Huddersfield 3 Brighton 1: Albion stay top but suffer costly defeat to play-off chasing Terriers
Tommy Smith, Nahki Wells and Elias Kachunga all netted in a first-half blitz to see David Wagner's side upset the odds
DAVID WAGNER saw his Huddersfield side put the pedal to the metal to thrash table-topping Brighton.
Tommy Smith, Nahki Wells and Elias Kachunga all netted in a first-half blitz.
While their their stunned opponents could only register through Tomer Hemed, before Lewis Dunk was sent off after the break.
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It was an awesome display of full-throttle action and everything Wagner’s best pal Jurgen Klopp meant when coining the phrase ‘heavy metal football’.
But while Klopp’s Liverpool have hit a bum note of late, Wagner’s Terriers have discovered perfect pitch.
And after a performance like this, they will have renewed belief that they can chase down Brighton and Newcastle and be singing songs celebrating automatic promotion yet this year.
The fans played their part too with the decibel levels cranked up to 11 to the beat of the drum bashed in the Cowshed.
Wagner’s charges began the game at a break-neck speed, with Chelsea loanee Izzy Brown wasting a good chance before Rajiv van la Parra - on loan at Brighton last season - hit the post.
Nine minutes in, it was 1-0 as Smith got a second bite of the cherry after his blocked cross rebounded into his path and he smashed it in at the near post for his first home goal of his career.
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The Seagulls were hemmed in all game but did level things up on 20 minutes, as Hemed raced onto Aaron Mooy’s poor back-header, rounded the keeper and slotted home.
Man City loanee Mooy made up for it though as his deflected pass somehow found Wells free in the box and the striker rifled into the corner.
In first-half stoppage time, Brighton’s goal was breached again - meaning this would be the first time this season they have conceded three in the league.
Mooy slipped in Wells beautifully and the striker’s shot was parried up into the air by Stockdale, only for Kachunga to nod in his tenth of the campaign from two yards.
Brighton’s misery was compounded on 67 minutes when Dunk’s rash tackle on Brown earned him a second yellow, before Mooy struck the woodwork.
The result was a hammer blow to Chris Hughton’s side, who were hoping to capitalise on Newcastle’s slip-up against QPR.
But for Huddersfield, Wagner and their fans, it was music - heavy metal, no doubt - to their ears.