Town welcome Warnock back with three points at home
- Huddersfield Town 2-1 Birmingham City
- Joe Hungbo and Jaheim Headley score their first Town goals
- Intensity secured Town all three points
Huddersfield Town earned all three points in a great team performance against Birmingham City in the Sky Bet Championship.
A first half goal from Joe Hungbo and a second half goal from Jaheim Headley, alongside out Team effort, meant that we came back from being 1-0 down to secure the important three points as we welcomed new Manager Neil Warnock back to the John Smith’s Stadium.
The action-packed first half started with a goal for our visitors in the sixth minute as Troy Deeney scored with his body from close range after the ball was crossed in by Juninho Bacuna towards the far post.
Almost immediately after, Town had a chance at the other end to equalise early as Etienne Camara hit the post after a free kick set piece was taken by Jack Rudoni and spilled by Birmingham goalkeeper John Ruddy.
Town came close once again as Danny Ward, back from injury and in great nick, received the ball on the edge of the box, his shot caught a deflection and was saved by Ruddy high as it was on target and headed for goal.
The Terriers continued to apply the pressure as Matt Lowton sent a great low cross into the box for an oncoming Ward to run onto. The striker was close to getting to it, but Ruddy went low and made the save before Ward could make contact with the ball.
Town made the pressure tell by scoring their first goal in the 24th minute as Joe Hungbo made the best of a counter-attack from a corner. Young goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic, on home debut, caught a corner and threw the ball quickly to fellow home debutant Jaheim Headley; he found Hungbo, who carried it to the edge of the box before curling his shot into the top corner for his first goal for Town.
A free kick was awarded for Town in the attacking half as Headley was brought down by Maxime Colin, who was then shown the yellow card, as he was through and heading towards the box.
Our young ‘keeper, Nicholas Bilokapic was alert to make a great save as former Town man Juninho Bacuna shot first time after he received the ball inside the box. Bilokapic went low to his left and pushed the ball round the post for a Birmingham corner, he then saved the set piece comfortably.
The last action of the first half saw Ward take the ball to the corner flag, then cut back to find Headley and his shot from inside the box was saved by Ruddy; Rudoni was unable to connect with the rebound.
The action and the enthusiasm continued in the second half as the 46th minute almost saw Birmingham City once again take the lead as Deeney met a cross from Emmanuel Longelo with a diving header and hit the bottom of the post.
However, within three minutes of the second half starting the Terriers had scored their second goal. Bilokapic assisted as he sent an excellent direct ball over the head of Headley who was running down the left for him to run on to. The left back finished expertly across Ruddy and into the back of the net off the post for his first goal for the club!
Town had two blocked off the line in a row soon after, as Bacuna was there to block a shot from Matthew Lowton and then Ruddy blocked Ward’s powerful right-footed volley with his feet.
Bacuna soon created Birmingham's best chance of the second half with an excellent through ball to Deeney, but the forward chipped his effort over the bar from point blank range.
Town then have another break at going forwards as substitute Tyreece Simpson delivered a ball into the box and found the head of Rudoni, who headed it just wide of the net.
Camara is shown the yellow card as Birmingham's Krystian Bielik got in the way of his attempt on goal, seemingly picking up a bad injury in the process.
This sparked a huge delay in play as Bielik was taken from the field via stretcher after his clash with Camara, he received a round of applause from all stands of the ground. This meant that there was 12 minutes added on at the end of the game.
Town secured three huge points as the final whistle blew - what a way to welcome Neil Warnock back to Huddersfield Town!
Town’s Team (3-4-1-2)
Nicholas Bilokapic; Tom Lees, Michał Helik, Matthew Lowton; David Kasumu, Jonathan Hogg (c) (Anthony Knockaert, 72’), Etienne Camara, Jaheim Headley (Josh Ruffels, 64’); Jack Rudoni; Joe Hungbo (Tyreece Simpson, 64’), Danny Ward (Martyn Waghorn, 64’)
Unused Substitutes
Jordan Smith, Josh Koroma, Brahima Diarra
Goal Scorers
Joe Hungbo (24’), Jaheim Headley (48’)
Booking
Etienne Camara (76’)
