TENTH VICTORY SENDS TOWN BACK INTO PLAY-OFF PLACES

A solid display by the centreback, who remained nice and composed as Town kept the visitors at bay after the break. Lost his way in the 10 minutes before he was taken off, but before that, really caught the eye with his pace and passing. Did his best to pressurise the Bristol City defence and was rewarded with the winner, his first goal in almost two months. HUDDERSFIELD TOWN will feel justice was done as they finally ended a disappointing sequence of results to claim a 10th win of the campaign and move back into the Championship play-off places.

Just as in the previous home game against Wigan Athletic, when they lost 2-1, Town penalty appeals were brushed away, while there were claims Bristol City’s equaliser was offside and that two of their players might have been sent off.

Late in the first half, midfielder Luke Freeman, already cautioned for a trip on Rajiv van La Parra, escaped with a talking-to from Keith Stroud after responding furiously to being pulled up for another foul, an action similar to that of van La Parra’s which contributed to his dismissal at Reading earlier this season.

And early in the second half, goalkeeper Frank Fielding saw yellow rather than red after handling outside his area as Nahki Wells ran through.

Town boss David Wagner claimed it was a clear case for an early bath, but Hampshire official Stroud, after consulting with assistant Mark Jones, ruled otherwise.

Imagine, then, the glee of home fans when in the 59th minute, Fielding failed to deal with Korey Smith’s back pass and instead steered the ball to Wells, who slotted it home.

It was a fourth goal of the season and first since mid-October for the frontman, whose future at Town is under doubt after his summer rejection of a new contract.

And it earned his side a deserved first win in six games - a big tonic ahead of tough trips to Burton Albion on Tuesday and Norwich City on Friday.

Just as at Blackburn Rovers in the previous game, which finished 1-1, Town had the bulk of possession (65 per cent) and chances (five on target of Bristol City’s two).

But this time, they made two of them count, with Elias Kachunga putting them in front with his seventh goal of the season after 10 minutes.

Aaron Mooy did well to regain possession before Kachunga fed right-back Tommy Smith, whose neat cross was met by the German’s diving header.

The immediate return after a one-match ban of Smith in place of Martin Cranie, who played so