Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Huddersfield Town - Josh Ruffels double earns Terriers first away win

Josh Ruffels celebrates one of his goals for Huddersfield Town at QPRImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Josh Ruffels' first two goals for Huddersfield came in his 22nd appearance for the club

Josh Ruffels scored his first two goals for Huddersfield Town - including an audacious winner - as the Championship's bottom side overcame high-flying Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

Lyndon Dykes had taken just 81 seconds to put the hosts ahead in his 100th appearance for the club, with the opener coming just moments after Seny Dieng kept Danny Ward out in a one-on-one at the other end.

The Terriers were quick to respond as the frenzied early pace of the game continued, with Ruffels levelling with a powerful finish into the top corner.

The defender decisively beat Dieng again with a hooked overhead finish from the top of the box before the break.

Terriers goalkeeper Lee Nicholls made two crucial second-half saves, denying Tim Iroegbunam and Taylor Richards, as Huddersfield hung on for their first win away from home this season.

Despite their victory, Huddersfield remain bottom of the Championship, two points behind Wigan and West Bromwich Albion, while QPR's third defeat in four games sees them slip to sixth.

The tone of the night in west London was set immediately, with Ward racing clean through on goal for the first big chance of the night, which Dieng kept out.

QPR were merciless with their response, as Dykes met a neat low ball from Chris Willock to finish from close range. But their advantage was short-lived with Ruffels smashing home from the centre of the box after Jack Rudoni nodded the ball across goal from a free-kick.

Albert Adomah then went close to restoring the home side's lead a minute later, while Ilias Chair also tested the excellent Nicholls.

But it was a from a free-kick that appeared to have created little trouble that provided the moment of the night, with Ruffels controlling the ball with his thigh before lifting it beyond the hopelessly-stranded Dieng in sensational fashion with his back to goal.

Willock then fired just off target in search of Rangers' leveller and William Boyle sent a header narrowly over with the Terriers looking to add a third before the break.

A fine save from Nicholls at his near post from a powerfully-struck half-volley by Iroegbunam, and an excellent stop to deny Richards with six minutes left proved pivotal as QPR fruitlessly piled forward to try to salvage something from the game.

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