Match ends, Huddersfield Town 1, West Bromwich Albion 0.
Huddersfield manager David Wagner says the club's journey to the top 10 of the Premier League has been "something unbelievable" after watching his 10 men mark the second anniversary of his appointment by beating West Brom.
The 46-year-old German, who replaced Chris Powell on 5 November 2015 with Town 18th in the Championship, saw the Terriers move into the top half of the table with a gritty victory.
Town survived Christopher Schindler's 57th-minute sending-off to extend Albion's miserable run of form and increase the focus on manager Tony Pulis.
Dutchman Rajiv van La Parra claimed the points for the West Yorkshire side with a stunning 20-yard shot that curled into the top corner just before half-time.
"This is one of the highlights since I arrived at this club. Two weeks ago we beat Manchester United but the win today was another big moment for this club," said Wagner.
"It is the reality that we are in the Premier League now. If you know where we started two years ago, then this is something unbelievable, extraordinary."
German defender Schindler was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the 57th minute, but Albion could not use their numerical advantage to break the hosts down and find an equaliser.
Substitute Salomon Rondon headed their best chance inches wide of the left-hand post as Pulis saw his team extend their winless run to nine Premier League games.
Terriers keeper Jonas Lossl produced acrobatic saves in injury time to deny James McClean and Matt Phillips.
Victory moves the Premier League rookies up to 10th place, while Albion remain two points above the relegation zone in 15th.
Perfect anniversary for Wagner
With Huddersfield still in buoyant mood after winning their last home game against Manchester United and West Brom in such poor form, this felt like a game from which the Terriers could take an important three points.
Wagner's side began as if they believed that too, dominating the first half in terms of possession and chances before Van La Parra's wonderful strike gave them a deserved lead at the break.
But Albion were unhappy they were not awarded a free-kick in the build-up to the goal, when Jay Rodriguez tangled with Town midfielder Jonathan Hogg.
Instead referee Roger East gave the decision to Huddersfield, who moved the ball forward and ended up scoring through Van La Parra's crisp strike.
The complexion of the game predictably changed after Schindler's red card, the German receiving his second yellow for a clumsy late challenge on Ahmed Hegazi.
But any fears among Huddersfield fans that their team would be unable to preserve the lead proved unfounded.
The home side switched to a 5-3-1 formation and remained organised and resolute until Lossl came to the rescue to deny substitutes McClean and Phillips.
Wagner raced onto the pitch to hug his keeper at the final whistle as the home fans celebrated back-to-back home wins after the shock victory against Jose Mourinho's side last month.
Defeat adds to Pulis pressure?
West Brom had only won two of their previous 19 Premier League games before their trip to West Yorkshire, a poor sequence of results that has Baggies boss Pulis in the spotlight.
Pulis has guided Albion to three mid-table finishes since taking over in January 2015, but those achievements have still not won over some sections of the Albion support.
They are unhappy with Pulis' methodical style of play and bemoan a lack of creativity in an Albion side that has scored just nine goals in their opening 11 Premier League matches.
While it is thought Pulis retains the full backing of the Albion board, some fans would have looked on this fixture as a game the Welshman should win.
However, they offered little threat as Pulis persevered with a 5-3-2 formation that contained three holding midfielders and lacked guile when in possession.
Albion mustered just one shot on target in the first half and, until the final few moments when they finally tested Lossl, they struggled to open up their 10-man opponents.
In truth they barely deserved a point after failing to impose themselves on the home side despite having an extra man.
"It hurts to go such a long time without winning a game," said Pulis. "Things conspire against you sometimes and you don't get the breaks.
"I'm worried about the players more than anything else. I've been in this game too long to be affected by any criticism."
More post-match reaction
Huddersfield manager David Wagner:
"Look how my players worked, what they left out there on the grass. It was an absolutely deserved win and I am delighted for my players because the workload was unbelievable. It was a great afternoon for us.
"We controlled the game up until the sending-off, dominating it. Then after the red card we defended really, really well and I am absolutely delighted.
"There was a long time left in the game at the point of the sending-off, more than half an hour, and my players responded by showing a real Terriers reaction."
West Brom boss Tony Pulis:
"It was a wonderful goal, an outstanding goal. You can't blame our keeper - it was a great strike. You can't fault my players, who have worked incredibly hard. But we are in the results business and these results mean there's some pressure on me.
"When they went down to 10 men there were times when we could have displayed a little more care in the final third. But we were beaten by a wonder goal when it should have been a free-kick given our way. And the crowd here is absolutely fantastic - it reminds me a little bit of Stoke City when we first got promoted."
Home comforts for Huddersfield - the stats
- Huddersfield have won 11 points at home in the Premier League this season - only Arsenal (15), Manchester United (15) and Manchester City (13) have earned more
- Despite playing against 10 men for 33 minutes, West Brom (49.7%) still enjoyed less possession than Huddersfield (50.3%)
- West Brom have lost all eight of the competitive matches in which they have conceded the first goal since May 2017
- This is West Brom's lowest points tally after 11 games of a Premier League season (10) since 2005-06 (eight) - when they were relegated
- Rajiv van La Parra's strike ended a run of 23 appearances in all competitions for Huddersfield without a goal
- West Brom made a triple substitution in the match - this first time that has happened in the Premier League this season
- This was the first red card Roger East has given in the Premier League since September 2016 - a period spanning 12 games
Man of the match - Rajiv van La Parra (Huddersfield)
What's next?
The international break means it is not until 18 November that Huddersfield travel to Bournemouth and Albion host defending champions Chelsea at The Hawthorns.
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Line-ups
Huddersfield
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Lössl
- 33Hadergjonaj
- 25M Jorgensen
- 26SchindlerBooked at 57mins
- 3MaloneSubstituted forLöweat 79'minutes
- 9KachungaSubstituted forCranieat 61'minutes
- 6Hogg
- 10Mooy
- 17van La ParraSubstituted forWilliamsat 62'minutesBooked at 70mins
- 22Ince
- 20Depoitre
Substitutes
- 2Smith
- 14Cranie
- 15Löwe
- 19Williams
- 23Quaner
- 24Mounie
- 28Green
West Brom
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Foster
- 23McAuleySubstituted forPhillipsat 59'minutes
- 26HegaziBooked at 31mins
- 6Evans
- 2NyomBooked at 35mins
- 20KrychowiakSubstituted forMcCleanat 59'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 18BarryBooked at 53mins
- 8Livermore
- 3Gibbs
- 4Robson-KanuSubstituted forRondónat 59'minutes
- 19Rodriguez
Substitutes
- 5Yacob
- 9Rondón
- 10Phillips
- 11Brunt
- 13Myhill
- 14McClean
- 22Chadli
- Referee:
- Roger East
- Attendance:
- 24,169
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Huddersfield Town 1, West Bromwich Albion 0.
Booking
James McClean (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Offside, Huddersfield Town. Aaron Mooy tries a through ball, but Tom Ince is caught offside.
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Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Jonas Lössl.
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Attempt saved. Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ahmed Hegazi.
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Attempt saved. James McClean (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gareth Barry with a cross.
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Chris Löwe (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion).
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Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Jay Rodriguez tries a through ball, but Salomón Rondón is caught offside.
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Foul by Tom Ince (Huddersfield Town).
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Kieran Gibbs (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Jonathan Hogg (Huddersfield Town).
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Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Jonas Lössl (Huddersfield Town) because of an injury.
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Jonas Lössl (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion).
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Attempt blocked. Kieran Gibbs (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by James McClean.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Comments
Join the conversation
Oh, and my season ticket for the mighty Terriers cost me the grand sum of £199. Money well spent I reckon, and I say that as a Yorkshireman!
Just 18 months ago Town finished the 2015-2016 season 19th in the Championship and tonight they're 10th in the Premier League. That might be dull and run of the mill for you, but for Town supporters (and a lot of neutrals) it's pretty exciting -especially when it only costs £199 for a season ticket to watch it.
Big six pointer.
Beating mancs is the gloss, but points against likes of wba are where it's really at.
Lots of competition for 18th, 19th, 20th, so town got a better than evens chance of staying up.
Come on the terriers
West Brom are probably the worst PL team to watch : all Pullis' teams play negative and boring football.
Fantastic start to PL life for the Terriers.
We Albion fans are used to the 'Entertainment' verses 'Results Industry' debate.
It's one thing when we lack entertainment and win, but it's another thing when we lack entertainment and lose.
Without the two wins at the very start of the season, I'm sure Pulis would have been sacked.
Note to McLean - Get a grip son!
I wish them every success!