Huddersfield Town 3 Middlesbrough 2: Terriers strike late to claim all three points against Boro

The Huddersfield Town manager guided his side to their first win in five games with a 3-2 victory over Neil Warnock's Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon.

Boro came into the game having lost just once in their last 12 league games. That defeat came against Norwich City last week as Teemu Puki scored from the penalty spot in a 1-0 defeat.

The visitors had only conceded two goals in their last nine Championship outings, with Cardiff City the only side able to breach their rock-solid defence from open play in that run.

In the opening stages, the game looked like it was going to be a routine one for the visitors.

They missed a handful of chances and were the more dominant side before taking the lead through Marvin Johnson.

However, Huddersfield turned the game on its head in the final seven minutes of the first half with two goals to take a surprise lead.

Carel Eiting hauled the Terriers level before Fraizer Campbell profited after brilliant work from Lewis O'Brien.

Boro got themselves back on terms with seven minutes to play when Naby Sarr was penalised for an alleged foul on Britt Assombalonga inside the penalty area which on second viewing looked a harsh decision on the hosts.

The spot kick was calmly converted by the visiting number nine, however, the lead was restored instantly when Josh Koroma won the game for the Terriers with a wonderful strike as he jinked inside and curled the ball out of Marcus Bettinelli's reach.

Christopher Schindler was replaced in the starting line-up by Richard Stearman as he was absent due to the protocol regarding head injuries after coming off in the midweek draw at Wycombe Wanderers.

Koroma was the only other change from the stalemate on Tuesday, replacing Adama Diakhaby in the starting line-up.

Middlesbrough made two changes from the side that beat Derby County 3-0 on Wednesday night as Duncan Watmore and Patrick Roberts made way for Marvin Johnson and Djed Spence.

Koroma had an early chance to put the hosts in front but Dael Fry made a strong block.

Assombalonga then missed a glorious opportunity to put Warnock's side ahead but he put the ball over the crossbar from four yards.

Middlesbrough took a deserved lead through Johnson when he was played in down the left side of the penalty area by Marcus Tavernier and he made no mistake with the finish, slotting the ball through Ryan Schofield's legs from a tight angle.

The visitors were good value for their lead but were left trailing at the interval.

Eiting equalised as Koroma squared the ball to the Dutchman who, with Bettinelli unsighted, side-footed home for his third goal in four games.

O'Brien helped Huddersfield hit the front as he won the ball inside his own half and caught Boro short at the back. He drove towards the penalty area before sliding the ball to Campbell who kept his cool to cut inside the defender and hack the ball over the top of the on-rushing Bettinelli.

It was the third time in four home matches that the Terriers had led at the interval. They had lost on both previous occasions but they gave little away in the second half as they targeted their first win since October 31.

Huddersfield looked to stamp their control on the second half and limited Middlesbrough's opportunities.

Assombalonga got the visitors level as he expertly dispatched an 83rd-minute penalty but they weren't level for long as Koroma fired back instantly to win all three points for the Terriers.

Huddersfield Town: Schofield; Bacuna (Duhaney 77), Stearman (Edmonds-Green 29), Sarr, Toffolo; Eiting, Hogg, O'Brien; Mbenza (Rowe 90), Campbell (Ward 77), Koroma (Brown 90). Unused substitutes: Pereira, Daly, Diakhaby, Phillips, Ward.

Middlesbrough: Bettinelli; Dijksteel (Watmore 88), Fry, McNair, Bola; Howson, Saville (Wing 90); Spence, Tavernier (Akpom 66); Johnson; Assombalonga. Unused substitutes: Stojanovic, Wood, Coulson, Folarin, Roberts, Morsy.

Referee: J Brooks.

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