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West Brom 4 Huddersfield Town 2 - Report and pictures

Albion had to come from behind twice - but they still did enough to beat Huddersfield after clinching a 4-2 victory at The Hawthorns.

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Matt Phillips of West Bromwich Albion scores a goal to make it 1-1. (AMA)

In a thoroughly entertaining Championship clash, Danny Cowley's side shocked the hosts when they opened the scoring thanks to a brilliant goal from Lewis O'Brien.

The Baggies levelled immediately through Matt Phillips.

But it was the Terriers who went in at the break ahead after some kamikaze defending allowed Karlan Grant to fire in.

After the interval, it was a case of attack versus defence with Huddersfield happy to put men behind the ball in an attempt to hold on.

But Darnell Furlong pulled Slaven Bilic's side level with 20 minutes left to play.

Excellent work from Grady Diangana then saw Phillips grab his second to put the Baggies into the lead for the first time.

And then in the closing stages, Semi Ajayi headed in from a corner to ensure the closing stages were not too anxious.

Report

Bilic opted to make one change from the team that earned a point at Fulham when naming his starting line-up.

In the trio behind the frontman, Filip Krovinovic came back into the side with Grady Diangana the man to make way.

It meant Matheus Pereira moved to the left-wing, with Matt Phillips on the right and Krovinovic in the number 10 role as Albion continued in a 4-2-3-1 system.

Huddersfield lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with Karlan Grant and Elias Kachunga either side of Frazier Campbell up front.

The Terriers also included ex-Villa men Tommy Elphick and Jonathan Hogg - with the duo starting at centre-back and in central midfield respectively.

After an opening 10 minutes in which both teams looked sloppy on the ball, it was Albion who created the game's first chance thanks to a brilliant cross-field ball from Sawyers.

It found Darnell Furlong who then did well to cut the ball back to the on-rushing Charlie Austin.

And he then saw a low drive from eight-yards deflect narrowly past the post.

From the resultant corner, the hosts threatened again with Furlong flicking the ball wide.

But The Hawthorns was left stunned in the 16th minute when Huddersfield opened the scoring with a goal that began and ended with Lewis O'Brien.

After driving forward from the centre-circle, the midfielder played a neat one-two with Campbell that allowed him to race past Semi Ajayi.

Then from 18-yards the former Bradford loanee brilliantly found the bottom corner with a perfectly placed finish.

Albion's response was instant with Huddersfield enjoying a lead for just three minutes.

Furlong did wonderfully well to nip the ball through the legs of Terence Kongolo before finding Austin the box.

And he then teed up Phillips who buried a strike in the bottom corner from eight-yards.

From that point, it felt as though Slaven Bilic's side would go and pile more misery on their beleaguered opponents.

Some wonderful football ended with Pereira sending in a cross which Furlong headed straight at the keeper.

Huddersfield's game plan was a clear one though - with the Terriers happy to let Albion have the ball and then try and exploit any mistakes.

And it meant they got to half-time ahead after the Baggies conceded a goal all of their own-making.

Sam Johnstone passed the ball to Bartley in the box with the centre-back then trying to find Krovinovic.

But his pass was intercepted with Elias Kachunga then playing a wonderful through-ball with the outside of his boot.

It found Grant who held off a challenge from Furlong to fire home from close range.

Albion made a change at the break with Grady Diangana replacing Krovinovic in a move that saw Pereira move inside to the number 10 role.

And Bilic's side flew started the second-half well with the Baggies creating three chances to pull level before the hour mark.

First, Jake Livermore saw a volley from the edge of the box just about headed over his own cross-bar by Elphick.

Phillips then whipped in a cross-come-shot which evaded everyone before clipping the post.

Then in the 57th minute, a spectacular stop from Kamil Grabara again kept them at bay.

This time Furlong sent in a cross from the right that was met by Austin.

But the keeper was equal to the effort with Grabara getting a strong hand on the ball to keep it out.

You sensed Albion would go on to find an equaliser And they did with a little over 20 minutes remaining after forcing a corner.

They took it short with Phillips and Diangana taking their time to send the ball in.

But when the West Ham loanee did send in a cross, it was met by Furlong who powered a header against the inside of the post and in.

Four minutes later the turnaround was complete with Diangana producing yet more magic.

The trickster entered the box and at one stage had four Huddersfield defenders around him.

But his quick feet ensured he kept the ball. And he then delivered a low cross which Phillips smashed home from eight-yards.

Now behind, Huddersfield had to show more adventure having previously been happy to keep nine or 10 men behind the ball.

But with the clocking ticking towards the 90, Ajayi headed home from a corner to ensure Albion fans could enjoy the closing stages stress-free.

Teams

Albion (4-2-3-1): Johnstone, Furlong, Bartley, Ajayi, Ferguson, Livermore, Sawyers,Pereira, Krovinovic (Diangana 46), Phillips (Robson-Kanu 82), Austin (Zohore 72).

Subs not used: Bond, O'Shea, Brunt, Edwards.

Huddersfield: Grabara, Elphick, Kongolo (Brown 63), Hogg, Chalobah, Kachunga, Grant, Campbell (Mounie 65), Schindler, Hadergjonaj, O’Brien (Diakhaby 83).

Subs not used: Schofield, Bacuna, Mbenza, Stankovic.