WIN LEAVES DAN FEELING OVER MOUN
DANNY COWLEY hailed his Huddersfield side’s powers of recovery after Steve Mounie’s strike sealed their first comeback win for more than two years.
Mounie (above) hit a second goal in three games to lift the Terriers seven points clear of danger as they inflicted a first defeat in nine games on play-off chasing Blackburn.
Town were the only club in the bottom eight to win, with back-toback home victories setting them up for the crunch New Year’s Day visit from relegation rivals Stoke.
Boss Cowley’s patched-up side held on through nine minutes of second-half stoppage time and he said: “Steve’s was a goal worthy of winning any game.
“We showed real resilience and character to fight back from a bad start. Credit to the lads for sticking at it. We were worthy winners.”
Blackburn have made a habit of scoring early on their travels this term and were at it again as Danny Graham was given the freedom of the penalty box to nod them ahead on seven minutes.
Jon Gorenc Stankovic dived in to head a 25th-minute equaliser from Juninho Bacuna’s free-kick.
But Huddersfield had to wait until 19 minutes from time to seal victory when Lewis O’Brien won possession to release Mounie, who strode forward and unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard effort.
And a fine save from Kamil Grabara kept out a header from Tosin Adarabioyo to prevent a late Rovers leveller.
Blackburn chief Tony Mowbray said: “It’s a frustrating result, but I can’t be overly critical.”
HUDDERSFIELD:
Ref: Tim Robinson Att: 25,385
Lees Glatzel Hoilett
CARDIFF’S quickfire start condemned Sheffield Wednesday to a first home league defeat under Garry Monk.
The Welsh side went two up inside eight minutes courtesy of Robert Glatzel and Junior Hoilett.
And even though the Owls pulled one back through Tom Lees 10 minutes later, Cardiff ’s win meant that boss Neil Harris has lost just once from his nine games in charge.
He said: “We’re still a work in progress but we’ve had four wins, four draws and only one defeat since I came in. I’m pleased with that.
“There will be ins and outs in January, but we won’t be spending money. We’ll just have to be clever.”
He added: “You’re asking a lot of the players but it’s a testament to their character. I’m really pleased with this group of players.”
The stunning start silenced a bumper Hillsborough crowd expecting their team to bounce back after their shock defeat at Stoke. Monk said: “To give Cardiff a two-goal lead so early made it doubly hard for us. “It was two poor goals from our point of view. We lacked that final edge to get an equaliser. The effort was there but we didn’t help ourselves with the two goals against us.”
“We missed Steven Fletcher up front, but it was defensive errors that let us down at Stoke and here again. “I’ve told the players we’ve had our positives and highs and now a two-game set-back – but we are still in a good position.”
Cardiff scored with their first attack after only five minutes, Lee Tomlin the provider as he played in Glatzel, the German showing good strength to fire home. Three minutes later, that man Tomlin took possession on the right and fired in a low cross for Hoilett (above) to slide home the second.
Wednesday managed to steady the ship and on 18 minutes pulled one back after a Barry Bannan corner was met by Lees.
But the Owls missed the power and punch of top goalscorer Fletcher, and with hitman Jordan Rhodes on the bench until midway in the secondhalf, replacement striker Sam Winnall struggled to fill the void.
Wednesday were reduced to longrange efforts, with one by Bannan being blocked and cleared by substitute Sol Bamba, while Cardiff ’s hopes were disrupted by a nasty clash of heads which Joe Bennett with a massive shiner.
But City still looked threatening on the break and Glatzel and Will Vaulks almost put the game to bed as Harris’ men boosted their own play-off hopes. SHEFF WED:
CARDIFF:
MOTM
LEE TOMLIN (CARDIFF)