A big first win under Carlos Corberán!
Fraizer Campbell’s second half strike was enough to give Huddersfield Town a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the John Smith’s Stadium!
The forward’s acrobatic 55th minute goal was enough for all three points and a first victory under Head Coach Carlos Corberán.
There were two changes to the side for the Friday night kick-off, as Campbell came in for his first start of the season to lead the line for Town.
The second switch from the side that started at Brentford last weekend came at the back, as Town Academy graduate Romoney Crichlow came in for his first career Sky Bet Championship start.
With the lights on for the first time this season at the John Smith’s Stadium, it was Town who made the brighter start on a chilly early-Autumn evening in West Yorkshire.
Moments after Alex Pritchard nearly got himself on the end of an inviting Josh Koroma cross from the left, Pipa showed some dazzling footwork on the opposite flank but after tricking his way into the area, his appeals for a penalty having gone down under a challenge were waived away by referee Oliver Langford.
Despite the better start, it was the visitors who went closest to an early opener, only for Ben Hamer to produce a fine save.
Town’s no.1 produced a superb outstretched stop to tip Sammy Ameobi’s curling effort over the crossbar.
It was one of the highlights in a half that Town continued to enjoy the ball in, whilst attempting to break the deadlock.
Koroma was nearly the man to find that way through, forcing a defensive error from Forest but his strike was deflected behind for a corner.
On his return to the side, Fraizer Campbell nearly had himself in the goals, shortly before the break. The forward connected with Isaac Mbenza’s cross from the right but couldn’t quite keep his header down from close range.
The last chance of the half went the way of the visitors, however, as Forest called Hamer into action once again.
Town’s ‘keeper leapt superbly to his left to keep out Loic Mbe Soh’s header, after the latter connected with a ball whipped in from a corner.
Before the referee could blow his whistle for half-time, Jonathan Hogg was forced off with an injury meaning a Town debut for new signing Carel Eiting, who replaced him to make his Terriers debut having joined the Club on loan from Ajax a few days earlier.
After the break, Town’s hard work was rewarded with a goal inside the opening 10 minutes of the half.
Isaac Mbenza slipped Harry Toffolo in down the left flank and he picked out Campbell unmarked inside the penalty area, who acrobatically fired past Bryce Samba in the Forest goal to give Town the lead on 55 minutes.
Carlos Corberán’s side subsequently grew further in confidence and nearly had a second late on. Koroma picked out substitute Adama Diakhaby in a central area of the box but the forward’s shot was blocked by a defender.
Town then had an opportunity to finish the game off in the closing stages. Koroma and Diakhaby were at the centre of the action again, breaking forward as Forest legs started to tire but both were somehow kept out, keeping the visitors in the encounter.
With five minutes of stoppage time added on, the Terriers continued to hold firm and their solid defensive shape produced a chance against the run of play for Bacuna after a good burst of pace from Eiting, but the midfielder dragged his shot as the seconds continued to tick away.
That effort turned out to be the last of the encounter, as Town continued to show the resistance that they had done all night to wrap up a first win of the campaign.
Next up for Town is a Yorkshire derby against Rotherham United at the New York Stadium on Saturday 3 October 2020; 3pm kick-off.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-2-3-1)
Ben Hamer; Harry Toffolo, Romoney Crichlow, Richard Stearman, Pipa; Jonathan Hogg (c) (Carel Eiting, 43’), Juninho Bacuna, Alex Pritchard; Josh Koroma, Fraizer Campbell (Jaden Brown, 81’), Isaac Mbenza (Adama Diakhaby, 66’)
Unused subs
Joel Pereira; Demeaco Duhaney, Matty Daly, Mustapha Olagunju
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1)
Bryce Samba; Tyler Blackett, Scott McKenna, Loic Mbe Soh, Cyrus Christie; Jack Colback (c), Harry Arter; Sammy Ameobi, Luke Freeman (Joe Lolley, 76’), Samba Sow (Alex Mighten, 57’); Lyle Taylor (Lewis Grabban, 65’)
Unused subs
Jordan Smith; Michael Dawson, Ryan Yates, Tendayi Darikwa
REFEREE
Oliver Langford
