Battling Baggies should have won it declares Bruce
STEVE BRUCE claimed
West Brom were denied “the biggest penalty I’ve ever seen” in a thrilling clash watched by legendary ex-Huddersfield boss David Wagner.
The Terriers raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening 30 minutes with a brilliant brace from on-loan Chelsea midfielder Tino Anjorin.
Yet Jed Wallace scored either side of half-time to draw the Baggies level before Town substitute Will Boyle appeared to foul Karlan Grant inside the penalty box late on.
Albion’s players and coaching staff screamed for a spot-kick, but referee Andy Davies was unmoved – much to the disgust of Bruce who was booked for his protestations.
The Baggies boss said: “It’s the biggest penalty I’ve ever seen. Look, I know how difficult it is but when decisions are like that?
“I said to the linesman, ‘Where are you?’ and he replied, ‘I’m too far away’, but he was 30 yards away – is that too far?
“Everyone in the crowd knew it was a penalty, but we didn’t get it unfortunately. It’s frustrating.”
It is now just one win in six games for Bruce’s Baggies, who fought back impressively after a sluggish start.
Huddersfield, who themselves have won only once so far, led inside the 11th minute when Anjorin collected possession from a corner and curled a brilliant right-foot shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Wagner, who led the Terriers into the Premier League in May 2017 and kept them up the following season, roared his delight from the directors’ box.
It got even better for Danny Schofield’s boys on the half-hour when they mounted a deadly counterattack which saw Anjorin break into Albion’s box and thrash a fierce shot past David Button.
West Brom steadied themselves and the impressive Wallace rifled home a low left-wing cross from Grady Diangana in the 37th minute.
They were level 12 minutes after the restart when Wallace, a closeseason signing from
Millwall, fired home a superb right-footed volley from John Swift’s pass.
Despite enjoying 69 per cent of possession, Albion could not find a winner after their late penalty appeals came to nothing.
Huddersfield almost nicked it themselves when Josh Ruffels’ longrange strike hit a post.
Town boss Schofield claimed he “did not see” the late penalty incident but took heart from his side’s display and particularly Anjorin’s contribution.
The 20-year-old was withdrawn in the 59th minute and Schofield said: “Tino is a player we know has a lot of potential and game-winning quality, which is hard to come by.
“We will keep working with Tino so he can try and sustain 90 minutes of football.”
HUDDERSFIELD: Nicholls 7; Turton 6, Edmonds-Green 6 (Boyle (83) 6), Nakayama 6; Kesler-Hayden 7, Russell 6 (Rhodes (83) 6), Rudoni 6, Ruffels 6; Anjorin 7 (Holmes (59) 6), Thomas 6; Ward 6 (Camara (73) 6)
WEST BROM: Button 6; Furlong 6 (Gardner-Hickman (85) 6) Ajayi 6, O’Shea 6, Townsend 6; Molumby 6 (Robinson (82) 6), Yokuslu 6; Wallace 8, Swift 6, Diangana 7; Grant 6
STAR MAN: Jed Wallace – Scored twice and was a threat throughout for Albion. REF: Andy Davies 6