Huddersfield Town 1, Preston North End 2
Two goals by Preston North End captain Alan Browne saw them overturn an early setback to beat Huddersfield Town.
An early goal by Town striker Fraizer Campbell was followed by a great reaction from Preston who put the Terriers on the back foot for the rest of the game but they initially wasted several chances to get on the score sheet.
It was Town who came closest to scoring again in the first half, with a header wide by Campbell and a long range curling shot by Pipa that forced a save from Preston goalkeeper Declan Rudd.
But the Terriers fell apart after that and Browne’s double in rainswept conditions in the second half followed by a red card for Naby Sarr late on ended their four match unbeaten run.
Christopher Schindler returned to take the captain’s armband from Jonathan Hogg for the home game against Preston North End with Carel Eiting and Josh Koroma making way for Schindler and Lewis O’Brien as the Terriers reverted to a back three.
Preston were unchanged from their win at QPR on Wednesday but first team coach Frank McAvoy was unable to attend this match due to being forced to self-isolate after being contacted by the Track and Trace service.
Veteran midfielder Paul Gallagher stepped up to help with coaching duties and his place on the bench was taken by Tom Bayliss.
Town quickly took the lead after early domination of the ball when Lewis O’Brien slid the ball through for Fraizer Campbell to finish under the diving body of Rudd in the 8th minute.
Campbell flicked a header wide of the back post three minutes later as the Terriers had a great chance to double their lead.
Preston quickly upped their game though and Patrick Bauer’s header was deflected while Brad Potts was wayward with two long range chances.
Scott Sinclair drove a free shot wide in the 32nd minute after Richard Stearman allowed a high ball to bounce as the visitors pushed the Terriers back in the first half.
Ryan Ledson’s raking cross found Emil Riis Jakobsen but his shot was charged down as the visitors continued to steadily create chances.
Town were under the cosh but Pipa managed to test Rudd with a curling left foot shot which was palmed away by the Preston keeper.
Isaac Mbenza’s free kick went narrowly wide after the break but Preston remained on the front foot and deservedly equalised when Browne lashed the loose ball home in the 51st minute.
Browne turned the game on its head when he lobbed the ball past Hamer with a left footed shot which the keeper could do nothing about two minutes later.
There was a double substitution after 59 minutes with Town now chasing the game. Schindler and O’Brien were replaced by Eiting and Adama Diakhaby as Carlos Corberan switched to a back 4.
Browne could have compiled his hat trick in the 65th minute but his long range effort from Scott Sinclair was saved by Hamer.
Preston were attacking at will by this time and Riis Jakobsen went wide.
Town’s final substitution saw Koroma replace Mbenza in the 71st minute but their intricate passing was spoiled by the harrying by the visitors.
Cards were certainly being dished out freely, Brad Potts avoided one for a bad foul on Campbell before half time, but Naby Sarr was sent off in the 77th minute for a bad one on Riis Jakobsen as he looked to break through.
Town persevered and almost got an unlikely equaliser when Pipa’s shot was deflected behind for a corner and also the Spaniard and Riis Jakobsen also struck the woodwork in added time as The Terriers had to throw everything forward as time ran out.
GOALS – Huddersfield Town 1, Preston North End 2
Huddersfield Town 1, Preston North End 0: 8. Lewis O’Brien’s threaded through ball was quickly seized upon by Fraizer Campbell who slotted home under the diving body of Declan Rudd.
Huddersfield Town 1, Preston North End 1: 51. Daniel Browne slotted home the loose ball after Town failed to clear when Daniel Johnson lost the ball in Town’s area.
Huddersfield Town 1, Preston North End 2: 53. Daniel Browne lobbed Ben Hamer to turn the game around.
MATCH STATS – Huddersfield Town 1, Preston North End 2
Huddersfield Town: Hamer, Pipa, Stearman, Schindler (C) (Eiting 59), Sarr, Toffolo, Bacuna, Hogg, O’Brien (Diakhaby 59), Mbenza (Koroma 71), Campbell
Huddersfield Town Subs not used: Pereira, Pritchard, Duhaney, Crichlow
Booked: Schindler 40 (foul on Emil Riis Jakobsen); Stearman 44 (dissent); Koroma 87 (foul on Ryan Ledson)
Sent off: Sarr 77 (last man foul on Riis Jakobsen)
Goal: Campbell 8
Preston North End: Rudd, Rafferty, Bauer, Storey, Hughes, Johnson (Maguire 85), Ledson (Harrop 90+1), Sinclair (Barkhuizen 72) Browne (C), Potts, Riis Jakobsen
Preston North End Subs not used: Ripley, Bayliss, Stockley, Huntington
Booked: Potts 44 (bad foul on Fraizer Campbell); Rafferty 66 (foul on Juninho Bacuna); Bauer 70 (foul on Juninho Bacuna), Maguire 90+3 (foul on Harry Toffolo); Harrop 90+4 (foul on Jonathan Hogg)
Goals: Browne 51, 53
Referee: Josh Smith