Terriers Down Rams

A goal inside the first minute from Danny Ward gave Huddersfield Town a 1-0 victory over Derby County at the John Smith`s Stadium. The international break seemed to have a negative effect on Nigel Clough`s side as they failed to seriously trouble Alex Smithies in the Huddersfield goal despite having the better of the play in the second half. Ward had given the home side the lead when he converted an Adam Hammill cross from close range after forty-six seconds but from then on neither keeper had a lot to do as the teams failed to create many clear cut chances. Frank Fielding touched an effort from

Conor Doyle came into the side in place of Paul Coutts, missing with flu, for his first start in ten months in the only change to the side who strolled to victory over Watford last time out. The Rams got off to the worst possible start and found themselves behind inside the first minute when Adam Hammill beat James O`Connor down the right and his cross was steered in on the near post by Danny Ward to give his side the lead.

Neither side were creating many chances but a mistake from Joel Lynch allowed Jamie Ward to find Conor Sammon but the striker couldn`t get his shot off in time as Peter Clarke got back to block his effort. John Brayford did well to deny James Vaughan as he looked set to shoot and Craig Bryson flicked a freekick from Hammill just wide of his own goal as Huddersfield looked to increase their lead. A spell of Derby pressure came to nothing despite a number of corners and they went into the break still trailing.

Adam Clayton forced Frank Fielding into a save when his effort from outside of the area looked to be creeping inside the post and Keith Southern sliced over from the resulting corner as the home side started the second period brightly. Jamie Ward moved to the left of midfield to allow Will Hughes to get more involved in the play in the middle of the park as he lined up just behind Sammon and the switch appeared to work as Derby started to enjoy more possession. Richard Keogh`s header was off target from a Doyle corner and Ward scuffed an effort wide after some neat build-up play but The Rams could not find a way back into the match despite a late spell of pressure with Jake Buxton coming on up front in the final minutes.

Huddersfield Town: Smithies, Hunt, Clarke, Lynch, Dixon, Clayton, Southern, Norwood, D Ward (Novak, 67), Hammill (Arfield, 86), Vaughan (Scannell, 90)

Unused subs: Bennett, Woods, Gerrard, Lee.

Derby County: Fielding, Brayford, Keogh, O'Connor, Roberts (Buxton, 90+1), Doyle (Jacobs, 64), Hendrick, Bryson, Hughes, J Ward, Sammon (Robinson, 79)

Unused subs: Legzdins, Freeman, Gjokaj, Tyson.

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