Wagner full of praise for Huddersfield Town match-winner Palmer

Huddersfield's Kasey Palmer, turns to celebrates after scoring the second and winning goal of the match.

DAVID WAGNER professed his delight that substitute Kasey Palmer followed his instructions to '˜go and decide the game' after his dramatic intervention earned Huddersfield Town an opening-day second-tier win bonus for the first team in exactly two decades.

Palmer, signed on a season-long loan from Chelsea, netted with his first touch in senior football for Town after coming on for Jack Payne on 78 minutes, with his rebound settling proceedings as the hosts deservedly beat Brentford 2-1 in front of a crowd of 18,479.

Wagner, who saw another debutant in Elias Kachunga also find the net for Town, said: “I think what I said was ‘go and enjoy and decide the game!’ I think he enjoyed it.

“He is a talent. He is not as fit as he has to be to play week in week out in the Championship, but we will work with him and are very happy that we have this young, intelligent and open-minded player with us.

“To be fair, what Jack Payne did in the 75 minutes was outstanding as well.”

On his side’s victory, which helped to avenge memories of a 5-1 home loss to the Bees in their final match of last term, Wagner added: “It is a great moment and we are happy and proud.

“I think overall it was a good performance and sometimes outstanding. I think we totally deserved this win today, although the result could have been higher as we missed a few opportunities.”

The only downside on the day saw Kachunga leave the fray on 65 minutes with a slight hamstring strain, but Wagner revealed that the problem was not serious, with the decision to replace him being more of a precaution.”