A first-half strike from Scott Malone condemned Huddersfield Town to a 1-0 defeat over Millwall at the John Smith’s Stadium.
The former Terrier’s fourth-minute goal was the decisive effort as Town were beaten by the Lions in the Sky Bet Championship.
Huddersfield Town Head Coach Carlos Corberán made three changes to the side that faced Watford at the weekend.
Richard Keogh made his second debut for the Terriers having signed from MK Dons the previous day. The centre-back spent time on loan with the Club in 2007.
Naby Sarr and Danny Ward were also included in the team as the Terriers went in search of a first win of the calendar year.
The search for that got off to a less than ideal start however, as the visitors took an early advantage in the heavy West Yorkshire rain.
Former Town man Scott Malone found himself unmarked inside the area and kept his composure to find the net with a curling shot that went in off the inside of the far post.
The Terriers had the chance to level the game up just over 10 minutes later when Lewis O’Brien was brought down inside the box, but Fraizer Campbell’s penalty came back off the bar as the score stayed at 1-0.
Town continued in their attempts to mount a response in the minutes that followed. Juninho Bacuna drove wide after a powering run forward from O’Brien, before Danny Ward forced Millwall ‘keeper Bartosz Białkowski into a good diving save to keep out his effort after Harry Toffolo had done well to find him.
After the break, it was Rolando Aarons who went close for the Terriers. Making his first home start since joining the Club earlier in the month, the winger cut inside on to his right foot but skewed a strike wide of the target from just inside the penalty area.
Shortly after, there was a huge let off for Town. Ryan Leonard had the ball in the net following a scramble in the penalty area but there was judged to be an offside impacting the goal, with it being ruled out by the referee.
At the other end, Naby Sarr stretched but couldn’t quite get the right contact as Town stepped up the search for an equaliser.
The defender was unmarked at the back post following Juninho Bacuna’s corner from the left, but his outstretched effort went over the crossbar.
In stoppage time, it was another corner from the left that caused problems. This time it was O'Brien who rose highest but his effort was wide of the target with the final whistle going soon after, as the club from the capital held firm to take all three points from West Yorkshire.
Next up for Town is a trip to Ashton Gate to face Bristol City in the Sky Bet Championship on Tuesday 26 January 2020; 7pm kick-off.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-3-3)
Ryan Schofield; Harry Toffolo (c), Naby Sarr, Richard Keogh (Alex Pritchard, 85’), Pipa; Álex Vallejo, Lewis O’Brien, Juninho Bacuna (Kieran Phillips, 85’); Rolando Aarons (Pat Jones, 68’), Fraizer Campbell, Danny Ward (Isaac Mbenza, 60’)
Unused subs
Joel Pereira; Demeaco Duhaney, Romoney Crichlow, Jaden Brown, Scott High
MILLWALL (3-5-2)
Bartosz Białkowski; Jake Cooper, Shaun Hutchinson (c), Ryan Leonard; Scott Malone, Ryan Woods, Shaun Williams (Shane Ferguson, 76’), Ben Thompson (Mahlon Romeo, 75’), Danny McNamara (Kenneth Zohore, 75’); Jón Daði Böðvarsson, Jed Wallace (Tom Bradshaw, 76’)
Unused subs
Frank Fielding; Matt Smith, Alex Pearce, Mason Bennett, Troy Parrott
REFEREE
Peter Bankes
