Huddersfield Town 1-0 Millwall: Jonathan Hogg header gives Terriers victory
- Published
- comments
Jonathan Hogg's only previous goal this season came in a 3-0 victory at Blackpool
Huddersfield skipper Jonathan Hogg scored a late winner as their pressure finally told against Millwall at the John Smith's Stadium.
It looked as if the Terriers might have to settle for a point despite forcing several saves from Lions keeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
But he could not keep out Hogg's 82nd-minute header from a Sorba Thomas cross - his eighth assist of the season - as the home side finally made their territorial dominance count.
It was the defender's second goal of the season and lifted Huddersfield up three places to fifth in the table.
Both teams went into the game among six clubs on 21 points, with Millwall having won four of their previous five games and losing only once in 10.
Jed Wallace had an early shooting opportunity after breaking into the Huddersfield box but Lee Nicholls made the save and thereafter the visitors were seemingly willing to absorb pressure and look for quick breaks.
The Lions had to scramble clear as Duane Holmes played a dangerous ball into the box and Danny Ward, Levi Colwill and Lewis O'Brien all tested Bialkowski before half-time.
Gary Rowett sent on Maikel Kieftenbeld to stiffen Millwall's midfield and they had a chance to pinch the opening goal when Tom Bradshaw was played through, only to be foiled by Matty Pearson's excellent tackle.
Huddersfield, though, remained the better side and Josh Koroma should have done better when he shot straight at the keeper after being put through by Fraizer Campbell, but they were finally rewarded when Hogg found the net.
Ryan Leonard saw a goalbound effort deflect wide off Harry Toffolo in stoppage time as defeat dropped Millwall a couple of places to 12th, but still only three points outside the top six.
Huddersfield head coach Carlos Corberan:
"There was only one team today, for me, that deserved the three points and that was Huddersfield.
"After 15 minutes the team started to find free space in the middle of the pitch that allowed us to be more aggressive in attack.
"We know Hogg is a special player for the club, so he has been one of the most important players even before I arrived at the club.
"He has the mentality to attack this type of situation and usually the type of player that we think can impact on these types of free-kicks and deliveries."
Millwall boss Gary Rowett told BBC London 94.9:
"We knew it would be a tough game, Huddersfield are a good side, they've got lots of different movement patterns that are sometimes difficult to deal with.
"I thought we started really well but then for about 30 minutes we didn't use the ball well enough when we won it back and if you keep giving the ball away you're going to keep having to defend.
"We changed it at half-time, I felt we needed an extra body in midfield, and we actually looked like we got to grips with the game and might just start getting on top.
"But we conceded a really poor goal - Hogg, free header in the six-yard box from a corner, for me, it shouldn't happen."