Derensili Sanches Fernandes begins Terriers' reconnection process with Huddersfield Town fans

It came after the Dutch dazzler produced a golden moment for Town's second goal of a glorious opening as he showcased just why his new club brought him over from the Netherlands.

Slightly right of centre, he found a pocket of space and produced a curler with his sweet left foot which was sumptuous. One for the album.

His celebration wasn't half-bad either as he held a golden mask to his face in homage to his 'Golden Boy' nickname at Excelsior. All good fun.

And it was fun watching Town, which hasn't always been the case at the Accu Stadium in recent seasons.

A 29th-minute dismissal for Bali Mumba wasn't fun in fairness, but the hosts coped admirably and the home stands were bathed in blue-and-white smiles at the end.

What a contrast to the last game here in April which was thoroughly bleak and dispiriting.

That came against Mansfield Town when the visitors were 3-0 up in 51 minutes and many fans headed for the exits. A lap of appreciation from Terriers players following the final whistle of the club's last home match of the 2025-26 campaign was played out in front of very sparsely populated home sections, which was an embarrassing sight.

This time, Town punters stayed to the end and acclaimed those in home jerseys. After deserved ovations for Fernandes, the excellent Ashley Fletcher and indefatigable Marcus Harness when they were substituted, the most significant applause came when it was all over.

Town have to reconnect with many of their fans after three underachieving and largely forgettable seasons and this sort of thing helps. More please.

Equally, Town have been here before and it's important not to go overboard.

In their first home game of last season, they also comprehensively dispatched another team from the capital wearing red in Leyton Orient by the same scoreline and that proved a false dawn.

The nature of this particular 3-0 victory should carry more weight, that said. For one key reason. Including stoppage time at the end of each half, Town played with 10 men for 70 minutes.

It constituted an opening-day test, on a day when five players were making their league bows and it was one that Martin Drury's group passed.

Huddersfield's defensive resolve, mentality and togetherness was the thing that pleased him the most.

Matty Young did not have lots to do, but his handling was safe and secure when Wimbledon threw it into the mixer. Jack Whatmough and Radinio Balker were strong in the middle and debutant Ibane Bowat slotted in nicely.

And Balker's gallop forward out of defence to create Town's cherry-on-the-cake third, scored by his big mate Bojan Radulovic, was wonderful.

Down the right, Town's Excelsior boys Ilias Bronkhorst and Fernandes whet the appetite. Further forward, Fletcher's link-up play was of a high order and the performance of Joe Taylor, in his first league start for the club since mid-October was perhaps the most meaningful individual aspect of the afternoon, even more than Fernandes' dream debut.

He produced arguably his best 45 minutes in Town colours before making way at the interval, with Drury sought midfield ballast after Mumba’s red. Taylor's block tackle on Zack Nelson and delightful pass for Fernandes' opener – Dons keeper Nathan Bishop did not cover himself in glory – was top-notch.

Taylor looked a player intent on making up for the lost time. As he showed in his loan spell at Wigan earlier this year, he is also a player capable of doing damage at this level when everything is right.

Wimbledon were gasping for air early on during Town's exhibition.

A needless full-throttle challenge from Mumba on Dons defender Isaac Ogundere looked to give the visitors oxygen. But Town were not to be moved.