Huddersfield 1 - West Brom 0: Van La Parra wonder goal wins it for Terriers

IT was a battle of the baseball caps between designer wearers David Wagner and Tony Pulis.

Huddersfield vs West Brom match reportPA

Huddersfield beat West Brom thanks to Van La Parra's goal

But at the end, it was the West Brom boss who would have preferred a crash helmet with Baggies’ fans screaming for his head with angry chants of “We want Pulis out.”

That’s Pulis’s strugglers without a victory in nine Premier League games. They’ve only won two of their last 20 matches in the top flight which they could be in danger of leaving.

No such gloom and doom for Huddersfield who climbed to 10th, despite having Christopher Schindler sent off, with Rajiv van La Parra’s wonder goal deciding the game – his first in the big time.

Wagner was in a great mood to celebrate his second anniversary today and Huddersfield winning successive top-flight home games for the first time since November 1971.

He said: “I love it. We have one of the best atmospheres in the Premier League at the minute. I’m absolutely delighted. We went into their face and scored a wonderful goal. It was a deserved win.

“I think we can show we have arrived in the Premier League. It’s good. But it’s only 11 games. Nothing more.”

I love it. We have one of the best atmospheres in the Premier League at the minute

Huddersfield boss David Wagner

Pulis was left cursing West Brom’s lowest points tally after 11 games since 2005-6 – when they were relegated.

He stood defiant in face of the stick and said: “I think anyone who has been on a poor run of games you are going to take criticism. I have been in the game a long time to know that happens. What you have done previously goes out the window.”

The action came thick and fast with Huddersfield fans screaming for a 15th-minute penalty. Kieran Gibbs challenged Van La Parra and the match-winner plunged to earth but referee Roger East waved away frantic appeals.

Tom Ince pumped up the volume with a couple of snap-shots but West Brom almost snatched the lead in the 22nd minute when Jay Rodriguez found himself clear.

You would have put your last quid on Rodriguez scoring but Schindler bravely blocked and the chance was over.

The game looked like heading for a stalemate until that wonderful Van La Parra goal on the stroke of half-time. There seemed to be nothing on 30 yards out but he suddenly curled in an unstoppable belter into the top corner.

Huddersfield vs West Brom match reportREUTERS

Van La Parra's shot flies into the net

It certainly whetted the appetite for the next 45 minutes but there were more personnel changes than goal attempts with Pulis making a rare triple substitution with 30 minutes left.

Wagner, though, would have reserved a huge pat on the back for keeper Jonas Lossl for a double save in the dying minutes, the first from substitute James McClean and then fellow sub Matt Phillips.

HUDDERSFIELD: Lossl 7; Hadergjonaj 6, Zanka 6, Schindler 6, Malone 6 (Lowe 78th); Hogg 7; Kachunga 6 (Cranie (61st) 6), Ince 8, Mooy 7, Van La Parra 7 (Williams (61st) 6); Depoitre 6.

WEST BROM: Foster 6; Nyom 6, McAuley 6 (Phillips (59th) 6), Hegazi 6, Evans 6, Gibbs 6; Livermore 6, Krychowiak 6 (McClean (59th) 5), Barry 7; Robson-Kanu 6 (Rondon (59th) 6), Rodriguez 6.

Star Man: Tom Ince who always made himself available and put the Baggies’ defence under pressure. Not afraid to have a pop, too.

Referee: R East.

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