Match ends, Huddersfield Town 0, Middlesbrough 2.
HuddersfieldHuddersfield Town0MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough2
Adam Clayton scored against his old club as Middlesbrough beat Huddersfield in David Wagner's first home game in charge of the Terriers.
Clayton put Boro ahead when he shrugged off Nahki Wells and drove past keeper Jed Steer with the aid of a deflection.
Wells then hit the bar with a free-kick before Boro keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos saved his chipped effort.
The Terriers dominated possession, but Boro's Emilio Nsue cut inside and finished with aplomb to seal victory.
Aitor Karanka's side have now won five of their last seven matches and move into the automatic promotion places, above Derby on goal difference.
Former Borussia Dortmund coach Wagner will have been pleased with his side's ability to hold on to the ball, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances when they dominated possession in the second period.
After Clayton scored his first goal for the Teessiders since joining from Huddersfield in 2014, Wells could have levelled twice and Sean Scannell was denied by Konstantopoulos as Boro led at the break.
But Boro, who produced an expert away display having soaked up so much pressure and having only three shots all match, finished proceedings with Nsue's own maiden goal for the club.
Huddersfield boss David Wagner said:
"The result was very different to the performance. I was very pleased with the way we played, particularly in the first half.
"The way the team played is another step in the right direction and I am sure this team has a good future.
"Middlesbrough only had two chances in this game and we saw which team was better and which team created more chances. Sometimes in football you don't get the result you deserve."
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka said:
"It was not a good performance but sometimes games are like that.
"Huddersfield looked like the top team, not us. Huddersfield played really well and I expected that.
"I saw Huddersfield at Sheffield Wednesday and it's no surprise how well they played.
"David Wagner may have lost his first two games but he should keep going with his philosophy. When I came here I lost two of my first five matches but Middlesbrough trusted me and if Huddersfield trust him they will do well."
Line-ups
Huddersfield
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Steer
- 2SmithBooked at 54mins
- 5HudsonBooked at 52mins
- 14Cranie
- 25Chilwell
- 4WhiteheadBooked at 18mins
- 16Huws
- 7ScannellSubstituted forDempseyat 67'minutes
- 8PatersonSubstituted forHolmesat 71'minutes
- 18LolleySubstituted forBojajat 79'minutes
- 21Wells
Substitutes
- 3Davidson
- 6Hogg
- 15M Wallace
- 19Holmes
- 22Dempsey
- 26Allinson
- 36Bojaj
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Konstantopoulos
- 24Nsue
- 4Ayala
- 6GibsonBooked at 59mins
- 3Friend
- 8Clayton
- 36Zuculini
- 27AdomahSubstituted forStuaniat 63'minutes
- 31FabbriniSubstituted forForshawat 63'minutes
- 19Downing
- 35Nugent
Substitutes
- 5Amorebieta
- 9Kike
- 10De Pena
- 13Mejias
- 16Stephens
- 18Stuani
- 34Forshaw
- Referee:
- Eddie Ilderton
- Attendance:
- 15,434
Match Stats
Home TeamHuddersfieldAway TeamMiddlesbrough
- Possession
- Home75%
- Away25%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away3
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away11
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Huddersfield Town 0, Middlesbrough 2.
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Ben Chilwell (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Cristhian Stuani (Middlesbrough).
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Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Ben Gibson.
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Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by George Friend.
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Kyle Dempsey (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Cristhian Stuani (Middlesbrough).
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Attempt missed. Nahki Wells (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Tommy Smith.
Goal!
Goal! Huddersfield Town 0, Middlesbrough 2. Nsue (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Adam Forshaw.
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Emyr Huws (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Adam Forshaw (Middlesbrough).
Substitution
Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Florent Bojaj replaces Joe Lolley.
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Foul by Nahki Wells (Huddersfield Town).
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Cristhian Stuani (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Joe Lolley (Huddersfield Town) because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Duane Holmes replaces Jamie Paterson.
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Foul by Ben Chilwell (Huddersfield Town).
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Bruno Zuculini (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
