Wolves 0 Huddersfield 1: Izzy Brown’s cracker clinches Terriers’ play-off spot as they bounce back from missing out on automatic promotion
David Wagner's men can't catch Newcastle or Brighton but this deserved win puts them 2 points clear of fourth-placed Reading
IZZY BROWN’S wonderstrike downed Wolves to book Huddersfield a place in the play-offs.
The Chelsea loanee, 20, curled home from 25 yards just after the half-hour to help Town bounce back from their Fulham trouncing on Saturday.
David Wagner’s Terriers become the first side to guarantee a spot in the end-of-season lottery after Newcastle joined on Brighton in sealing automatic promotion on Monday night.
The hosts suffered a blow just before kick-off as keeper Andy Lonergan picked up a late injury, meaning youngster Harry Burgoyne started in goal.
Dave Edwards had the game’s first real chance, heading too near Danny Ward from Dominic Iorfa’s cross.
That was before Nahki Wells spurned two half-chances for the visitors, blazing over and then firing too near the keeper after being set up by ex-Wolves winger Rajiv van la Parra who was booed throughout.
The game had a distinctly end-of-season malaise about it, despite Huddersfield needing the points to secure a top-six spot.
Perhaps it was the fact they had seen any slim hope of an automatic place erased the night before when Newcastle beat Preston.
While Wolves players had little more to play for than impressing boss Paul Lambert ahead of what is set to be another summer of shake-ups at Molineux.
Brown did offer the one moment of quality though to make the breakthrough on 31 minutes, picking his spot with a fine curling effort that found the inside netting.
Perhaps rookie stopper Burgoyne could have done better but it was still a fine strike from a fine prospect.
Edwards had a chance to hit right back but headed Ben Marshall’s free-kick straight at Ward.
And the Welshman went even closer shortly after the break when he hit the post on the rebound after Ward had pushed Andi Weimann’s low strike into his path.
That was as good as it got for the hosts, who did have one memorable moment as Jordan Graham made his comeback on the hour after 15 months out with a cruciate ligament injury.
No one backed Wagner at the start of the season to take Huddersfield this far.
But only a fool would bet against the German going all the way to Wembley glory now.
