Huddersfield 1-2 Derby: Derby go eight games unbeaten

George Thorne scored a 25-yard stunner to seal Derby's 2-1 victory at Huddersfield and extend their unbeaten run to eight matches.

The former West Brom midfielder smashed home the second-half winner to make it six wins in eight games and lift Derby into the play-off positions.

Skipper Chris Martin gave the visitors, who are unbeaten away since March, an early lead before Huddersfield equalised through Harry Bunn.

Thorne scored three minutes after half-time to put Derby back in charge but for all their dominance they could not kill the game.

Huddersfield goalkepeer Jed Steer, on loan from Aston Villa, pulled off a series of great saves to deny Derby a greater margin of victory.

Derby took control of the game right from the start and went in front in the 15th minute through Martin after Johnny Russell scuffed his attempted volley and the ball fell for Martin in the six-yard box. He ignored calls for offside and slotted past Steer.

Despite dominating, Derby failed to capitalise on their possession.

Huddersfield lost winger Sean Scannell to a suspected hamstring injury, replacing him with on-loan Mustapha Carayol with 20 minutes gone.

Six minutes later Derby also suffered a major blow when wideman Tom Ince also limped down the tunnel.

Huddersfield reacted best to the enforced change with Carayol looking threatening down the right and after a couple of warning shots to the Derby defence, he curled in a superb cross for Ishmael Miller.

The big striker beat Scott Carson but the ball struck the bar and bounced down with Bunn the first to react to finish off the rebound from close range and level in the 31st minute.

Martin had a header go just wide before Steer produced a brilliant one-handed save four minutes before the break when Russell's corner was met perfectly by Jason Shackell but his flying header was superbly tipped over.

Inevitably, former Huddersfield midfielder Jacob Butterfield, signed by Derby for £4m on transfer deadline day, had a hand in the 48th-minute winner.

Butterfield's cross was headed out by Joel Lynch but Thorne had time to pick his spot and unleash a stunning finish past Steer.

Huddersfield had a penalty claim denied in the 56th minute when both Lynch and Mark Hudson went down in the box, with Hudson needing treatment for a facial injury.

Derby turned the screw but Steer, with two clean sheets in his last two games, stood firm, saving from Russell and then coming out to meet Cyrus Christie, blocking with his leg.

He put his body on the line to keep Derby at bay, appearing to save a flashing Martin header with his face.

Huddersfield finished strongly with Steer even deserting his post to go up for a last desperate corner deep into stoppage time.

Derby boss Paul Clement:

"No keeper would have saved [George Thorne's goal]. It was a wonderful strike, but while the goal will take all the headlines his all-round performance was excellent. I'm just pleased the goal was scored in front of the away end. Our travelling support is unbelievable. We didn't capitalise in the first half and I challenged the players at half-time to go and win the game. It's been a really tough week with back-to-back away games but the players responded."

Huddersfield boss Chris Powell:

"[Jed Steer] has made a big impression here. He only came in as cover for Joe Murphy's injury but he has proved what a good keeper he is. We have played one of the best teams in the league and it was a tough ask for us. They scored an outstanding goal, one of the best you will see this season. We tested Scott Carson but not as much as they tested Jed Steer. He made three fantastic saves. I felt we had a good shout for a penalty but there's no disgrace losing to Derby. The gulf between the squads is obvious but we are in this league on merit."