Huddersfield Town vs Derby County. Sky Bet Championship.
The John Smith's StadiumAttendance19,749.
Saturday 22 October 2016 19:03, UK
Elias Kachunga grabbed a stoppage-time winner to seal Huddersfield's 1-0 victory over Derby and inflict a first defeat on new Rams boss Steve McClaren.
Kachunga struck in the third minute of added time to head home a cross from Harry Bunn. Until then Derby had looked like holding out for a point after two great second-half saves from goalkeeper Scott Carson.
Derby had been unbeaten in four matches and seemed set to extend that run after Carson denied Nahki Wells and Bunn in the second half.
Rajiv van La Parra struck first with a long-range effort over the bar which drew applause from head coach David Wagner for some smart build-up work. For Derby Will Hughes produced a clever clipped shot from just inside the box which dropped beyond the far post.
Matej Vydra looked sharp for Derby but just needed a touch more composure at times. He latched onto Hughes' lofted through-ball but his first-time volley was just wide.
Centre-back Chris Schindler got on the end of a Kasey Palmer corner but his header lacked power and direction and Carson collected. Tommy Smith tried his luck from distance two minutes before the break but his effort also failed to trouble Carson.
The second half saw both goalkeepers called into action. A Tom Ince free-kick found skipper Richard Keogh but his header ballooned high into the stand behind the goal. Christie then played Ince through but Ward made a good stop at the foot of the near post.
Huddersfield made a double substitution, bringing on Aaron Mooy and Bunn in the 61st minute and that swung the game. The presence of Australia international Mooy and Bunn wide on the left lifted Town. Chris Lowe and Kachunga created a chance for Wells whose powerful shot brought a superb save from Carson in the 66th minute.
Palmer then had a shot blocked before Lowe fired wide and Wells tried to place a curler into the bottom corner. Bunn cut inside from the left and ran at the Derby defence and smashed a dipping shot which was turned away brilliantly by Carson in the 77th minute.
Huddersfield thought all hope had gone after Smith lashed over but in the 93rd minute Bunn produced a superb cross for Kachunga to guide home a header to ensure McClaren tasted defeat for the first time in three games.
Huddersfield boss David Wagner:
"It is an emotional game and I lost control of my emotions. But I didn't shout at anyone, or hurt anybody, but it is a rule that I must not leave my technical area.
"I have seen the referee and he will put that in his report."
Derby boss Steve McClaren:
"The players and the supporters don't deserve that and I thought our performance merited at least a point. We are building and progressing but the result was disappointing and we have a lot of work to do.
"It is about playing for 95 minutes and we didn't do that. We had dealt with everything during the game but perhaps we switched off at the end and it's cost us. They took a risk and got the result."
