Promotion-hunting Terriers claim an impressive win over table-topping Fulham

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Huddersfield Town stunned the impressive league leaders Fulham as they took all three points back to Yorkshire with an impressive 2-1 win. 

The Cottagers started the game firmly on top, with Bobby Decordova-Reid and Fabio Carvalho proving dangerous. It was the former that sent in a cross that marginally evaded every white shirt. This was to be punished with immediate effect. 

Antonee Robinson was caught out by the ball over the top initially and Huddersfield had a couple of efforts before mistakes from Tom Cairney and Tim Ream gifted the ball to Danny Ward. The 30-year-old grasped the opportunity with both hands as he claimed his 11th goal of the campaign with ease. 

Subsequently, Fulham would go on to further shoot themselves in the foot with a needless penalty, albeit seemingly harsh. 

Sorba Thomas darted into the box chasing a looping ball and Marek Rodak looked to be coming out to claim it. However, the Welshman was able to get his body between the goalkeeper and the ball as the Fulham shot-stopper was forced to pull out of the challenge. Despite this, the momentum from the 22-year-old forward carried him into the goalkeeper, but due to Rodak’s initial attempt to claim the ball, a penalty was awarded. 

Duane Holmes fired the ball in from 12 yards and the visitors took a two-goal lead into the break, despite having very little possession or territory. 

Once again, it was Carvalho and Decordova-Reid who were causing issues for the Terriers, with the latter setting up the former for a low effort that was scrambled away by Lee Nicholls. 

Fulham frequently reverted to the through ball to the wide player followed by a ball across the box but they failed to pick out a teammate with the crosses. 

Finally, the hosts got a goal back via Decordova-Reid’s rifled effort that found the top corner. The goal gave the players and the fans at Craven Cottage a lift going into the final minutes of the match. 

After the seemingly harsh penalty decision, Marco Silva’s side appealed for everything and had an array of penalty claims in the dying moments of the game. 

There was a dual claim that involved Aleksandr Mitrovic going down followed by Carvalho being clattered to the turf but nothing was given, and in fact, the 19-year-old was penalised for a foul on Nicholls. 

A further two appeals followed as Mitrovic was hauled down in the box and there was a subsequent strike that struck the arm of a Huddersfield player. Referee Tony Harrington waved both of these claims away again, much to the frustration of Marco Silva. 

Thus, Huddersfield held on for a monumental victory at the league leaders and propelled themselves to within just five points of automatic promotion. 

The performance was a stellar defensive display from the Terriers and the Yorkshire side took the opportunities presented to them. Furthermore, that win now extends Huddersfield’s unbeaten run to 15 games in all competitions. 

Fulham, meanwhile, suffer their first league defeat since late December and will look to rectify that against lowly Peterborough United in midweek. 

Huddersfield Town will host Cardiff City in midweek with the potential of going as high as third. 

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