Huddersfield Town moved off the foot of the Premier League table by claiming their first win of the season against Fulham.
Both sides came into the game at the John Smith’s Stadium in desperate need of three points, with Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic under intense pressure. It was David Wagner was left celebrating at the end, though, as Huddersfield claimed a much-needed victory.
The Terriers took the lead just before the half-hour mark when Christopher Schindler managed to peel away from his marker and head down into the ground and into the back of the net, via a deflection off Timothy Fosu-Mensah - the goal would later be reclassified as an own goal.
Fulham never really threatened an equaliser, although Andre Schurrle did have a goal correctly chalked off for offside. Besides that, the Cottagers were toothless and deserved to lose. On the other hand, the result lifts Huddersfield to 18th in the table. Fulham are now bottom on five points.
Huddersfield players celebrate their win after the English Premier League football match between Huddersfield Town and Fulham at the John Smith's stadium in Huddersfield, northern England on November 5, 2018
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TALKING POINT - Can Slavisa Jokanovic survive this?
The Fulham manager was already under pressure before this result. Now Jokanovic’s side sit slumped at the foot of the Premier League table with just five points from their first 11 fixtures of the season. It’s not just the results, though, but the manner of the way those results are being suffered. Fulham looked off the pace here, particularly in the first half, shaky at the back and short of ideas in the final third too. So will Jokanovic be given one last chance? Or will that be the end for the Serbian at Craven Cottage?
Fulham's Serbian manager Slavisa Jokanovic looks on during the English Premier League football match between Huddersfield Town and Fulham at the John Smith's stadium in Huddersfield, northern England on November 5, 2018
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MAN OF THE MATCH - Philip Billing (Huddersfield Town)
This game was won for Huddersfield Town in the midfield. Fulham saw more of the ball, but they never created much with it. That was down to the way the Terriers marshalled the middle of the pitch, with Billing the standout performer. Just like Aaron Mooy and Chris Hogg alongside him, the Dane’s work rate was exceptional, but he had that little bit of extra quality that made all the difference going forward as well.
Philip Billing of Huddersfield Town shoots while under pressure from Cyrus Christie of Fulham during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Fulham FC at John Smith's Stadium on November 5, 2018 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom.
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PLAYER RATINGS
Huddersfield - Lossl 6, Kongolo 6, Hogg 8, Billing 8, Mooy 7, Loewe 6, Pritchard 8, Mounie 7, Zanka 5, Schindler 7, Hadergjonaj 6. Subs - Mbenza 5, Depoitre 6, Bacuna.
Fulham - Rico 6, Sessegnon 6, Odoi 6, Mitrovic 5, Cairney 5, Schurrle 5, Vietto 5, Le Marchand 4, Fosu-Mensah 5, Seri 5, Anguissa 5,. Subs - Christie 5, Johansen 5, McDonald 4.
KEY MOMENTS
15’ Off the crossbar! Inches away from being a stunning opener for Huddersfield! Billing lets rip from about 20 yards out, beats Rico in the Fulham goal, but sees his effort come off the woodwork!
28’ Good effort! Pritchard moves the ball on to his left foot, opens the target up and gets the shot away on goal. It picks up a deflection, but Rico gets across to make the diving save.
29’ GOAL! Huddersfield Town 1-0 Fulham: Huddersfield have opened the scoring and it's their first home goal of the season! Schindler managed to peel off his marker and find the back of the net with a header down into the ground. In fact, it might have come off Fosu-Mensah in the end! The Terriers are ahead.
64’ McDonald injury! It looks like Fulham are going to have to use their third change on a player who came on at half time. McDonald is down on the ground and looks set to come off.
74’ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... NO! Schurrle has the ball in the back of the net, but the flag was up for offside. Indeed, Mitrovic was offside when the long ball was played forward.
84’ What happened there? With his first touch, Mbenza was played through. He had the pace to beat his man, but he takes the shot weirdly early and skews it weeeell wide. That was strange.
Huddersfield Town's German-US head coach David Wagner (2nd L) embraces Huddersfield Town's Swiss defender Florent Hadergjonaj as they celebrate their win after the English Premier League football match between Huddersfield Town and Fulham at the John Smit
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STATS
- The bottom seven in the Premier League have claimed just 45 points from a possible 231 so far.
- Christopher Schindler’s goal ended a run of 658 minutes without a home Premier League goal for Huddersfield Town.
- This was the first meeting of two teams in the bottom three in the 2018/19 Premier League season.
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