Huddersfield Town 1-0 Cardiff City: Managerless Terriers beat Bluebirds

Cardiff City striker Callum Robinson has yet to score for his new club

Jordan Rhodes' early strike gave managerless Huddersfield victory over Cardiff City at the John Smith's Stadium.

Duane Holmes, who caused the Cardiff defence trouble all afternoon, found Rhodes on the edge of the area and the veteran striker placed the ball into the bottom corner.

The Bluebirds were handed a way back into the game when Andy Rinomhota was fouled in the Huddersfield area, but Callum Robinson's poor penalty was saved by Lee Nicholls.

Both sides had half-chances to add to the scoring, but Rhodes' early goal proved to be the difference despite late pressure from the visitors.

The Terriers' second win of the season moves them up to seven points, though they remain in 23rd, while Cardiff drop to 18th in the Championship.

Interim coach Narcis Pelach and Paul Harsley took charge of Huddersfield after the Terriers parted company with head coach Danny Schofield on Wednesday.

Having picked up one point from their last three home games, the pair would have been delighted with the way their team started.

United States international Holmes, who caused the Cardiff defence trouble all evening, found plenty of space between Jack Simpson and Niels Nkounkou and fed Rhodes for the striker's 94th goal for the club.

The winger was at it again minutes later, but the shot at the end of his mazy run was straight at Cardiff goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.

It took Cardiff 17 minutes to register their first shot, but Robinson's effort from the edge of the area went high and wide after a neat turn earned him a couple of yards of space.

The Bluebirds continued to grow into the contest and from the first corner of the match were awarded a penalty when Tino Anjorin's high foot made contact with Rinomhota, and Dean Whitestone pointed to the spot.

Summer signing Robinson could not take advantage though, as the former West Bromwich Albion striker took a two-step run up and fired a tame effort to Nicholls' right which was pushed away.

Cardiff remained on top for the rest of the first half, but failed to really test Nicholls with Perry Ng's long-range effort and Callum O'Dowda's free-kick.

Steve Morison changed shape at half-time, bringing on Mark Harris and Romaine Sawyers for Nkounkou and Jaden Philogene, but it was Huddersfield who came out brighter.

Rhodes almost had a second from Yuta Nakayama's free-kick but his back-post header lacked the power to beat Allsop.

Michal Helik almost turned the ball into his own net from a Cardiff corner, before Cedric Kipre got back well to deny a breaking Jack Ridoni a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

The visitors' best chance to equalise came on the hour mark, but Nicholls was called into action again to deny Robinson from point-blank range.

Wales international Sorba Thomas had the chance to wrap up the points in injury time, but the wing-back put Patrick Jones' cross wide of the goal when it looked easier to score.

It did not matter though, as Huddersfield held firm to deny Cardiff any more opportunities and record just a second league win of the season.

Cardiff City manager Steve Morison said: "We didn't start the game well, we grew into it and then obviously should have scored the penalty.

"We should have had a second penalty too which we didn't get, but we didn't make the most of our moments."