Match ends, Huddersfield Town 0, Crystal Palace 1.
HuddersfieldHuddersfield Town0Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace1
Wilfried Zaha produced a moment of brilliance on his return to the team as Crystal Palace earned their second win of the season against Huddersfield.
Halfway through September is far too early to be labelling matches six-pointers, but this was an encounter with a fiery edge to it from the start.
It looked as though it might be a frustrating afternoon for Zaha, who missed Palace's defeat to Southampton before the international break with a groin injury, after he was booked for a late tackle on Florent Hadergjonaj.
That foul was a reaction to being hauled to the ground by Mathias Jorgensen, but Zaha regained his composure and in the 38th minute knocked the ball between two defenders before smashing past Jonas Lossl.
The hosts offered a threat in the second half, flooding the Palace box with high crosses, and Aaron Mooy came close to finding the equaliser only to see his well-struck volley clatter off a post.
Huddersfield's wait for their first win of the season continues but Palace move up to 11th in the table.
Zaha papers over Palace's defensive cracks
The 25-year-old Ivorian has scored 75% of Palace's goals in the Premier League this season, and his third of the campaign only emphasised his importance to this side.
On another day Palace could have found themselves behind before their talisman took centre stage, as Huddersfield delivered 23 crosses into the Palace box from open play.
Had the hosts been more clinical, their wait for a first victory might now be over.
Steve Mounie in particular was a constant aerial threat for Huddersfield, and the Benin international had the best chance to open the scoring in the early exchanges, his header from close range sailing over the bar.
David Wagner's men had four headed efforts at goal, and Philip Billing's side-foot finish from a nod down found the net only to be ruled out for a foul in the area.
Palace looked nervy at the back and appeared bereft of leadership all afternoon, but in Zaha they have an invaluable get-out-of-jail-free card.
Goals remain a problem for the Terriers
Huddersfield boss Wagner admitted after the game that goals are "something we have to work on" - but that is an understatement.
The West Yorkshire club have failed to score in 24 of their last 43 Premier League games - the most of any club.
The hosts will be buoyed by their second-half performance after having more than twice the number of efforts on goal than their opponents could manage - 15 against seven - but two goals from six games in all competitions is a major cause for concern.
The best of their chances fell to Mooy, whose well-struck volley showcased excellent technique but agonisingly found the post, while Hadergjonaj's low strike moments later lacked the conviction to trouble Wayne Hennessey.
Wagner's men exposed a weakness in the Palace defence from high balls but they failed to capitalise on the visitors' hesitancy, and this must go down as a golden opportunity spurned to take all three points.
Man of the match - Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
'If we perform like we did we know we will get points' - what they said
Huddersfield manager David Wagner: "You don't always get what you deserve. This was our best performance of the season. We created so many good opportunities. We absolutely dominated the control of the game but didn't use our opportunities and were unlucky for sure.
"Performance-wise it was very good but the result of course, is frustrating. If we perform like we did again then we know we will get the points.
"They had one magic moment from Wilfried Zaha but we should have defended better. In the last three games we have looked very solid and like we can create something, but the mood is frustration at the minute."
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson: "We played well throughout the game but as you go into that last 15 minutes with a one-goal margin you are always worried. We had a stroke of fortune when their shot hit the post but we controlled the game. We have a win and that is the most important thing."
On Zaha: "He was a constant threat. I thought he was close to scoring more than one goal. But it is nice that he is the match-winner and that is was such a good goal. I am sure it will be one of the better goals of the week."
The away side prevail again - the stats
- The away team has won all three of the Premier League meetings between Huddersfield and Crystal Palace, making it the fixture with the best 100% record for away team victories in the competition's history.
- Huddersfield are without a win in nine Premier League games (D4 L5), their longest run without a victory in league football since September 2015 (10).
- Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has netted eight goals in his last 10 Premier League games, as many as in his previous 44.
- Since the start of last season, Crystal Palace have averaged 1.5 points per game when Zaha has played (33 games), compared to no points when he has been involved (10 games).
What's next?
Crystal Palace host Newcastle on Saturday, 22 September (15:00 BST), while Huddersfield travel to Leicester City at the same time.
Line-ups
Huddersfield
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Lössl
- 25M JorgensenBooked at 27minsSubstituted forDepoitreat 78'minutes
- 26Schindler
- 5Kongolo
- 33Hadergjonaj
- 10Mooy
- 8Billing
- 15Löwe
- 9KachungaSubstituted forDiakhabyat 68'minutes
- 24Mounie
- 17van La ParraSubstituted forMbenzaat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Smith
- 11Diakhaby
- 12Hamer
- 18Mbenza
- 19Williams
- 20Depoitre
- 21Pritchard
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Hennessey
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 5Tomkins
- 12Sakho
- 3van Aanholt
- 8Kouyaté
- 4Milivojevic
- 18McArthurBooked at 11mins
- 10TownsendSubstituted forSchluppat 90+2'minutes
- 14J Ayew
- 11ZahaBooked at 29mins
Substitutes
- 2Ward
- 7Meyer
- 9Sørloth
- 15Schlupp
- 31Guaita
- 34Kelly
- 44Riedewald
- Referee:
- Lee Mason
- Attendance:
- 23,696
Match Stats
Home TeamHuddersfieldAway TeamCrystal Palace
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Huddersfield Town 0, Crystal Palace 1.
Post update
Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by James McArthur.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Philip Billing (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Post update
Foul by Laurent Depoitre (Huddersfield Town).
Post update
James Tomkins (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jeffrey Schlupp replaces Andros Townsend.
Post update
Attempt missed. Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Steve Mounie following a set piece situation.
Post update
Terence Kongolo (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Offside, Huddersfield Town. Aaron Mooy tries a through ball, but Steve Mounie is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Post update
Foul by Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town).
Post update
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Patrick van Aanholt.
Post update
Terence Kongolo (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Foul by Philip Billing (Huddersfield Town).
Comments
Join the conversation
I don't understand why RH doesn't use his subs! Most especially Max Meyer who I would have thought was easily match fit by now and at least good enough to replace the tired legs of Macca or Kouyate! Bazaar!
Anyone got any sensible answers? Trolls need not respond thanks!
Luck evens itself out over a long season, but mark my words Palace will not be in the bottom three at any time this season !!!
Our other good players need to start producing as we cannot expect to rely on Wilf all season, not matter how good he is !!!!
Being a palace fan, I like underdogs, so I hope the Terriers have a good season. Best of luck to you.
Shut up Zaha and focus on being a good player
The End