Terriers hit back for big win
Huddersfield came from behind to claim a 3-1 win and push Wolves further into relegation trouble in the npower Championship.
History was not on the hosts' side having lost their last five meetings with the Terriers and not tasted success in the fixture at Molineux since 1988, but recalled midfielder Stephen Ward handed them a dream start after just four minutes.
That was about as good as it got for Wanderers as Sean Scannell levelled midway through the first half.
The crunch clash was then decided in the space of seven second-half minutes as Roger Johnson spurned a great opening which proved costly as Town substitute Jermaine Beckford pounced to put Huddersfield ahead in the 69th minute.
Beckford added a sublime lobbed second almost immediately from the resulting kick-off and, just as quickly, Wolves were reduced to 10 men as Jamie O'Hara raised his hands in the direction of Keith Southern.
It was the first time Huddersfield had found the net three times since late September and it moves them two points clear of the drop zone, however Wolves now find themselves second from bottom in the Championship table and two points from safety with four games remaining.
Both Dean Saunders and Mark Robins made two changes apiece - Ward and Karl Henry coming in for Wolves while fit-again Anthony Gerrard and Adam Clayton, returning from suspension, were back in the fold for the visitors.
But there was only one side in it during some frantic early exchanges and, after Bjorn Sigurdarson had headed wide, Ward handed Wanderers a precious early advantage.
Sigurdarson found Kevin Doyle and from the left side of the penalty area the home skipper sent a ball across for Ward to convert from 12 yards.
Huddersfield's first attempt at goal finally arrived in the 17th minute but James Vaughan, connecting with Oliver Norwood's cross, sent his effort narrowly wide.
Yet out of nowhere Town were level just before the half hour mark with their first shot on target - Scannell turning Matt Doherty and striding into the penalty area past another player before sending a superb effort into the far bottom corner.
The equaliser inspired Robins' side and Clayton was only denied by brave goalkeeping by Dorus De Vries before Norwood saw his long-range shot deflected wide.
Huddersfield went on to edge the remaining stages of the first half with Neil Danns bringing a good save out of De Vries, with the clash finely poised at the break.
Wanderers, as they did at the start of the first half, emerged on the front foot for the second period but this time failed to trouble Alex Smithies.
Johnson was, however, handed a glorious chance to put Wanderers in front in the 65th minute but could only drag his shot horribly wide from 12 yards.
And the miss proved costly just minutes later as Huddersfield took the lead.
Vaughan's header from Norwood's corner brought a great save from De Vries but Beckford was on hand to tap home from close range.
And the former Everton striker grabbed his second and Town's third just a minute later, lobbing De Vries having been sent clear after Wolves made a mess of the resulting kick-off.
Matters went from bad to worse for Wolves from the subsequent kick-off as O'Hara was sent off for raising his hands in the direction of Southern, resulting in a heated mass confrontation.
And in the space of a handful of minutes the game had been decided as Huddersfield ended a three-match winless run and climbed to 19th in the table.
Source: PA
