Script ripped up as Huddersfield Town get the better of Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough, transformed into one of the Championship’s most staunch defensive outfits under Neil Warnock, uncharacteristically conceded three goals and missed the opportunity to climb back into the top six.

Huddersfield Town had not won since October 31, a run of four games and it was a fixture which saw the Terriers come from behind to win, something they had not done since a 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers in December, 2019.

Middlesbrough had conceded just once from open play in their last nine outings and twice overall. They entered the contest with the best defensive record in the Championship, conceding just six goals in 13 games.  

It meant the Terriers were facing a pretty steep mountain to climb when Marvin Johnson put the visitors ahead on 14 minutes.

However, Carel Eiting – with his third goal in four games – and Fraizer Campbell scored before the interval to give Town the lead. Britt Assombalonga’s penalty in the 83rd minute looked a cruel blow to Huddersfield, who, after struggling to match Boro’s intensity for much of the first half, were the better team in the second 45 minutes.

It was rather fitting that the winner was scored by Josh Koroma just two minutes later.

The forward has made huge strides in his development since breaking into the first team this campaign. For head coach Carlos Corberan the ability of his side to respond to the setbacks shows there is plenty of character within his squad.

“The most pleasing thing for me is that all the effort from the team, the character and personality they showed out on the pitch, earned them three points,” he said. “We know that some teams are going to challenge us more because they will be strong in defence or attack.

“But Middlesbrough challenged us in both areas because they have strong players.

“In previous games when we have been losing, we couldn’t win. It was a problem we were unable to solve.

“We have drawn and it was one of the challenges we knew we would face. I think the most important thing in these moments is the personality of the players.

“The players competed very well. I am always happy when the team puts in a lot of effort and shows a lot of character to beat such a tough opponent.”

This is a fixture which Boro have enjoyed more in recent years. They were unbeaten in the last eight meetings and had lost just once in the last 16 games between the sides.

Middlesbrough dominated the first half-hour and could have put themselves out of sight. That was the biggest disappointment for visiting manager Neil Warnock whose side have now lost two of their last three outings.

“The game should have been put to bed after half an hour,” reflected former Town chief Warnock. “You don’t get chances like we had and not go two or three goals up and to go in at half-time 2-1 down, it was an absolute travesty.”

The Middlesbrough manager was unable to pinpoint where things went wrong for his side in West Yorkshire as they conceded more than one goal in a league game for the first time this season. He was frustrated by his side’s lack of cutting edge and continued: “We missed some good chances and we didn’t defend our goal well enough. There were so many opportunities to put the game to bed.”

Warnock felt his side’s lacklustre display in defence was down to poor communication but did not question the effort from his players. He added: “It was a lack of communication in certain situations but I can’t really fault them for effort, I thought they put a good shift in. It is just really disappointing to concede goals like that when we have been really strong in defence of late.”

Huddersfield lost Richard Stearman to a suspected hamstring injury in the first half.

The Terriers were already without Christopher Schindler for the fixture, meaning Academy product Rarmani Edmonds-Green was introduced to make his first appearance this season. It was only his third time taking to the pitch for Town in the Championship – he has been on the winning side in all three games ­– but Corberan has full trust in every member of his squad, adding: “Edmonds-Green is a player we have here and we trust all the players within our squad.

“It is always a positive to have players on the bench who are ready to help the team.”

It is a busy period for both clubs over the coming weeks. The Championship fixture list is a punishing one this term with the season starting later than usual due to the prolonged 2019-20 campaign and Warnock believes that fatigue is inevitable.

He said: “It is always a concern. You look tired when you are losing and you always look that little bit livelier when you have scored a goal.

“We will lose players to fatigue, without doubt, and we have just got to manage it. Whoever comes in has just got to try and do their best.”

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 (Leicestershire).

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