Delight for Huddersfield Town and Leeds United as Terriers save themselves from relegation with thrilling win

For once, fans of Leeds United and Huddersfield Town were both happy with the same result.
WINNER: Emile Smith Rowe celebrates Huddersfield Town's decisive goalWINNER: Emile Smith Rowe celebrates Huddersfield Town's decisive goal
WINNER: Emile Smith Rowe celebrates Huddersfield Town's decisive goal

The Terriers' 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion might have sent their neighbours into the Premier League, but far more importantly for them, it has stopped them changing divisions for the second season running.

Barring a goal difference miracle in the last two matches, Huddersfield will be playing Championship football next season. Considering the demoralised mess manager Danny Cowley and his brother and assistant Nicky inherited when they took over in September, that is some achievement.

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The reaction of Jonas Lossl as Emile Smith Rowe's winner hit the back of the net, running half the length of the field to leap into Danny Cowley's arms said it all. The on-loan goalkeeper was part of the Town team which played Premier League football and despite being on Everton's payroll, is part of the club's fabric. He knew how important this win was.

Huddersfield sent out a conservative-looking XI with top-scorer Karlan Grant on the bench alongside flair players Smith Rowe and Alex Pritchard but they got off to a terrific start, scoring their first goal since July 1 after just four minutes, then nicked a second goal late on to clinch victory.

Chris Willock, who had appeared bereft of confidence since the restart, latched onto the loose ball when West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, perhaps only seeing the ball late, saved Juninho Bacuna's free-kick with his feet.

With a lead to hang onto, a team with four clean sheets in their last give games had what they needed to hang onto. A thumping tackle from right-back Trevoh Chalobah, and chatterbox centre-back Richard Stearman's dominance when the ball was in the air showed they had the hunger for it.

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In the 10th minute Willock was played in behind Conor Townsend, only for No 10 Lewis O'Brien to open his body up too much and let the shot squirm well wide.

Striking the balance between defending and posing a threat was always going to be tricky and Chalobah was booked for time-wasting after just 19 minutes as he dithered over a throw-in.

The game became scrappy and stop-start as the bookings mounted, Willock booked for knocking over Grady Diangana, who had felt the sharp end of Stearman's tongue after pathetically falling to the ground in a much gentler coming-together between the two. Matt Phillips and Hal Robson-Kanu were booked for the visitors, the latter for an off-the-ball challenge on Stearman.

Danny Cowley was warned off by referee John Brooks as he tried to approach him in the drinks break.

Eventually West Brom's pressure was going to pay off.

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When Townsend headed the ball across and potentially into the goal after 41 minutes, Stearman dramatically headed away.

A minute later O'Brien was lucky to escape a booking for hacking at Matheus Pereira's ankles. Jonas Lossl saved the free-kick but could only palm it to Dara O'Shea, in space at the far post, to equalise.

Cowley quickly became aware of the television replays which showed O'Shea was one of three players in an offside position but the game restarted as he turned to confront fourth official Matthew Donohue. Huddersfield were hanging on for half-time, their only real moment of note in the second period a brilliant “over” by Bacuna to send Willock through, but he headed for a crossing position, not a shooting one, and the chance came to nothing.

Huddersfield took an age coming out for the second half, so long that fourth official Matthew Donohue headed down the tunnel to find them as they emerged as West Brom substitutes Kamil Grosicki and Filip Krovinovic were left only kicking their heels.

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They took the sting out of the second half, making it dull for the neutrals and joyously dull for those watching in West Yorkshire.

Huddersfield had their moments, often through O'Brien, the academy-reared youngster who has arguably been their best player this season, but it usually just broke down. Good work by Jonathan Hogg released O'Brien and even better football from him produced a cross none of his team-mates appeared to see coming.

At the other end Matheus Peirera had a shot blocked, one saved and a header over, the latter two in the same move, but it was hardly a bombardment. Hal Robson-Kanu headed over at a corner and his replacement Charlie Austin struggled to make an impact in the face of some heroic defending. Callum Robinson gave a good move a weak finish in the 81st minute.

Huddersfield clung on for all they were worth, banking on just one chance on the breakaway.

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Lossl was booked for time-wasting in the 85th-minute for dummying over a free-kick but a minute later his side had pounced.

O'Brien, pushed into midfield to make way for the arrival of the supremely gifted Smith Rowe, on loan from Arsenal, picked the latter out with a beautifully weighted ball, and Smith Rowe's precise finish nestled inside the far post.

Huddersfield were in ecstasy and they were not alone.

Huddersfield Town: Lossl; Chalobah, Stearman, Schindler, Toffolo; Hogg, King (Smith Rowe71); Willock (Kachunga 80), O'Brien, Bacuna (Grant 71); Campbell (Mounie 64).

Not used: Coleman, Pritchard, Stankovic, Brown, Duhaney.

West Bromwich Albion: Johnstone; O'Shea, Ajayi, Hegazi, Townsend (Furlong 59); Livermore (Krovinovic 46), Sawyers; Diangana, Pereira, Phillips (Grosicki 46); Robson-Kanu (Austin 59).

Not used: Bartley, Brunt, Harper, Bond, Robinson.

Referee: J Brooks (Leicestershire).

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