Huddersfield 1-0 West Brom: Rajiv van La Parra's long-range stunner enough to earn all three points after Christopher Schindler sees red for Terriers

  • Rajiv van La Parra gave the home side the lead just before the interval with a sensational long-ranged strike
  • Huddersfield were reduced to 10 men after Christopher Schindler was sent off for two bookable offences
  • West Brom huffed and puffed but failed to break down Huddersfield's resolute defence and left empty handed
  • The away support chanted for boss Tony Pulis to be sacked throughout the match at the John Smith's Stadium

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Before kick-off, Huddersfield were handing out throat lozenges at the John Smith’s Stadium. Tony Pulis may have wished it was pain killers.

The West Bromwich Albion manager has a headache and after another defeat - which means they now have two wins from their last 20 Premier League matches stretching back to last season - it shows no signs of disappearing.

Here, many of the travelling Baggies supporters demanded the Welshman’s head. What Pulis has done for this club should not be forgotten, and they should be careful what they wish for, but this was a new low. 


Rajiv van La Parra hit a stunning 25-yard curling shot over the West Brom keeper to win the game for Huddersfield

Rajiv van La Parra hit a stunning 25-yard curling shot over the West Brom keeper to win the game for Huddersfield

Ben Foster was left completely stranded by the accurate strike and stood still as the ball sailed over him into the corner

Ben Foster was left completely stranded by the accurate strike and stood still as the ball sailed over him into the corner

van La Parra was jumped on by his Huddersfield team-mates after his stunning winning goal at the John Smith's Stadium

van La Parra was jumped on by his Huddersfield team-mates after his stunning winning goal at the John Smith's Stadium

Referee Roger East showed no hesitation in brandishing a red card after Christopher Schindler picked up his second yellow

Referee Roger East showed no hesitation in brandishing a red card after Christopher Schindler picked up his second yellow

MATCH FACTS, LEAGUE STANDINGS AND MATCH ZONE

Huddersfield (4-2-3-1): Lossl 6; Hadergjonaj 7, Zanka 7, Schindler 5 (OFF 57), Malone 6 (Lowe 79,); Hogg 7, Mooy 7; Kachunga 7 (Craine 62), Ince 6.5, Van La Parra 7.5 (Williams 62); Depoitre 7 

Subs not used: Green, Smith, Quaner, Mounie 

Manager: David Wagner 7

Scorers: van La Parra (44)

Booked: Schindler, Williams

Red card: Schindler

WBA (3-5-2): Foster; McAuley 5 (Phillips 59,), Hegazi, Evans; Nyom, Barry, Livermore, Krychowiak (McClean 59,), Gibbs; Robson-Kanu 6 (Rondon 59,), Rodriguez 6

Subs not used: Myhill, Yacob, Brunt, Chadli 

Manager: Tony Pulis 5

Booked: Hegazi, Nyom, Barry, McClean

Referee: Roger East 5 

Star Man: Van La Parra

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
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Rajiv van La Parra scored the game's only goal from 25 yards to earn Huddersfield a valuable home victory. CLICK HERE to see more from Sportsmail's brilliant MATCH ZONE.

Rajiv van La Parra scored the game's only goal from 25 yards to earn Huddersfield a valuable home victory. CLICK HERE to see more from Sportsmail's brilliant MATCH ZONE.

 

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After winning their first two matches of the campaign, five defeats and four draws is enough to land most managers in trouble and Pulis will know, with West Brom now two points from the drop zone, improvement is needed quickly.

A Rajiv van La Parra wonder strike on the stroke of half-time and two brilliant injury-time saves by Jonas Lossl, after Huddersfield had been reduced to 10 men, were enough to give David Wagner a perfect second anniversary present as manager at Huddersfield. The dream continues in West Yorkshire for the tenth-placed Terriers.

It is a different story in the West Midlands. Pulis - who did not look like a man under pressure - believes he is a victim of his own success. ‘I think anybody who has been on a run like us, a poor run, you’re going to take criticism,’ he said.

Both sets of players pay tribute ahead of Remembrance Day with a minute's silence before kick-off

Both sets of players pay tribute ahead of Remembrance Day with a minute's silence before kick-off

West Brom defender Allan Nyom puts Scott Malone under pressure as he looks to escape his attention down the left flank

West Brom defender Allan Nyom puts Scott Malone under pressure as he looks to escape his attention down the left flank

Elias Kachunga misjudges the flight of the ball and misses his header as it lands on the chest of Jake Livermore in the box

Elias Kachunga misjudges the flight of the ball and misses his header as it lands on the chest of Jake Livermore in the box

Christopher Schindler beats West Brom forward Hal Robson-Kanu to the ball and clears the danger into touch

Christopher Schindler beats West Brom forward Hal Robson-Kanu to the ball and clears the danger into touch

Referee Roger East tells the players to calm down after Swiss defender Florent Hadergjonaj chopped down Jonny Evans

Referee Roger East tells the players to calm down after Swiss defender Florent Hadergjonaj chopped down Jonny Evans

‘I’ve been in the game long enough to know that’s what happens. We are now in a better position than when I took over. What has happened over the two years is we’ve grown. 

'We signed some good players, one or two have been injured and we haven’t won games. It hasn’t gone for us, irrespective of what we have done previously - that goes out of the window.’

It took less than half an hour for those who had travelled from the Black Country to voice their frustration. ‘Attack, attack, attack,’ they chanted.

Kachunga tries to ignite a breakaway as he shrugs off the challenge from West Brom midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak

Kachunga tries to ignite a breakaway as he shrugs off the challenge from West Brom midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak

Forward Robson-Kanu holds his head after he misses a chance to grab the opening goal for the away side

Forward Robson-Kanu holds his head after he misses a chance to grab the opening goal for the away side

Ahmed Hegazy and Laurent Depoitre tussle for possession of the ball during the first half at the John Smith's Stadium

Ahmed Hegazy and Laurent Depoitre tussle for possession of the ball during the first half at the John Smith's Stadium

Depoitre rises the highest from the home side's corner but his header drifts wide of Ben Foster's post

Depoitre rises the highest from the home side's corner but his header drifts wide of Ben Foster's post

West Brom boss Tony Pulis screams and flings his arms out on the touchline as he appeals for a free-kick to be awarded

West Brom boss Tony Pulis screams and flings his arms out on the touchline as he appeals for a free-kick to be awarded

Tom Ince takes aim from the edge of the box, but his shot drifts harmlessly wide of the post as Hegazi tries to block it

Tom Ince takes aim from the edge of the box, but his shot drifts harmlessly wide of the post as Hegazi tries to block it

Just 14 minutes later they were rewarded with a goal - for Huddersfield - when Van La Parra curled a dipping strike beyond Ben Foster for his first Premier League goal.

Following the interval, with little change in the state of play, came chants of ‘We want Pulis out,’ and ‘Tony Pulis, your football is ****’.

Out of nowhere came a break for the manager and his beleaguered side. Terriers defender Christopher Schindler, already on a yellow card for a contentious shirt pull, was late on Ahmed Hegazi. Out came the red and a triple substitution from Pulis, which finally breathed life into Albion.

In the six minutes of injury-time added, Lossl superbly defied James McClean’s header and Matt Phillips’ shot as Wagner demanded the home support to turn up the volume.

Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy times his challenge perfectly to slide in and dispossesses Livermore

Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy times his challenge perfectly to slide in and dispossesses Livermore

Salomon Rondon beats a Huddersfield defender in the air, but his header rolls a few yards wide of the goal

Salomon Rondon beats a Huddersfield defender in the air, but his header rolls a few yards wide of the goal

West Brom midfielder Gareth Barry shows his frustration after bringing down Ince and receiving a yellow card for his troubles

West Brom midfielder Gareth Barry shows his frustration after bringing down Ince and receiving a yellow card for his troubles

The ‘absolutely delighted’ Huddersfield manager will mark his second anniversary on Sunday. It is all a little different from when he took over, with the club 18th in the Championship.

‘We are altogether over the moon,’ he said. ‘Not only because of the result, because of the performance as well. This was not a fluke.’ 

Wagner also sounded a warning note. ‘I think we can say we arrived in Premier League,’ he said. ‘Fifteen points, 11 games - it’s good, absolutely - but it’s only 11 games.’

Different emotions for Pulis, who has seen it all before. ‘Things conspire against you sometimes and you don’t get the breaks,’ he said. ‘I’m worried about the players more than anything else, whereas I’ve been in this game too long to be affected by any criticism.’

James McClean almost got a late equaliser for the visitors but Jonas Lossl done superbly well to deny his close-range header

James McClean almost got a late equaliser for the visitors but Jonas Lossl done superbly well to deny his close-range header

Manager David Wagner celebrates with his players at the final whistle as his side beat West Brom by a single goal at home

Manager David Wagner celebrates with his players at the final whistle as his side beat West Brom by a single goal at home

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