THE VERDICT: TOWN 1 FULHAM 0 Return of the winning feeling for top Terriers 205-DAY WAIT FOR HOME GOAL ENDS IN FIRST WIN OF SEASON - AND WAGNER COULDN’T BE MORE PROUD

TOWN RATED

Rescued Town well after being sold short by a Kongolo back pass in the first half. Didn’t have a save to make HUDDERSFIELD Town claimed their first win of the Premier League season last night with an excellent performance against out-of-form Fulham.

Christopher Schindler’s header deflected off Fulham’s Timothy Fosu-Mensah for Town’s winner in the first half after the Terriers had dominated Slavisa Jokanovic’s side.

Town could have had more at the John Smith’s Stadium, but had to settle for the one goal and three points as the German centre back helped end the Terriers’ 205-day wait for a home goal with a brave header.

Head coach David Wagner made three changes to the side that lost to Watford last time out, with Erik Durm ruled out for the floodlit clash with a minor groin injury.

Florent Hadergjonaj took the World Cup winner’s place on the right, while Isaac Mbenza made way for the returning Terence Kongolo, who slotted in alongside Schindler and Mathias ‘Zanka’ Jorgensen at the back.

Chris Lowe retained his spot on the left, as did central midfielders Aaron Mooy, Jonathan Hogg and Philip Billing.

Alex Pritchard continued to provide the attacking spark for Town, while Steve Mounie was preferred to Laurent Depoitre up front.

Town almost went behind early on in the crucial clash when Kongolo sold keeper Jonas Lossl short with a back pass, but Lossl, M Jorgensen, Schindler, Kongolo (Bacuna 90), Hadergjonaj, Billing, Hogg, Lowe, Mooy, Mounie (Depoitre, 56), Pritchard (Mbenza 82). Not used: Smith, Sobhi, Van La Parra the Dane was able to stretch his long frame and clear the danger.

Lossl’s compatriot also came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half with a long-range strike.

The midfielder thrashed an effort with his left foot from 25 yards after Fulham had coughed up possession, but the stinging Rico, Fosu-Mensah (Christie, 45), Odoi, Le Marchand, Sessegnon, Zambo Anguissa, Cairney, Seri, Vietto (McDonald 45 (Johansen 65)), Mitrovic, Schurrle. Not used: Bettinelli, Chambers, Ream, Mawson shot cannoned off the crossbar and over. Pritchard should have put the hosts ahead later in the first half when a deflected Lowe cross fell at his feet, but the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder couldn’t get an effort in on Sergio Rico’s goal.

A minute later and one of last season’s January recruits did get