Huddersfield Town vs Millwall. Sky Bet Championship.
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Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Huddersfield Town and Millwall at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday | Rhys Healey strikes 94th-minute winner to move Andre Breitenreiter's men out of the relegation zone
Saturday 6 April 2024 18:23, UK
Substitute Rhys Healey was the Huddersfield hero as his stoppage-time goal was enough to secure a dramatic and potentially priceless 1-0 win against fellow strugglers Millwall.
Healey pounced to head home from close range after Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic could only parry Matty Pearson's effort into his path.
The three points lift the Terriers out of the Championship drop zone.
Millwall, meanwhile, are now just two points clear of the relegation places, and will still be looking over their shoulders after a fourth match without a win.
The Terriers almost struck inside two minutes at the John Smith's Stadium.
Some excellent work from Sorba Thomas paved the way through for Delano Burgzorg, but the Dutchman's firm strike was excellently saved by Sarkic.
There was a swift response from Millwall, however.
Billy Mitchell pounced on a loose ball before seeing his shot saved confidently by Lee Nicholls.
The Lions threatened again when George Honeyman rose well to meet Ryan Longman's cross, only to then direct a header off-target.
There was plenty of enterprise and endeavour in what proved to be an entertaining opening spell, and that despite a swirling wind.
Huddersfield were next to go close when Thomas' delivery was flicked wide at the near post by Bojan Radulovic.
With Millwall now pressing for an opener, Michael Obafemi almost struck when his acrobatic effort was deflected behind for a corner by midfielder Alex Matos.
Jake Cooper then ought to have registered for the visitors, but he planted a golden headed chance over the crossbar from close range.
As half-time approached the pendulum was beginning to swing back Huddersfield's way.
Thomas' 25-yard blockbuster was saved by Sarkic, while Josh Koroma also fired inches over the top with his effort from the edge of the box.
There was a frantic start to the second period.
After a Millwall attack at one end, the Terriers broke quickly.
Radulovic found space and pulled the ball back into the path of Koroma, but he could not find the target from a great position.
David Kasumu then missed another decent opportunity as he fired wide following a tidy one-two with the impressive Koroma.
Back came Neil Harris' Millwall in this end-to-end clash, with Ryan Leonard lashing over the top when he ought to have done better with options around him.
As the 70-minute mark passed, both sides then appeared to run out of steam, with tired bodies and heavy legs clearly evident.
Huddersfield's Polish defender Michal Helik threw himself at a cross from Brodie Spencer, but he was thwarted by a last-ditch block.
After that, Huddersfield sub Healey went close to notching a winner, before then pouncing to finally do the business in predatory style right at the death.
Huddersfield's Andre Breitenreiter:
"It's an absolutely massive win for us, of course.
"It was not easy for us, especially in the first half, after the first 25 minutes or so we created a number of chances, but we just didn't score.
"When it got so late into the game we still had the team's belief and that of the supporters, and in the end we got the goal right at the end.
"We said in the pre-match press conference that sometimes you need that dirty win, and we've got a dirty win today.
"Now we need some more wins in these last few games.
"I definitely wasn't satisfied with the first-half performance, and so I spoke to the players at half-time about being brave and maintaining that belief."
Millwall's Neil Harris:
"Obviously to lose a game like that so late is a huge disappointment for everyone.
"I thought the players responded quite well to the late defeat at Rotherham the other night.
"There was no lack of application or desire out there I thought.
"But having said that, I do expect to see much more quality from a team at Championship level.
"We know where we are, both on and off the pitch, but overall we need a stronger mentality, particularly late in games like we saw today.
"We had chances, but we can't just keep giving them up.
"We need to make improvements to the team in the transfer window, clearly.
"Too many times we missed those chances I mention, some of them nigh-on open goals.
"We can control things like that away from a match day, but again today we just didn't show enough quality and in the end it's proved costly for us."
