Match report: Huddersfield Town v Derby County

A first minute strike from Danny Ward proved the difference as Huddersfield Town claimed their second home win on the spin to sink Derby 1-0.

Ward timed his run impressively to get on the end of loan star Adam Hammill’s inviting cross after the Wolves midfielder had teased Rams and former Doncaster Rovers defender James O’Connor.

The goal arrived after a mere 47 seconds, but there was precious first-half action other than that, although Town - with Oliver Norwood and Keith Southern pulling the strings in midfield - were the more assertive.

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Things livened up at the start of the second-half with a combination of the post and keeper Frank Fielding keeping out Adam Clayton’s rasping low strike and from the resulting corner, Southern fired wastefully over from close range.

Derby came more into the game after the interval, but despite plenty of possession, pressure and corners, they struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Connor Doyle blasted their first clear-cut chance over on 52 minutes after a penetrating run and cross from Jamie Ward.

But solid defending from Town, who managed to clear their lines throughout and defended stoutly, kept them out as they extended their unbeaten sequence to four matches.

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Town: Smithies; Hunt, Clarke, Lynch, Dixon; Clayton, Southern, Norwood, D Ward (Novak 67); Hammill, (Arfield 85) Vaughan (Scannell 89). Subs not used: Bennett, Woods, Gerrard, Lee.

Derby: Fielding; Brayford, Keogh, O’Connor, Roberts (Buxton 90); Doyle (Jacobs 64), Hendrick, Bryson; J Ward, Sammon (Robinson 78). Subs not used: Tyson, Gjokaj, Freeman.

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Berkshire).

Attendance: 15,265 (2,491 away fans)