Huddersfield 1-0 Bristol City: Report

03 November 2012 17:31
Huddersfield 1-0 Bristol City: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game as it happened.


Scannell gives Terriers the edge

Sean Scannell's first-half goal sent Bristol City to their fifth successive defeat, as they were beaten 1-0 by Huddersfield.

The former Crystal Palace attacker rounded off a smart move from Simon Grayson's side on 43 minutes to net what proved to be the winning goal.

City came closest to grabbing an equaliser deep into added time but Alex Smithies pulled off a superb save to keep out Stephen McManus' header.

The Terriers, without the suspended Jack Hunt and injured strike duo Jermaine Beckford and James Vaughan, made four changes with Scannell, Oliver Norwood, Calum Woods and Paul Dixon getting the nod.

City, missing hamstrung top scorer Steven Davies, also shuffled their pack. Liam Fontaine and Marvin Elliott returned from injury, Dean Gerken made his first npower Championship start of the season while Sam Baldock and Albert Adomah joined former Huddersfield man Jon Stead up front for struggling City.

The only real chance of an extremely quiet opening 40 minutes came from a free-kick after nine minutes after Stead was fouled on the edge of the box. Adomah stepped up with a right-footed effort that drifted wide of Smithies' goal.

And there was very little to worry the Bristol City backline until two minutes before the break when Lee Novak's cut-back from the left wing was perfectly timed for the onrushing Scannell to mark his return to the starting line-up with a finish past Gerken from six yards out.

The visitors nearly drew level on the stroke of half-time when Cole Skuse's half-volley deflected off Peter Clarke and bounced wide.

There was another good chance shortly after the interval with Gerken forced into a fine save at his near post from Woods.

At the other end Huddersfield-born Stead had his first real sight of goal but his curling shot could not test Smithies.

The young keeper did have to be at his best just after the hour mark to deny Baldock on the line and keep his side's lead intact after the ball fell to the former West Ham forward.

Winger Adam Hammill had already seen one effort fall just wide before letting rip with a left-footed effort that fizzed over Gerken's crossbar on 68 minutes.

Ryan Taylor and Martyn Woolford were then introduced as Derek McInnes' men searched for a goal to end their miserable run of defeats. Their next opportunity came from the right foot of the former York winger, who tried his luck from the edge of the box but his rising effort went over the bar as City continued to press.

Woolford then produced a lovely inviting ball across the box which was inches away from connecting with Baldock in added time and then in the final move of the match McManus looked to have grabbed a dramatic leveller but Smithies, at full stretch, got a hand to the Scot's effort.

Source: DSG