Huddersfield Town 1, Nottingham Forest 0
Fraizer Campbell’s second half volley opened Huddersfield Town’s Championship account against a wayward Nottingham Forest.
Under pressure Sabri Lamchouchi’s side have now suffered their worst start to a league season since 1954-55 and have failed to score in their opening three league games for the first time since 1974-75.
Forest players Sammy Ameobi and Loic Mbe Soh where both denied first half goals by Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Ben Hamer in a match watched by Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa who was at the John Smith’s Stadium to see his former assistant manager Carlos Corberan try to get the Terriers off the mark in the Championship.
There might have been a couple of red cards in this game, with Jonathan Hogg and Samba Sow perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch, and while Hamer ensured the scores stayed level both sides were profligate in front of goal.
Perhaps this illustrated why both sides had no points after two games and wasted chances throughout their encounter.
Campbell made his first start of the season for the Terriers who were missing talismanic captain Christopher Schindler after an injury sustained in the game against Brentford.
He replaced Adama Diakhaby up front while Romoney Crichlow replaced Schindler in defence while Harry Toffolo recovered from the knock that forced him off during the defeat by the Bees.
Nottingham Forest handed debuts to Scott McKenna and Harry Arter while ex Terrier Joe Lolley started on the bench as boss Sabri Lamouchi made seven changes to his side.
And Arter was screaming in pain within a matter of seconds after a heavy challenge by Jonathan Hogg who raked his ankle with a swing of his boot long – a nasty foul worthy of a red card but perhaps one missed by the referee.
Chances by Josh Koroma and Cyrus Christie soon followed in a fiesty start before Alex Pritchard missed a chance to volley Town into the lead after a lofted cross by Juninho Bacuna from the left.
Ben Hamer with saves to keep Huddersfield Town clean sheet against Nottingham Forest
Ben Hamer made a great one handed save after 17 minutes to deny Sammy Ameobi after he had carved out some space for himself by turning Crichlow in the box.
Koroma had Brice Samba diving onto the ball with his 27th minute shot with both sides leaking chances early on and both Koroma and Campbell went close as Town went close again.
There was a relative lack of quality end product from Town as Alex Pritchard struggled to produce the perfect ball for Mbenza to run onto.
Carel Eiting, on loan from Ajax, made his Town debut replacing Hogg who departed after picking up an injury after 43 minutes.
But it was Hamer to the rescue again after Loic Mbe Soh connected with Luke Freeman’s corner with a header that was tipped away by the Town keeper ion added time.
Toffolo’s cut back was volleyed first time by Fraizer Campbell past Samba to get Town off the mark in the 54th minute. It was a superb move started by Isaac Mbenza whose disguised pass released the Town left back to put in an unchallenged cross.
Forest made two changes with Alex Mighten and Lewis Grabban coming on for Sow and Lyle Taylor while Town introduced Adama Diakhaby for Mbenza.
Lolley was introduced with 14 minutes to go as Forest’s lack of composure in front of goal came back to haunt them along with a possible penalty should when Mighten was pushed in the area by Toffolo.
Jack Colback blocked a weak shot by Diakhaby while Town made their last change with Jayden Brown replacing Campbell.
There was late drama as Town missed a chance to bury Forest when Koroma broke free on the break and slid Diakhaby through but Samba stuck a boot out to deny the Frenchman with the goal gaping and also stopped the follow up from Koroma.
Bacuna also went wide with a late chance as the Terriers held out for a late win to lift them up to 16th in the table at the expense of Forest who are now winless and goalless in three Championship games.
Goal – Huddersfield Town 1, Nottingham Forest 0
Huddersfield Town 1, Nottingham Forest 0: 54. Fraizer Campbell gets Town up and running with a sweet volley after getting on the end of Harry Toffolo’s cut back from the left flank.
Match stats – Huddersfield Town 1, Nottingham Forest 0
Huddersfield Town: Hamer, Pipa, Stearman, Crichlow, Toffolo, Pritchard, Hogg (Eiting 43), Bacuna, Mbenza (Diakhaby 66), Campbell (Brown 81), Koroma
Huddersfield Town subs not used: Pereira, Duhaney, Daly, Olangunju
Booked: Hogg 11 (foul on Sammy Ameobi); Stearman 73 (foul on Lewis Grabban)
Nottingham Forest: Samba, Christie, Mbe Soh, McKenna, Blackett, Arter, Sow (Mighten 54), Colback, Ameobi, Taylor (Grabban 65), Freeman (Lolley 76)
Nottingham Forest Subs not used: Smith, Dawson, Yates, Darikwa
Booked: Sow 18 (foul on Isaac Mbenza); Colback 31 (trip on Alex Pritchard)
Referee: Oliver Langford