Huddersfield Town 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion

Huddersfield head coach David Wagner said he "had a feeling" record signing Steve Mounie would return to form before the striker scored twice to end the Terriers' run of four consecutive defeats with victory over Brighton.

The 23-year-old, who has struggled with a heel injury, put the hosts in front in the 12th minute when he bundled home Chris Lowe's corner from close range after a flick-on at the near post.

He added his second two minutes before half-time when Brighton keeper Mathew Ryan failed to stop his tame low header following another corner.

"Steve had a difficult period with his injury, but to be honest we all had the feeling he would be able to perform like he did today because in the last two weeks he has looked very good in training," Wagner said.

"We're very happy that we have him back at his best and with Laurent Depoitre, another very good striker, because we're totally aware about the busy period that is in front of us.

"Offensively for sure this was one of our strongest performances of the season."

Brighton struggled to create any meaningful chances and did not have a shot on target until a weak effort from distance by Jose Izquierdo in the 79th minute.

The victory for Huddersfield, their fifth of the season and first since 4 November, takes them above Brighton and into 11th, while Chris Hughton's side fall to 13th and are now five games without a win.

• Relive Huddersfield's victory over Brighton
• Reaction from all of Saturday's Premier League matches

Home comforts see goals return for Terriers

Huddersfield had scored just one goal in the four consecutive defeats since victory over West Brom last month and had only found the net six times in the 14 games since their 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season.

But Mounie provided the clinical touch to an impressive attacking display that could have resulted in a greater winning margin.

Tom Ince still remains without a goal for the club since joining them in July but was lively throughout and had six efforts on goal, including when he forced Ryan into a smart save from close range in the second half.

The home side were also a constant threat from set-pieces. The first goal came from a training-ground move, with Christopher Schindler flicking on the ball at the near post, while the second saw the ball well recycled after the initial set-piece delivery was cleared.

Wagner's side now have four wins and 14 points from their eight home games so far this season, a run that, were it to continue, would go a long way to ensuring their Premier League survival.

The Terriers' run of four straight defeats coincided with a spell of three out of four games on the road - the one home game a narrow 2-1 defeat by Manchester City - and they looked a different side in front of their vocal home support compared to recent away games.

"Today was exactly what we need to do at home to be successful," Wagner said.

"We wanted to be on our front foot and press them high. I think it worked as we kept them away from our goal. The boys were brave and invested everything."

• Relive Huddersfield's victory over Brighton
• Reaction from all of Saturday's Premier League matches

Brighton disappoint in defence and attack

Brighton manager Hughton said before kick-off he had been "delighted" with his side's away form in their debut Premier League season, with key victories against West Ham and Swansea on the road.

Against Huddersfield, however, they struggled going forward and were uncharacteristically sloppy at the back for a team who had let in only seven away goals, a record only bettered by league leaders Manchester City and champions Chelsea.

For Huddersfield's opener, Schindler was able to win the ball at the near post before Mounie was allowed to finish unmarked, and for the second goal Mathias Jorgensen was unchallenged as he headed Aaron Mooy's cross back towards the Benin international to score.

The 36 touches by Brighton's top scorer Glenn Murray were the fewest by any player to play 90 minutes, and only two of those came in the Huddersfield penalty area.

Murray had Brighton's only other shot on target, another shot from distance, as Huddersfield's organised defensive display denied Hughton's side any space to build attacks through midfield.

"We did not play at the level we needed to play but you give them a leg up when you concede the goals we conceded," Hughton said.

"That allows a good Huddersfield team playing at home to get in a rhythm and that makes the afternoon a very, very tough one.

"We were better in the second half and showed more of a threat but they could do it with the security of knowing they had a two-goal lead."

Man of the match - Steve Mounie (Huddersfield)

Brighton's woes in Huddersfield - the best stats

• Huddersfield have won three of their past four home games in the Premier League, with the only defeat in this run coming against leaders Manchester City.
• The 2-0 win for Terriers was their first Premier League home victory by more than a one-goal margin.
• Brighton have conceded seven goals in their past two Premier League games, as many they had in their previous nine games in the competition beforehand.
• This was Brighton's second defeat in as many games at the John Smith's Stadium - at no other away venue have they lost more games in all competitions under Chris Hughton.
• Steve Mounie netted his first Premier League goals since August (two against Crystal Palace), ending a run of nine games without any in the competition.
• Mounie is now Huddersfield's top scorer in the Premier League, with two of his four goals coming via headers.

What's next?

Huddersfield will test their impressive home performances against the Premier League champions on Tuesday when they host Chelsea (20:00 GMT). Brighton, meanwhile, travel to Wembley to face Tottenham on Wednesday (20:00 GMT).