A late Josh Koroma strike secured all three points for Huddersfield Town following a 3-2 win over Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship.
The Terriers went in at half-time ahead having come from behind, after Carel Eiting and Fraizer Campbell were on target following Marvin Johnson’s opener for the visitors.
Britt Assombalonga equalised late on from the spot before Koroma’s late effort secured all three points for the Terriers at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Carlos Corberán made two changes from the side that picked up a point at Wycombe in midweek, with Richard Stearman and Josh Koroma returning to the side.
Jonathan Hogg captained the Terriers in Christopher Schindler’s absence, with the skipper out of action following a concussion suffered during that game on Tuesday night.
The game, which got underway amidst continued drizzle at the John Smith’s Stadium, was well-balanced in the early goings with both sides having opportunities in the opening 10 minutes.
Back in the side, Josh Koroma set his sights in early with a left-footed strike tipped around the post by Boro ‘keeper Marcus Bettinelli before Britt Assombalonga somehow steered Marvin Johnson’s low ball across the box over the bar on the stretch from close range.
Having provided the key ball there, Johnson got inside the box himself to score the game’s opening goal. Having been found in space on the left side of the penalty area, the Boro defender found the net with a powered strike to give the visitors the lead on 13 minutes.
The Terriers responded well to going behind and enjoyed a good spell of possession in positive areas.
That possession produced a free-kick which Isaac Mbenza dangerously whipped in from the right, just over the head of Fraizer Campbell.
Moments later, Town did find the target through Carel Eiting to draw level.
The on-loan Ajax midfielder received the ball from Josh Koroma and beat Bettinelli with a left-footed strike, finding the bottom corner for his third goal in the last four games.
Just before half-time, Town then completed the turnaround. Lewis O’Brien did brilliantly to intercept the ball, before playing in Fraizer Campbell who kept his composure to get past the last man and find the net whilst off balance.
Town carried the momentum into the second half and started the livelier of the two sides, as Campbell played in Koroma, who drove down the left side of the box before seeing his effort deflected into the side netting.
A few minutes later it was Harry Toffolo who went close for the Terriers. Town’s no.3 met a smart corner from the left that was played along the ground by Mbenza, but his effort was deflected into the path of the Boro ‘keeper.
At the other end, the visitors continued their search for an equaliser through Paddy McNair, who curled a free-kick just over the Town bar from about 25-yards-out.
With their next attack, Boro got the leveller they were looking for. Naby Sarr brought down Assombalonga in the box with the latter getting up to slot the penalty home with less than 10 minutes left to play.
But like earlier in the encounter, the Terriers responded well and went back ahead less than three minutes later.
Koroma worked some space inside the box with some good footwork before superbly finding the bottom corner with a curled effort in the 85th minute.
The visitors attempted to hit back in the minutes that remained, but despite the constant barrage of pressure, Town held out to secure a big three points in the Sky Bet Championship.
Next up for Town is a trip to the Cardiff City Stadium to face Cardiff City on Tuesday 1 December 2020; 7pm kick-off.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-3-3)
Ryan Schofield; Harry Toffolo, Naby Sarr, Richard Stearman (Rarmani Edmonds-Green, 29’), Juninho Bacuna (Demeaco Duhaney, 78’); Jonathan Hogg, Lewis O’Brien, Carel Eiting; Josh Koroma (Jaden Brown, 89’), Fraizer Campbell (Danny Ward, 78’), Isaac Mbenza (Aaron Rowe, 89’)
Unused subs
Joel Pereira; Adama Diakhaby, Matty Daly, Kieran Phillips
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1)
Marcus Bettinelli; Marc Bola, Paddy McNair, Dael Fry, Anfernee Dijksteel (Duncan Watmore, 88’); George Saville (Lewis Wing, 89’), Jonny Howson; Marvin Johnson, Marcus Tavernier (Chuba Akpom, 66’), Djed Spence; Britt Assombalonga
Unused subs
Dejan Stojanović; Sam Morsy, Nathan Wood, Patrick Roberts, Sam Folarin, Dejan Stojanović, Hayden Coulson
REFEREE
John Brooks
