Derby 3 Huddersfield 2: Promising run of Terriers is halted by resurgent Rams

Jordan Ibe gave the hosts an early lead and although there was no goal for Rams striker Chris Martin on his 26th birthday, Huddersfield forward Harry Bunn celebrated signing a new contract earlier in the day with an equaliser for the Terriers.

Second-half strikes from Johnny Russell and substitute Simon Dawkins sealed all three points for Steve McClaren’s men, following successive league losses, before Mark Hudson’s stoppage-time header reduced the arrears.

Huddersfield were unchanged from the side that started the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

A bright start from Derby was almost rewarded after six minutes. Ibe’s curling effort beat goalkeeper Alex Smithies but covering defender Joel Lynch managed to get his head on the ball and flick it over the crossbar.

However, Ibe was not to be denied a minute later. Jeff Hendrick slipped by his man inside the box to get to the left-hand byline and Ibe barely had to break stride to meet his near-post cut back, as he guided a shot with his right instep into the far corner of the net.

Shortly after Nahki Wells flashed a warning shot across Derby’s bow when he forced Jack Butland to tip away his shot, the Terriers were level. Grant Holt and Wells combined to set up Bunn who was afforded time and space to control the ball 12 yards out and pick his spot.

The Rams did not trouble Smithies until first-half stoppage time when they regained the lead, the on-rushing Smithies blocking Martin’s shot only for Russell to tap in the rebound.

Huddersfield began the second half with vigour. Lynch skimmed the crossbar with a header before Butland had to beat away a fierce shot from Jacob Butterfield.

At the other end, Smithies denied Russell a second goal when he brought the Scot’s jinking run to an end with a good block.

There was little Smithies could do to prevent Dawkins from making it 3-1, though, the substitute making an immediate impact with a shot from the edge of the box that went in off a post.

Huddersfield nearly got themselves to within a goal of the Rams again straight away but Butland denied Danny Ward and then Cyrus Christie did brilliantly to block Wells’s follow up.

Some late pressure from the visitors was rewarded when Terriers captain Hudson headed in from the resulting corner.

Derby County: Butland, Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth, Hendrick, Mascarell, Hughes, Ibe (Coutts 90), Martin, Russell (Dawkins 76). Unused substitutes: Buxton, Roos, Calero, Best, Eustace.

Huddersfield Town: Smithies, Smith, Hudson, Lynch, Robinson, Scannell (Ward 66), Coady, Butterfield (Majewski 83), Bunn, Wells (Paterson 85), Holt. Unused substitutes: Dixon, Wallace, Allinson, Peltier.

Referee: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire).