Huddersfield manager, David Wagner, said he had been expecting a big performance from Steve Mounié after the striker’s double sank Brighton 2-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Mounié, the club record signing who was back in the starting lineup after recently returning to full fitness following injury, grabbed his first goal since the opening day of the season early on. He then headed a second just before half-time to help the Terriers halt a four-game losing run. Victory lifts David Wagner’s side above Brighton in the table and extends the south-coast club’s winless league run to five matches.
“He 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,” said Wagner .
Mounié forced Mathew Ryan into an early low save with a volley from just inside the penalty area before bundling Huddersfield into a 12th-minute lead. Christopher Löwe’s corner was flicked on by Christopher Schindler and Mounié arrived at the far post to force home his first goal since his double at Crystal Palace in August.
Neither side created a chance of note until the home side doubled their lead thanks to more errant Brighton defending two minutes before half-time that will not have impressed the watching England coach, Gareth Southgate. Aaron Mooy’s deep ball into the area from the left was turned back across the six-yard box by Mathias Jorgensen and Mounié, unmarked again, headed beyond a stranded Ryan.
It certainly didn’t impress Chris Hughton. “I’m incredibly disappointed,” said the Brighton manager. “Huddersfield are a very good side at home and if you afford them the goals that we did it becomes very difficult. We never allowed ourselves to get into the rhythm we needed to. Certainly the better team won today, but the two goals, particularly the first one, were most disappointing.”
Huddersfield twice threatened to increase their lead soon after the restart but Tom Ince was thwarted by Lewis Dunk. Ryan also saved with his knee to keep out Elias Kachunga’s shot.
Town were relentless in pursuit of a third goal and Ince went close again when he crashed a shot over the crossbar and drilled another straight at Ryan.
“Offensively for sure this was one of our strongest performances of the season,” said Wagner. “We know if we are to get wins in the Premier League, we have to over-perform and the players have done this today on the highest level.”
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