Huddersfield 0-0 Southampton: Ryan Bertrand sees last-gasp header cleared off the line as Terriers maintain unbeaten start to Premier League

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The final whistle had barely subsided when Huddersfield's stadium announcer took the microphone to release two snippets of news.

First up was the attendance. There were 23,548 inside this raucous ground for the visit of Southampton and they were thanked for their support. Then, in the next sentence, came the big announcement.

'Town fans,' he boomed after the 0-0 draw. 'You're top of the league!' 

Ryan Bertrand missed the best chance of the game when his late header was headed off the line by Tommy Smith

Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster stretches to make an important save from Huddersfield Town star Elias Kachunga

The England international kept Southampton on level terms with another fine save from Steve Mounie's effort

Nathan Redmond of Southampton attempts to curl an effort around Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl

Redmond puts his hands on his head after seeing his effort curl just wide of the Huddersfield goal

In that particular moment, it was an indisputable fact. At 5pm, after three rounds of matches, the pre-season favourites for relegation sat looking down on everyone else, undefeated with seven points and not a goal conceded.

Maximum points from their opening two assignments has served to whip up the euphoria that has swept around this town since May and the noise before kick-off reflected the buoyancy and optimism of supporters.

Home form, inevitably, will prove critical in the final reckoning next spring and if Huddersfield are to defy the odds, the importance of making home advantage count whenever possible is paramount - that's precisely what Burnley did last season.

It was no surprise, then, to see them start off with such energy and enthusiasm, following the high intensity demands of their manager to the letter. They pressed and they pestered and left Mauricio Pellegrino, in the Southampton dugout, hopping in frustration.

Pellegrino has not had an easy introduction to life managing in England, with the Virgil van Dijk saga and a first-round elimination from the Carabao Cup significant bumps in the road, but he should really have seen his team strike first here.

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

Huddersfield (4-2-3-1): Lossl 7.5: Smith 7.5, Schindler 7, Zanka 7, Lowe 7: Billing 6.5 (Williams 61, 6), Van La Parra 6 (Palmer 56, 7): Kachunga 7 (Quaner 88), Mooy 8, Ince 6.5: Mounie 6

Subs not used: Coleman, Malone, Lolley, Quaner, Hefele

Southampton (4-2-3-1): Forster 8: Soares 6, Stephens 7, Yoshida 7, Bertrand 7: Davies 7, Romeu 6: Redmond 7, Lemina 6 (Long 64), Tadic 6 (McQueen 74): Gabbiadini 6 (Ward-Prowse 70)

Subs not used: McCarthy (GK), Hoedt, Austin, Ward-Prowse, Boufal, McQueen 

Booked: Romeu

Referee: Stuart Attwell 7

Man of the Match: Fraser Forster

Attendance: 23,548

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Southampton's Oriol Romeu rues a missed chance during the Premier League match against Huddersfield

Tom Ince reacts after missing a good chance to give his Huddersfield side the lead in the first half of the Premier League tie

Southampton star Redmond risks a booking as he attempts to control a high ball with Huddersfield's Kachunga close by

Kachunga of Huddersfield Town in action with Ryan Bertrand of Southampton during the Premier League match

Southampton's midfielder Romeu argues with referee Stuart Atwell after being shown a yellow card late on in the first half

For all that the hosts dominated possession, they were carved open when Maya Yoshida fed Steven Davis and the captain split Huddersfield's defence with a perfect ball that allowed Nathan Redmond to surge forward but his shot, which beat Jonas Lossl, curled away at the last minute.

It would prove to be the only meaningful sight of goal they got until the closing stages. Huddersfield's issue, though, was failing to make their dominance count and when Wagner looks back at replays, he will appreciate his team could have been out of sight by half-time.

In the 19th minute, for instance, a fine double save from Fraser Forster - who will have caught the eye of the watching FA Technical Director Dan Ashworth - thwarted Steve Mounie and Elias Kachunga after Huddersfield had worked an opening down Southampton's right.

Forster was needed again in the next attack, which was started by a superb throw out from Huddersfield keeper Lossl - he rushed into action like a quarterback looking for his wide receiver - that sent Kachunga scuttling past Jonathon Lemina but Mounie could not convert the cross.

Another direct approach in the 34th minute enabled Huddersfield to get in behind Southampton once again but Tom Ince had too much to do after Tommy Smith's ball found him, his left-foot volley being beaten away by Forster.

Southampton's Dusan Tadic attempts to dribble past two Huddersfield players during a second-half encounter

Kachunga of Huddersfield tackles Southampton star Mario Lemina to break down a promising attack

Southampton star Tadic wins an aerial challenge with Huddersfield's Ince during the second half of the match

The second period continued in a similar vein. Huddersfield's tempo never relented and the introduction of Kasey Palmer, the Chelsea loanee, was crucial in maintaining that; one thumping tackle on Southampton defender Jack Stephens had the crowd roaring its approval.

There were more opportunities – Palmer, Kachunga and Mounie all had sightings – but none of them were clear enough to threaten Forster and the longer the game progressed, the more the feeling grew that Southampton would pilfer something late on.

Perhaps they should have done. James Ward-Prowse, on as a substitute for Manolo Gabbiadini, had a penalty appeal waved away – a decision that left Pellegrino raging – while Redmond was once again thwarted by Lossl when it seemed for all the world he would score.

That came in the 86th minute but there was still time for one more opportunity and Ryan Bertrand will be wondering how he never profited when he charged to get on the end of a cross but Smith, Huddersfield's captain, appeared to kick the England left-back's header off the line.

Defeat would have been horribly cruel but teams with a sharper cutting edge than Southampton will not be so lenient. Huddersfield deserve every word of praise that comes their way but Wagner will know the hard work is just about to begin.

Huddersfield manager David Wagner greets his Southampton counterpart Mauricio Pellegrino before kick-off

Paul Ince and wife Claire sit in the stands as their son Tom stars in the match at the John Smith Stadium on Saturday

Huddersfield players applaud the supporters as they summit the Premier League following a 0-0 draw against Southampton

A general view of the stadium during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Southampton