Huddersfield Town A.F.C 1 vs 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers.

When referee Steve Martin blew the final whistle after 5 minutes of injury time, Town manager David Wagner ran from the manager’s box, half way across the field into the arms of on loan Liverpool keeper Danny Ward. The Welsh international, put in a man of the match performance during the second half to help give ‘The Terriers’ their first clean sheet of the season and keep their unbeaten run in the Championship intact. After the game, Town’s German coach reflected on Ward’s performance.

“Danny Ward kept us in the game, it was an outstanding performance from him today, his first clean sheet, it came at exactly at the moment we needed it.”

Huddersfield took the lead after former Wolves winger, Rajiv van La Parra scored his first goal for the Yorkshire club, after Nahki Wells’ shot hit the post and was the deflected into the path of the Dutch winger. Before the game Rajiv explained how coming on loan to Huddersfield last March, before a permeant move in the summer has helped him hit ground running this season.

“This was the plan when I came on loan; to get ready and prepare for this current season. It helped me a lot. When this season started I knew what David [Wagner] and Christoph [Buhler] expected of me and the system that they like to play so it was easier for me”

The winger has been an ever present in ‘The Terrier’s side this season starting in all six games, five in the league and the defeat away to Shrewsbury Town in the EFL Cup. Wagner has also shown great faith in the Dutch under-21 international in each game, only substituting him off once against Newcastle at St. James Park.

“Every player wants to be playing and starting in every game and it shows that the head coach trusts me and believes in me.” van La Parra continued, “He [Wagner] tries to help me by giving me more freedom on the pitch, to use my strengths and I think it works. Now it’s up to me to reward his trust with goals and assists to the help the team win games”

The former Wolves winger did exactly that and Town were unlucky not to go into the break with one or two more goals on the scoresheet. The second half was a different story with Wolves enjoying most of the chances and bar two wonderful saves from Ward would have fully justified a draw the John Smith’s stadium. After a strong 30 minutes from The West Midlands club ‘The Terrier’s took control back for the remaining quarter of an hour.

“In the last 10 – 15 minutes we came back in the game with help of our outstanding supporters”. Coach Wagner continued, “We defended a little bit deeper and got the control back, we got it [the result] over the line.”

Huddersfield Town go into the international break top of the Championship table with an unlikely 13 points from a possible 15, seeing them two points clear of Fulham in second place who along with ‘The Terriers’ remain the only undefeated club in second tier of English football.