Huddersfield secure first win of season as they cruise past Stoke

Posted Sunday, August 14, 2022 by PA

Danny Schofield secured a first win as Huddersfield boss with a 3-1 victory over Stoke.

The visiting Potters endured a frustrating opening period with Lewis Baker denied from the penalty spot and Jacob Brown striking the post in quick succession.

The hosts gradually grew into the fixture and took the lead when Yuta Nakayama marked his home league debut with a goal.

Baker made amends for his miss with a pinpoint strike early in the second half to get the visitor’s level.

His team-mate Dwight Gayle had an effort ruled out and allowed Huddersfield to take advantage.

Substitute Duane Holmes provided two late assists, teeing up Danny Ward and Jordan Rhodes to secure a much-needed victory for the West Yorkshire side.

After suffering three successive defeats to open his Huddersfield reign, Schofield rang the changes and switched to a back-five system.

The Terriers’ tactical tweak paid dividends as they frustrated a Stoke attack fronted by Brown and Gayle.

But their persistence looked set to be rewarded inside 20 minutes when referee Matthew Donohue pointed to the spot, penalising a Josh Ruffels high boot on a stooping Josh Laurent.

However, the normally reliable Baker – a Stoke figurehead since his January arrival – had his low strike from 12 yards saved well by Lee Nicholls to his left.

In the same passage of play, Brown escaped free of his marker in the penalty area only to have his effort strike the foot of the post.

The Potters’ top scorer from last season had another chance to grab the opener after the half hour mark, but he neglected to tee up a teammate and instead blazed a shot wide.

Stoke’s profligacy in front of goal was punished by the hosts prior to the interval when Connor Taylor misjudged his header from a Sorba Thomas corner.

Japanese international Nakayama – signed from PEC Zwolle this summer – arrived late at the far post and capitalised on Taylor’s error to power his header home in the 40th minute.

After the restart, a more vibrant Potters side re-emerged as they quickly set out to rectify their first half shortcomings and they were soon rewarded just over 10 minutes in.

As the ball propped up invitingly outside the area, former Chelsea midfielder Baker caressed an accurate strike from 20 yards beyond a helpless Nicholls.

Gayle thought he had completed the comeback for the visitors, but he was adjudged to have strayed offside before converting.

With 13 minutes remaining, Ward handed Huddersfield the advantage with a calm finish.

As Stoke pursued a late leveller, Holmes sprung the offside trap on the counterattack and selflessly teed up Rhodes to secure Schofield’s first win as boss.