETIC (4-1-2-1-2)
Dillon Phillips; Alfie Doughty, Jason Pearce, Deji Oshilaja, Adam Matthews, Josh Cullen, George Lapslie (Tomer Hemed, 83’), Erhun Oztumer (Jonny Williams, 46’), Aiden McGeady (Macauley Bone, 60’), Lyle Taylor, Andre Green
Unused subs
Ben Amos, Ben Purrington, Matthew Smith, David Davis
