Fulham vs Huddersfield Town. Sky Bet Championship.
Craven CottageAttendance19,001.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Fulham and Huddersfield at Craven Cottage. Goals from Danny Ward and Duane Holmes gave the visitors a surprise victory to end Fulham's seven-game unbeaten run.
Saturday 19 February 2022 19:16, UK
Huddersfield produce a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Fulham in wet and windy conditions at Craven Cottage.
First-half goals from Danny Ward and Duane Holmes from the penalty spot proved the difference in a game where Fulham dominated possession, but could not make their pressure count.
The result means Fulham's lead at the top of the table remains six points ahead of Bournemouth. Huddersfield's unbeaten run has extended to 13 games. Carlos Corberan's side remain fifth on 53 points.
Fulham dominated possession with Antonee Robinson and Neco Williams delivering threatening balls into the box for Aleksandar Mitrovic but, having failed to create a dangerous goalscoring opportunity, it was the visitors who took the lead just past the half-hour mark.
Harry Toffolo's cross into the box appeared to be intercepted by Tom Cairney, but the midfielder's loose touch saw the ball roll into Ward's path and he drilled his shot through the legs of Marek Rodak.
Rodak was caught up in more trouble again as he brought down Sorba Thomas in the box before Holmes smashed his spot-kick down the middle as the Slovakian dived to his right.
Fulham continued to apply more pressure in the second half and Lee Nicholls made two fine diving saves to deny Fabio Carvalho and a thumping header from Mitrovic.
It looked like a Fulham breakthrough would not come but Bobby Decordova-Reid pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute, driving his low strike beyond Nicholls into the bottom corner.
Fulham continued to pressure, and had appeals for a penalty in injury-time waved away after Jonathan Russell looked to handle the ball inside the box, but they could not find an equaliser and Huddersfield held on for a potentially pivotal victory in the promotion race.
The Huddersfield defender was excellent at neutralising the aerial threat of Mitrovic and showed great composure when Fulham continued to put crosses into the box.
Fulham boss Marco Silva: "We were the best team on the pitch, definitely. They got a goal from a mistake from ourselves - the striker reacted quicker than our defender - and after the decisive moment of the match was the penalty. It was a clear mistake by the referee. It was never a penalty - the player fell on our goalkeeper and the decision was strange for me because it was a clear mistake. Marek didn't do anything.
"It was tough for us to understand why. OK, I can make mistakes and the referee as well but it was so clear. We had a clear handball in the box that unfortunately the referee didn't see - the linesman was in a good position and he didn't see, it is strange for us. I don't like to speak about referees when I lose but today this had a big impact. If that was a penalty I could find in the second half two or three penalties in their box.
"I am 100% sure that if it was Mitro there who falls down on the goalkeeper it will not be a penalty. Even if it is a penalty they will not give."
Huddersfield boss Carlos Corberan: "For me the result was the consequence of a high level of personality from the players. To come to this stadium and to achieve three points you can only do this with a lot of personality. Against teams like them you have to attack perfectly, and then defend perfectly. The mentality shown by the team was key.
"I put this win in context, we are playing against the best team in the league and away from home - so you can't be more excited than that. But I get satisfaction from every win. Every player performed to a high level. In the first half, especially, we were very good and looked very balanced. And we got a result that the incredible effort deserved, that is the best thing."
Fulham host Peterborough on Wednesday evening. Huddersfield, meanwhile, take on Cardiff also at 7:45pm on Wednesday.
