Match ends, Huddersfield Town 0, Birmingham City 1.
HuddersfieldHuddersfield Town0BirminghamBirmingham City1
David Cotterill's stunning second-half free-kick earned Birmingham victory at Huddersfield to maintain their fine form since Gary Rowett became manager.
Blues were lucky to be awarded the free-kick when Clayton Donaldson seemed to run straight in to Anthony Gerrard.
But Cotterill made the most of the chance, beating goalkeeper Alex Smithies with a dipping 25-yard strike.
The goal ended Huddersfield's seven-game unbeaten home run, while Blues have won five from eight under Rowett.
Victory enabled the rejuvenated visitors to make further progress up the Championship table to 15th place, having lost just once since the former Burton boss was appointed.
| Still Worthy after all these years |
|---|
| Frank Worthington, who played for both Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City, watched the game from the front row of the directors' box at the John Smith's Stadium. |
The first half was a huge disappointment, with Huddersfield's shackling of Blues playmaker Andy Shinnie - a player transformed in recent weeks - proving a key factor.
Blues keeper Darren Randolph's one-handed near-post reflex save from the unmarked Grant Holt was the only real moment of note.
Conor Coady almost teed up a Terriers goal after the break when his low cross caused confusion, while Gerrard headed wide from close range.
But, with 20 minutes left, Blues won it when Cotterill lashed in his fifth goal of the season.
The visitors had to survive a frantic five minutes of injury time, during which Randolph saved brilliantly from Joe Lolley.
The lively Terriers sub also won a corner, which Blues somehow kept out after an almighty scramble as they hung on to claim a fourth clean sheet in those eight games under Rowett.
Huddersfield Town boss Chris Powell said:
"The teams were either going to cancel each other out or a moment of quality would decide it, and that's what happened.
"It was a wonderful strike. It was one of those free-kicks that players are trying these days and sometimes they come off and sometimes they don't.
"We had a few chances, particularly towards the end when we were chasing the game, but we were beaten by a set-piece. We have to channel our disappointment and take it into the next game."
Birmingham manager Gary Rowett told BBC WM:
"As a gritty away performance to follow up a magnificent result at home, you couldn't ask for more.
"I just felt we weren't positive enough in the first half, and at half-time, we said to the lads either we can look to get a 0-0 and try to nick one, or we can aim to get higher up the pitch and take the game more to them, which is what we did.
"They really responded and we controlled more of the game. I've told them that we have to find other ways to win games. I just wasn't expecting it to be a thunderbolt.
"I was just about to take off David Cotterill, as he wasn't as impressive as he has been in recent games, but that was a moment of brilliance. It's what you get from a player like that.
"David Davis was our stand-out player. He showed a real maturity. Best game he's had for us."
Birmingham winger David Cotterill told BBC WM:
"We've been working on that one in training for a while. I've had a few goes in previous games and it's nice when they come off.
"They don't normally end up there. It wasn't the prettiest of games, but we knew it might be like this up there, where it always seems to be cold and windy."
Line-ups
Huddersfield
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Smithies
- 37Peltier
- 4Hudson
- 5Gerrard
- 17Robinson
- 6HoggSubstituted forLolleyat 88'minutes
- 10Coady
- 8Butterfield
- 7Scannell
- 16HoltSubstituted forWellsat 77'minutes
- 30BunnSubstituted forVaughanat 77'minutesBooked at 83mins
Substitutes
- 3Dixon
- 9Vaughan
- 11Ward
- 18Lolley
- 21Wells
- 27Smith
- 31Allinson
Birmingham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Randolph
- 31Caddis
- 28Morrison
- 4RobinsonBooked at 23mins
- 3Grounds
- 26DavisBooked at 45mins
- 8Gleeson
- 11CotterillSubstituted forNovakat 85'minutes
- 22ShinnieSubstituted forEdgarat 90+1'minutes
- 33GraySubstituted forReillyat 85'minutes
- 9Donaldson
Substitutes
- 6Edgar
- 10Thomas
- 12Novak
- 17Reilly
- 19Zigic
- 21Doyle
- 39Moussi
- Referee:
- Jeremy Simpson
- Attendance:
- 13,203
Match Stats
Home TeamHuddersfieldAway TeamBirmingham
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home7
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Huddersfield Town 0, Birmingham City 1.
Post update
Foul by Lee Peltier (Huddersfield Town).
Post update
Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Anthony Gerrard (Huddersfield Town).
Post update
Michael Morrison (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Jonathan Grounds.
Post update
Attempt saved. Joe Lolley (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Vaughan with a headed pass.
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Lee Peltier (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City).
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. David Edgar replaces Andrew Shinnie because of an injury.
Post update
Delay in match Andrew Shinnie (Birmingham City) because of an injury.
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Attempt missed. James Vaughan (Huddersfield Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jacob Butterfield.
Substitution
Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Joe Lolley replaces Jonathan Hogg.
Post update
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Lee Peltier.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Lee Novak replaces David Cotterill.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Callum Reilly replaces Demarai Gray.
Booking
James Vaughan (Huddersfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by James Vaughan (Huddersfield Town).
