Huddersfield’s winning run ends after Southampton soak up pressure

Still unbeaten and yet to concede a goal, Huddersfield Town continue to defy pre-season forecasts of doom. And this performance swelled their belief in themselves, even though the third match of their debut Premier League campaign was the first that they have failed to win. Southampton proved to be the finest team David Wagner’s side have encountered so far, but the visitors were second best for much of this match.

“The players have seen now that, even in the Premier League, if they follow their identity and be brave, then they have a chance,” said Wagner. “Seven points, three clean sheets and into the next round of the [Carabao] Cup – it is a perfect start for us.”

Make that ‘almost perfect’. With sharper finishing in the first half here, Huddersfield might have plundered maximum points. “We could have killed the game in the first half,” said Wagner, whose team shook up the visitors in the opening period, but could not deliver a telling blow. Southampton, mind you, suffered from a similar problem late on, when they rallied powerfully.

As so often during Huddersfield’s recent rise, a vibrant atmosphere in the John Smith’s Stadium was inspired and matched by the home players. Wagner’s team is well known by now, but to be forewarned is not always to be forearmed, and Southampton seemed to be taken aback by the ferocity of the hosts’ pressing and the swiftness of their attacking.

Despite suffering several scares in the early minutes, the visitors created the first clear scoring opportunity thanks to the enduring class of Steven Davis.

In the 13th minute, the Northern Irishman unhinged the home defence with a pass behind Tommy Smith, sending Nathan Redmond through on goal. The winger, famously compared to Thierry Henry by Southampton’s former manager Claude Puel, tried to replicate one of the French striker’s characteristic finishes, but his low curling shot went wide of the far post.

Huddersfield were quick to respond, Mathias Jorgensen forcing a save from Fraser Forster with a header. Then Southampton asserted their quality again, Cédric Soares and Dusan Tadic combining slickly to serve Davis, who was thwarted by an excellent tackle by Chris Löwe. Soon, Maya Yoshida had to make a similar intervention at the other end to deny Elias Kachunga. After that tit-for-tat exchange, Huddersfield bossed the first half.

For all their dynamic adventure, Huddersfield’s best chance in the first half came courtesy of an error by Forster, who fumbled an over-hit cross into the path of Kachunga. Luckily for the goalkeeper, Kachunga seemed too surprised by the mistake to exploit it. Forster saved the striker’s weak shot with his feet.

The second period was more balanced, and as time ebbed away Southampton launched a series of dangerous counterattacks.

Redmond was guilty of shooting straight at Jonas Lössl from 15 yards out after fine service by Shane Long. In stoppage time, Southampton’s left-back, Ryan Bertrand, encapsulated the late switch of momentum by storming forward to get on the end of a header. Smith cleared it off the line to preserve Huddersfield’s sequence of clean sheets.

“That showed our desire and our togetherness, and those are the reasons we have these clean sheets,” said Wagner, who welcomed the forthcoming international break because his players need to replenish their energy. “Although even Huddersfield now have eight players going off on international duty,” added the manager, noting a further demonstration of his club’s rise.

Wagner also confirmed he is poised to sign former England international Rob Green as reserve goalkeeper. “He is an experienced guy and a good guy; he knows the role I expect from him over the next 10 months,” said Wagner of the 37-year-old.