Stoke City 2-1 Huddersfield Town: Potters come from behind to beat Terriers

Mario Vrancic was involved in the creation of both Stoke City goalsImage source, James Williamson (AMA) - Getty Images
Image caption,

Mario Vrancic was involved in the creation of both Stoke City goals

Matty Pearson's own goal gifted all three points as Stoke City came from behind to beat Huddersfield Town and climb to third in the Championship table.

After a goalless first half, defender Harry Toffolo took just two second-half minutes to break the deadlock when he scored from close range, his first goal in nine months.

But, within three minutes, Jacob Brown headed home his second goal of the campaign to equalise from Mario Vrancic's corner.

And it was from another Vrancic cross that Stoke got the winner on 63 minutes when Pearson diverted the ball into his own net to maintain the Potters' 100% home record this season.

After a competitive first half, there were close shaves at either end before the Terriers struck soon after the restart.

Stoke goalkeeper Joe Bursik blocked Sorba Thomas' free-kick with his feet but, when the ball cannoned back into the danger zone off visiting skipper Jonathan Hogg, Toffolo was on hand to sweep home from six yards.

But Huddersfield then left Brown, who rose to head home Vrancic's cross - and it was then the Potters' man of the match whose run and low cross created the panic for Pearson to get his legs in a tangle and divert the ball past his own keeper Lee Nicholls.

Thomas fired a low free-kick inches wide with seven minutes left with Bursik beaten, but that was as close as the visitors came as their three-game winning run came to an end.

The Terriers now sit eighth in the table, ahead of Tuesday's trip to Blackpool, while Stoke are back in action the following night at home to Barnsley.

Image source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Jacob Brown headed Stoke City level just three minutes after Huddersfield had gone ahead

Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill:

"We had to be patient. First half we had a lot of control but found it difficult to create clear opportunities against a well-disciplined team. Our reaction to going behind was excellent. We weren't at our best but showed enough to win.

"Mario Vrancic has real quality and has demonstrated that since he came to the club. You have to get him into the game and there was a lack of space first half. But he is a key player for us. We knew if we could get him in it would be a big plus for us.

"Jacob Brown also gives so much for the team. He has had a really strong start to the season and his link-up play has improved considerably. It was a great header. He can create chances out of nothing."

Huddersfield Town manager Carlos Corberan:

"We knew we were playing a good, well-organised team. In the first half we defended more than we attacked. We only threatened through set pieces.

"We didn't really concede any chances but they have two strikers they use very well and that was dangerous. The team was good defensively. But we wanted to be more aggressive and create chances.

"Stoke are patient with the ball and have three quality midfielders and two dangerous strikers. But we didn't use our goal-kicks well enough to turn them around. We did manage the game better in the second half but conceded those goals."

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