KNOCKAERT TAMES TERRIERS

ANTHONY KNOCKAERT’S winning goal was shown over and over on the giant screens at the Amex Stadium, each time met by a chorus of mocking jeers from the Brighton faithful. And it certainly wasn’t getting any prettier on repeat viewing for Huddersfield goalkeeper Danny Ward. Knockaert’s shot looked innocuous enough, but the slightest of deflections off Jonathan Hogg seemed to scramble Ward’s mind and he somehow allowed the ball to squirm underneath his gloves into the bottom corner. Coming 10 minutes from time, it was the rather soft blow that ended the Terriers’ impressive six-match unbeaten start to the Championship campaign, though they remain at the summit despite Newcastle’s goal rush. Huddersfield manager David Wagner said: ‘Mistakes are part of this game and, unfortunately, if the goalkeeper makes a mistake, it is a goal. We are disappointed that we lost this tight game, but I have a positive feeling as well because we can say that we can compete with the best teams in the division away.’ His Brighton counterpart Chris Hughton said: ‘Knockaert is the one player that can do something even on an off-day. It was very fortunate with the goal but if you don’t put yourself in that position, you don’t have the opportunity.’ Huddersfield hadn’t enjoyed such a fine start to a season since 1920, but they were forced back by Brighton, who should have led early on when Jamie Murphy was denied one-on-one by Ward. Beram Kayal whistled a shot wide, Tomer Hemed hooked one over and Knockaert fired into the sidenetting in search of the opener. The visitors employed Wagner’s pressing style well but created little, their best effort coming when Jack Payne forced David Stockdale into a near-post block.