Huddersfield Town 1, Fulham 2
Huddersfield Town tonight confirmed that they had parted company with manager Jan Siewert following their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Fulham.
Siewert had won just once in 19 games in charge of the Terriers after taking over on January 21 this year.
The German couldn’t prevent Town’s relegation from the Premier League and started the Championship season poorly with three home defeats on the trot including an embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to Lincoln City on Tuesday.
Fulham’s Ivan Cavaleiro scored late to deny battling Huddersfield Town a point after Karlan Grant had equalised in an action packed second half.
Grant’s goal, his third of the season for Town, had brought to home side back to parity shortly after Aleksandar Mitrovic had given visitors Fulham the lead.
Town goalkeeper Kamil Grabara had pulled off several impressive saves to keep Fulham at bay but couldn’t stop Cavaleiro’s late rocket from handing the points to the Londoners.
Under pressure Jan Siewert fails to beat Fulham
Under pressure Siewert rang the changes following the Terriers’ Carabao Cup defeat to Lincoln City at home in midweek.
Elias Kachunga made his first start of the season taking Adama Diakhaby’s place from the side that lost against Derby County last week.
Terence Kongolo was making his 50th start for the Terriers in all competitions while Steven Sessegnon, younger twin brother of Ryan, who moved to Tottenham in the summer, was making his debut.
Town fans backed their team in the early stages with Lewis O’Brien and Alex Pritchard going close.
It took 18 minutes for the first shot on target, a tame effort by Fulham’s Ivan Cavaleiro who had earlier curled a shot wide.
But despite some early promise the Terriers’ weaknesses began to show through again.
Town were misplacing passes, passing accuracy dropped off, and they were ineffective in the final third again but Fulham were playing their part in a dire first half with their own sloppiness.
At least the Cottagers had tested Town’s goalkeeper – Cavaleiro found Joe Bryan whose shot was saved by on-loan Liverpool ‘keeper Kamil Grabara just before half time.
Cavaleiro threaded the ball to Aleksandar Mitrovic who had two attempts on goal early in the second half, the first blocked by Christopher Schindler, the rebound zipping over the bar.
Anthony Knockaert forced a fine save from Grabara with his outstretched boot as Fulham stepped up the pressure.
And then Bacuna’s poor attempted clearance was skied towards his own goal and then gobbled up by the aerial power of Mitrovic who headed home from two yards out
The luckless Bacuna, who was the only survivor from the midweek defeat to Lincoln City, was himself hooked immediately by Siewert and replaced by Trevoh Chalobah.
Huddersfield Town draw level only to lose to a late Ivan Cavaleiro stunner
And Town were remarkably back on level terms 6 minutes later with their first goal from open play this season – only their seventh under Siewert – when Florent Hadergjonaj’s right wing cross was converted by Karlan Grant’s header.
Goal-line technology confirmed that Marcus Bettinelli had failed to keep the ball out and the goal gave Town fans hope.
Grabara kept the scores level by racing off his line and smothering a shot by Knockaert, who was clean through, and the Town fans were soon back in fine voice.
The visitors retained the upper hand with Grabara saving from Knockaert again and Fulham boss Scott Parker brought on Bobby Reid for Stefan Johansen in the last 15 minutes to try and force a win and his gamble paid off.
Tom Cairney’s layoff was lashed past Grabara into the top corner by Cavaleiro with 10 minutes to go after Mitrovic had knocked down Steven Sessegnon’s cutback into the path of Cairney.
It was a stunning goal, fully deserved for the visitors, and the Terriers couldn’t find another equaliser as the Cottagers shut up shop.
GOALS – Huddersfield Town 1, Fulham 2
Huddersfield Town 0, Fulham 1: 51. Juninho Bacuna’s disastrous hooked clearance dropped in his own six yard box and was headed home from 2 yards out by Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Huddersfield Town 1, Fulham 1: 57. Karlan Grant’s header crept in over the line and was confirmed by goal-line technology despite an attempt by Marcus Bettinelli to keep it out following a cross by Florent Hadergjonaj.
Huddersfield Town 1, Fulham 2: 80. Tom Cairney’s layoff was lashed past Kamil Grabara and into the top corner by Ivan Cavaleiro after Fulham pushed up.
MATCH STATS – Huddersfield Town 1, Fulham 2
Huddersfield Town: Grabara, Hadergjonaj, Elphick, Schindler (C), Kongolo, Hogg, Bacuna (Chalobah 55), O’Brien, Kachunga (Mounie 84), Pritchard (Van La Parra 84), Grant
Huddersfield Town Subs not used: Schofield, Diakhaby, Bockhorn, Quaner
Booking: Kachunga 62 (foul), Hogg 72 (foul on Mitrovic)
Goal: Grant 57
Fulham: Bettinelli, Sessegnon, Mawson, Ream, Bryan, Cairney (C), Arter, Johansen (Decordova-Reid 76), Knockaert (Le Marchand 90+2), Cavaleiro (Reed 84), Mitrovic
Fulham Subs not used: Rodak, McDonald, Christie, Kamara
Booked: Sessegnon 15 (pulling down Alex Pritchard), Mawson 58 (foul)
Goals: Mitrovic 51, Cavaleiro 80
Referee: James Linington
Attendance: 20,775 (610 Fulham Fans)