Huddersfield Town 3-1 Stoke City: Terriers beat Potters for first win of season

Japanese defender Yuta Nakayama scored his first goal for Huddersfield following last month's move from Dutch side PEC ZwolleImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Japanese defender Yuta Nakayama scored his first goal for Huddersfield following last month's move from Dutch side PEC Zwolle

Danny Schofield earned his first win as Huddersfield Town boss at the fourth attempt as his side scored twice in the final 13 minutes to beat Stoke City.

After two league defeats and a midweek Carabao Cup exit to Preston, the Terriers won with a first-half header from Japanese defender Yuta Nakayama, supplemented by late strikes from Danny Ward and Jordan Rhodes, after Lewis Baker had equalised.

Stoke wasted a chance to take the lead on 21 minutes when Josh Laurent went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Josh Ruffels - and referee Matt Donohue awarded a penalty.

Keeper Lee Nicholls dived to his left to keep out Baker's spot-kick and, in the scramble that followed, Jacob Brown's left-foot effort hit the post.

Five minutes before the break, Stoke were made to pay when Sorba Thomas whipped over a corner to the far post and Nakayama headed powerfully home.

Stoke levelled on 56 minutes when William Smallbone's shot was blocked and Baker made amends for his penalty miss by curling a right-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Image source, Rex Features

Dwight Gayle thought he had completed the comeback, only for his effort to be chalked off, perhaps wrongly, for a marginal offside.

Instead Town went back in front on 77 minutes when substitute Duane Holmes cut in to set up Ward, who found the bottom-right corner with his left-foot finish.

Holmes then also set up the decisive third, beating the offside trap to set up Rhodes to clinch it four minutes from time - the 199th league goal of the much-travelled former Ipswich Town, Rochdale, Brentford, Blackburn Rovers. Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich City striker's career.

Huddersfield Town boss Danny Schofield:

"The longer you're without a win, you do feel it becomes more difficult and there's more focus on the losses, but we never stopped believing. I could sense the belief and the energy in the lads pre-match.

"There are always key moments in seasons and after Lee Nicholls' save, you do feel as though things can turn. It was a pivotal moment for us.

"We speak and say words all we want, but if actions aren't implemented daily then the words mean nothing. The reason I'm in this game is because it's very emotional and you're passionate about it."

Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill:

"The scoreline was extremely harsh on us. We had a lot of positives, a lot of control on the game despite being the away side.

"In the second half we were dominant. It's a mistake that leads to the second goal and then we're having to chase the game.

"The goal from Dwight Gayle is onside and that would put us 2-1 ahead, so we're disappointed with that as well. But that's out of our control,. We've just got to accept it."

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