Match ends, Huddersfield Town 1, Watford 2.
HuddersfieldHuddersfield Town1WatfordWatford2
Watford came back from behind to record a fourth win in five games and end Huddersfield's unbeaten home record.
Danny Ward headed Huddersfield into the lead early in the first half but Watford equalised seconds later as Fernando Forestieri curled home.
Daniel Pudil put Watford ahead before the break, poking home from close range.
James Vaughan headed wide in the second half, but Huddersfield could not find an equaliser.
The win moved Watford up to fourth in the Championship, while a first defeat in six games leaves Huddersfield 12th.
An entertaining encounter saw both sides have chances throughout, with Huddersfield the first to threaten as midfielder Oliver Norwood fired over.
Ward had been restored to the starting line-up by Huddersfield manager Mark Robins, and he repaid his manager with a goal in the 17th minute.
Adam Hammill picked out the winger with an intelligent cross and Ward glanced a header into the back of the net.
The celebrations from the home fans lasted for less than a minute, though, as Watford drew level when a fine, flowing move ended with Forestieri curling a delightful shot beyond home keeper Alex Smithies.
Vaughan headed wide as Huddersfield set about trying to regain the lead, while Smithies did well to deny Sean Murray after good work by Forestieri and Troy Deeney had opened up the Huddersfield defence.
But Smithies should have done better when Watford took the lead three minutes before the break. Forestieri struck a free-kick that Smithies parried and Pudil reacted quickly to lift the ball over the Huddersfield keeper.
Josh McEachran shot wide midway through the second half but Watford had to hang on in the closing stages as Huddersfield pressed forward.
Ward dragged a free-kick wide, while Watford keeper Manuel Almunia denied Vaughan a goalscoring chance as the visitors held on.
Huddersfield boss Mark Robins: "For the first 20 minutes we showed how good we are but after that Watford came at us.
"We gifted the two goals and were on the back foot after that. For their first goal they broke really quickly and the finish from Forestieri was Premier League quality.
"We have to believe in ourselves, keep the ball better and be patient. We have lost our unbeaten home record to a good side."
Watford manager Gianfranco Zola on Forestieri: "No one has ever doubted his qualities but he has to use them in the right way.
"He has all the tricks and the pace but he is still young. He is improving and has huge potential.
"It was a good performance but we had so many chances in the second half we should have killed the game.
"Forestieri was the best player on the pitch. He was quite a handful, holding up the ball and creating space. It's just a pity we didn't score a third goal."
Line-ups
Huddersfield
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Smithies
- 21RichardsSubstituted forPatersonat 65'minutes
- 33LynchSubstituted forScannellat 85'minutes
- 6Hogg
- 5Clarke
- 39Gerrard
- 12Hammill
- 4Norwood
- 9Vaughan
- 8ClaytonSubstituted forHolmesat 45'minutes
- 11WardBooked at 38mins
Substitutes
- 2Woods
- 7Scannell
- 10Gobern
- 13Bennett
- 14Stead
- 17Paterson
- 38Holmes
Watford
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Almunia
- 19FaraoniBooked at 36mins
- 18PudilSubstituted forAnyaat 81'minutes
- 6Ekstrand
- 4Angella
- 12Doyley
- 16Murray
- 8McEachranSubstituted forSantos Da Silvaat 79'minutes
- 9Deeney
- 11ForestieriSubstituted forFabbriniat 87'minutes
- 10McGuganBooked at 85mins
Substitutes
- 5Belkalem
- 7Battocchio
- 20Fabbrini
- 21Anya
- 23Santos Da Silva
- 27Cassetti
- 30Bond
- Referee:
- David Webb
- Attendance:
- 14,311
Match Stats
Home TeamHuddersfieldAway TeamWatford
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away7
- Corners
- Home6
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Huddersfield Town 1, Watford 2.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James Vaughan (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Hammill.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Anthony Gerrard (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Marco Davide Faraoni.
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Attempt missed. Troy Deeney (Watford) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ikechi Anya.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sean Scannell (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Lloyd Doyley.
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Attempt missed. James Vaughan (Huddersfield Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Daniel Ward with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Diego Fabbrini replaces Fernando Forestieri.
Post update
Attempt missed. Daniel Ward (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Sean Scannell replaces Joel Lynch because of an injury.
Booking
Lewis McGugan (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Adam Hammill (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Lewis McGugan (Watford).
Post update
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Peter Clarke.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ikechi Anya (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Troy Deeney with a headed pass.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Ikechi Anya replaces Daniel Pudil.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Iriney replaces Joshua McEachran.
Post update
Foul by Anthony Gerrard (Huddersfield Town).
