HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 1, WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0
Steve Mounie’s injury time goal earned Huddersfield Town only their third win of the season – and completed an unlikely double over Wolves.
It was a dogged performance against Wolves to earn new Town boss Jan Siewert his first win at the fifth attempt.
And the Terriers have avoided sharing the unwanted record of fewest Premier League points in a season – with Derby County.
Embed from Getty ImagesThey also picked up only their fifth clean sheet of the season against a Wolves side who looked tired in a game of few chances – the visitors didn’t even trouble Town ‘keeper Jonas Lossl with a shot on target while the Terriers finished with just three.
But there was the long awaited return of victory celebrations scenes for the Terriers at the end of a tense night despite the win not changing much for rock bottom Town who moved within 3 points of Fulham in 19th.
Siewert came into the game on 4 straight defeats as Town boss, with the Terriers winless in all competitions since beating Wolves at Molineux on November 25 – a total of 14 defeats and a draw during which the club parted company with former boss David Wagner.
After a gruelling game against the Magpies at the weekend only Jonas Lossl, Chris Schindler, and Jonathan Hogg retained their places for the home game against Wolves and Schindler was named as captain.
There was a first start for Karlan Grant alongside Steve Mounie while Jon Gorenc Stankovic made his first start under Jan Siewert – and only his second Premier League start.
Depleted Town started without the suspended Tommy Smith, who was starting a three match ban after being sent off at Newcastle last weekend.
Town also had Adama Diakhaby, Isaac Mbenza, Danny Williams, and Abdelhamid Sabiri on the sidelines.
The Terriers lined up with a back 4, Stankovic at the base of a midfield diamond with Erik Durm at left back and former Manchester City academy right back Demeaco Duhaney at right back.
Duhaney, 20, was making his Premier League debut for the Terriers after signing for Town’s academy in the summer from City.
Town shaded the first quarter of the game with more possession better build-up and half chances by Alex Pritchard, Hogg, and Grant but without a true goal threat.
Wolves were biding their time and Matt Doherty wasted a couple of chances, the second a presentable shot after Diogo Jota’s cut back from the left flank touchline which the unmarked wing-back hit into the side netting with the goal at his mercy.
Wolves put the Terriers under pressure at the end of the first half, forcing a number of cheap fouls out of the home side to earn themselves corners and free kicks.
Both sets of fans were keeping themselves entertained by taunting each over, while Terriers fans heckled referee David Coote over some decisions that went Wolves’ way.
There was a ripple of excitement just before the break after Stankovic led Town on a break from their own half only to be tripped by Ryan Bennett who was booked for his cynical challenge.
Town could have grabbed an eye catching first goal when the ball broke for them but Grant put Pritchard’s cross wide with an overhead kick.
Huddersfield Town leave it late to score the winner against Wolves
Town reshuffled after half time, with Juninho Bacuna replacing Duhaney and they earned a corner after Boly had blocked Steve Mounie’s powerful shot.
Town quickly had the first shot on target in the game after 47 minutes when Stankovic’s header was saved on his goal line by Rui Patricio from Pritchard’s corner.
Mounie headed from close range into the side netting after a raking deep cross from Bacuna in the 58th minute flew just beyond the outstretched leg of Terence Kongolo in the box.
Willy Boly headed over before Nuno Espirito Santo made a double change after 66 minutes, bringing on Morgan Gibbs-White and Ivan Cavaleiro for Joao Moutinho and Jota.
Town still could not win a break, though and Karlan Grant’s cross came off Bennett but the corner wasn’t given.
Ruben Neves sent a wild shot high while Gibbs-White at least made Lossl make a save.
Aaron Mooy replaced Pritchard while Jimenez was replaced by Helder Costa for the last few minutes.
Elias Kachunga came on for Stankovic as Town tried to get an unlikely late goal.
Kachunga played in Mounie but the Benin striker curled his effort agonisingly wide of the back post with 5 minutes to go.
It got frantic right at the end as Town fans roared on a final push and Mooy came up with the goods – his right wing cross was cleared overhead by Boly only as far as Grant who put the ball back into the 6 yard box where Mounie was waiting to stab in only his third goal of the season.
GOAL – Huddersfield Town 1, Wolves 0
Huddersfield Town 1, Wolves 0: 90+1 Steve Mounie stabbed in the winning goal after Karlan Grant sent Willy Boly’s overhead clearance back into the area following Aaron Mooy’s right wing cross.
MATCH STATS – Huddersfield Town 1, Wolves 0
Huddersfield Town: Lossl, Duhaney (Bacuna 46), Schindler (C), Kongolo, Durm, Stankovic (Kachunga 82), Hogg, Billing, Pritchard (Mooy 78), Mounie, Grant
Huddersfield Town Subs not used: Hamer, Lowe, Depoitre, Zanka
Booking: Billing 29 (Push on Diogo Jota), Hogg 84 (running into Helder Costa)
Goal: Mounie 90+1
Wolves: Patricio, Bennett, Coady (C), Boly, Doherty, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho (Gibbs-White 66), Otto, Jimenez (Costa 78), Jota (Cavaleiro 66)
Wolves Subs not used: Ruddy, Saiss, Vinagre, Traore
Booked: Bennett 43 (trip on Jon Gorenc Stankovic), Doherty 89 (trip on Hogg)
Attendance: 22,714 (2165 Wolves fans)