Huddersfield Town 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday: Terriers run riot in second half

The game was still goalless after 68 minutes before Huddersfield scored four rapid goals

Four goals in 12 second-half minutes saw Huddersfield Town run away with the big Yorkshire relegation battle against Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls had looked the more likely to score for an hour, with Terriers debutant Rhys Healey clearing off the line from a Michael Ihiekwe header in the first half.

The home side, five days after sacking manager Darren Moore and appointing Jon Worthington as caretaker, struck four times in quick succession through Matty Pearson, Josh Koroma twice and Sorba Thomas.

The win, only their second in the last 12 league games, keeps Huddersfield three points ahead of the drop zone but leaves Wednesday eight points adrift of safety.

The meeting of two out-of-form sides was billed as a must-win, but for long periods it looked more like both were more afraid of losing.

Wednesday, whose need for three points was greater having not won in four matches, were the more promising as Ike Ugbo had a good chance deflected over the bar and then Healey produced his vital header on the line to deny Ihiekwe.

Healey and fellow home debutant Bojan Radulovic were both forced off through injury to deepen Worthington's problems, but the home side showed some life as Thomas' shot from a narrow angle forced Wednesday keeper James Beadle into a sharp save.

The home side burst into life on 68 minutes, Pearson sneaking in ahead of his marker to stoop and head in Thomas' corner at the far post.

The celebrations from the home fans were still in full swing when Huddersfield broke up the visitors' attacking response and Alex Matos' precise pass sent Koroma clear for a cool finish to double the lead.

Six minutes later it was three as Thomas finished off another counter-attacking move, with Wednesday's defence in tatters.

The agony was not over for the travelling fans as Di'Shon Bernard's slack back-pass was intercepted by Koroma, who calmly took his time and slotted in the fourth and his second.

Huddersfield caretaker manager Jon Worthngton told BBC Radio Leeds:

"I've enjoyed the whole week, it's been fantastic. Simple messages, installing belief, and positivity is what I asked me and my staff to get across to the players.

"It's all the players today, they've done that and I've just tried to help them along the way.

"It's not for me to critique what's gone on before, I just went in with the mind-set of how I felt I could help the players.

"It's a good squad with some talented players, we saw what they could do at the end of last season - Josh Koroma, Sorba Thomas - and I just wanted the shackles off and for them to enjoy playing here in front of a really buoyant crowd."

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"It's a big setback in our fight. Three days ago (against Watford) we played very well, and today it's hard to find the right words.

"I have to take the responsibility for the defeat, for the situation. I know it will be a challenge. Today we are disappointed but on Monday I hope I can find the right words, and we go again.

"In the second half it was very easy for them to have transition actions against us. Our defence wasn't good enough, they were very easy goals.

"Until the goals it was a fight for both sides but I had a feeling at half-time we were not sharp enough, not fresh enough in every position.

"I apologise to the fans for our performance but we have to take the right things from this game."