David Wagner said Huddersfield’s latest league win was one for him and his players. Rajiv van La Parra curled home a stunning first-half strike just before the interval and they then held on after the defender Christopher Schindler had been sent off early in the second period.
“I know that when we played Man United this was a big win,” said Wagner, whose players ran themselves to a standstill following Schindler’s dismissal in the 57th minute for two yellow cards.
“It was a big win for the football club, while today it was a big win for us as a group and for me as a manager. We’ve shown we can play in our identity and style and also, if we need to, we can play in the deeper block if necessary and I’m absolutely delighted the players have shown both.”
Tony Pulis, brushed aside the chants of “We want Pulis out” that greeted him at the start of the second half. West Brom’s winless run was extended to nine Premier League matches stretching back to mid-August, but the West Brom manager appeared unruffled.
“Anybody who’s been on a run of games like we have, and we’ve been on a poor one in respect of results, you’re going to take criticism,” he said.
Van La Parra fired Huddersfield’s first effort over the crossbar as the home side set about breaking down West Brom’s five-man defence. The visitors also deployed three holding midfielders, making it difficult for Huddersfield to work any openings.
West Brom threatened when Hal Robson-Kanu’s clever pass set Jay Rodriguez free but his shot was blocked by Schindler. At the other end, Rodriguez did well to head Aaron Mooy’s excellent free-kick away for a corner and then the visitors had Kieran Gibbs to thank after his last-ditch tackle forced Tom Ince to blaze his shot off target.
Huddersfield had little to show after hogging possession. It was clear it needed something special against dogged opponents and Van La Parra delivered just before the interval. Scott Malone turned the ball inside for Van La Parra, 25 yards out near the left edge of the penalty area, and he curled a stunning shot beyond Ben Foster.
Town were dealt a blow when Schindler was sent off after receiving his second yellow card for a foul on Ahmed Hegazi.
Pulis had already decided to send on all three of his substitutes, with Salomón Rondón, James McClean and Matt Phillips replacing Robson-Kanu, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Gareth McAuley.
Wagner responded to Schindler’s dismissal by sending on central defender Martin Cranie for the forward Elias Kachunga and the midfielder Danny Williams for Van La Parra.
Williams dropped into a five-man defence as Wagner looked to protect his side’s lead. Hogg blocked Jake Livermore’s shot and Rondón headed Jonny Evans’ cross inches wide.
The Huddersfield goalkeeper, Jonas Lossl, rescued his side twice in stoppage time, first diving full length to keep out McClean’s late header and then producing another fine save to keep out Phillips’s low shot.
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