Huddersfield Town vs Derby County. Sky Bet Championship.
The John Smith's StadiumAttendance16,231.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Huddersfield and Derby County at the John Smith's Stadium; The Terriers move back into the Championship play-off places; Richard Stearman sent off for Derby within three minutes
Monday 7 February 2022 15:04, UK
Two late goals handed Huddersfield a deserved 2-0 win against a Derby side who played for 87 minutes with 10 men.
The Terriers moved back into the Championship play-off places after finally breaking the Rams' dogged resistance in the final 15 minutes after goals from Duane Holmes and Jordan Rhodes.
The Rams' bid to continue their recent revival - they had lost just one of their previous seven games - was severely dented after only three minutes when former Terrier Richard Stearman was sent off.
The defender - signed from Huddersfield just last summer - dived in with a studs-up challenge on Lewis O'Brien just outside the Derby box and referee Matthew Donohue went straight to his top pocket.
Sorba Thomas fired the resultant free-kick inches wide via the slightest of deflections.
Danny Ward then guided an angled effort just off target as the hosts continued to seek swift punishment.
Rams boss Wayne Rooney was clearly in for a testing night now, and Huddersfield threatened again when ex-Derby midfielder Holmes forced Ryan Allsop into a decent save.
Holmes lashed a half-volley over the top and centre-back Tom Lees nodded just past the post, but by the half-hour mark there was still no breakthrough.
Gutsy Derby then went close themselves when Louie Sibley fizzed a low, angled strike just past the far post.
As the game wore on, the visitors were looking more comfortable when in possession, and that in turn led to a lull in Huddersfield's forward momentum.
In the 40th minute the Terriers almost broke the deadlock, with Holmes this time guiding another close-range effort a whisker off target following a neat flick from O'Brien.
The Rams dug in until the interval, and then after the restart were probing for an opening.
So were Huddersfield, with manager Carlos Corberan bouncing around enthusiastically on the touchline, but it remained scoreless as the hour mark approached.
Both sets of fans were doing their best to rally their respective troops, and Sibley suddenly raced clear of the Huddersfield back line, but he took a heavy touch and goalkeeper Lee Nicholls was able to charge out and clear the danger.
With Derby packing their defence, the hosts appeared more and more frustrated, with Rooney's battlers now eyeing a potentially precious point as the clock continued to tick.
With just 18 minutes left Huddersfield carved out a rare half-chance, only for O'Brien to drag a disappointing left-foot shot wide from 15 yards.
However, the hosts finally got the fortunate break they probably needed just three minutes later.
It was Holmes who struck, as his 20-yard shot following debutant substitute Carel Eiting's pass flicked off Krystian Bielik before looping agonisingly over the outstretched arm of Allsop.
Four minutes later Huddersfield's victory was finally sealed when substitute Rhodes mopped up after Allsop could only parry Ward's thunderous strike, leaving Derby seven points from safety.
Huddersfield's Carlos Corberan: "It was all about taking our chances as it could have been a frustrating night for us. Opposing teams in that situation are often more solid, and we had to be alert to stop any counter-attacks. In the second half we needed to prevent unforced errors too.
"We are in a very difficult competition, but it's important for us that we compete in every game. We need to keep growing as a team and we need to have that confidence in the squad. It's impossible to have an easy game, this is a tough competition, but if you have the right mentality then you can be successful."
Derby's Wayne Rooney: "I've not seen the red card incident back yet, but Stears said at half-time that he felt he'd won the ball. That was the referee's decision, though, and we dealt with it without making a fuss. Sometimes you get dealt a difficult hand in football, but you have to get on with it. Our performance after that gives me more hope that we can stay up, though.
"I was really proud of the players as they chased back, worked hard - it was a really good feeling to see them players fighting for the club like that. Despite the result, I believe even more now that we can survive. We couldn't quite get control of the game tonight, but I think we would have done if we'd had 11 on the pitch. Their first goal took a huge deflection and that makes it difficult, and then after that there's always a chance they'd get a second."
