Huddersfield 1 Wolves 0 - Report and pictures

It certainly wasn't for a lack of trying, writes Tim Spiers at the John Smith's Stadium.

After being predictably terrorised by Rajiv van la Parra in the first half (the ex-Wolves man took just six minutes to open the scoring), they vastly improved after the break, as has been their manner under Zenga.

But despite huffing and puffing, hitting a post and forcing a wonder-save from the home keeper, Wolves couldn't blow the Huddersfield door down and force the equaliser they deserved.

They lost their unbeaten record as a result. But with only one of the eight players they've signed under Fosun starting here, it's very clear that Wolves are a work in progress - and there is much more to come from Zenga's squad.

After making several changes in the EFL Cup in midweek, Zenga reverted to almost the same side that beat Birmingham 3-1 last weekend.

From that XI, the injured Lee Evans and the dropped Kortney Hause were missing, with David Edwards and George Saville coming in and former Huddersfield man Conor Coady moving to right back.

The home fans whipped up a big atmosphere before the game kick off, with the feelgood factor in full swing at the John Smith's Stadium.

And Huddersfield started like a team full of the confidence that being top of the table brings.

In fact it took them just six minutes to take the lead - and there was no surprise with the identity of the goalscorer.

In rainy conditions the ball slipped through Danny Batth - Kasey Palmer nipped in and struck the ball against the post, with Van La Parra firing home the rebound.

It also wasn't a surprise to see the not-so shy and retiring Dutchman, booed by the away fans in the opening minutes, celebrate by putting his finger to his lips and running in front of the Wolves fans.

A clearly Van La Parra was playing like a man possessed and it needed a smart Coady header at the back stick to deny him nodding home a second just a few minutes later.

Wolves were struggling to cope, and only 15 minutes in Zenga changed formation, going for a 4-4-1-1 with Joe Mason behind Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Saville and Jed Wallace on the flanks.

It steadied the visitors down and Saville came close to an equaliser when he curled just over from 18 yards with his weaker right foot.

However the hosts looked far more menacing whenever they ventured forward. They were also forcing Wolves into a number of misplaced passes and rushed clearances, with an animated Zenga showing his frustration on the touchline.

The dangerous Palmer couldn't connect when in a great position unmarked in the Wolves box. And then Nahki Wells ghosted in behind Batth, sold the sliding Dominic Iorfa a dummy and fired at a grateful Carl Ikeme.

Van La Parra was impressing in defensive positions too and he got in an important deflection to soften a Mason shot.

Mason was coming into the game, as were Wolves, and they finished the half on top with the striker having the ball in the net.

That came just after Saville headed across goal for Edwards, who couldn't quite connect, in another promising moment.

Half time came at the wrong time for Wolves but, with Joao Teixeira having replaced Wallace at the break, they kept the pressure up at the start of the second half.

Coady ventured forward to fire not far wide from 20 yards via a deflection, with Zenga having changed formation again to a 4-3-3, Teixeira and Mason playing either side of Bodvarsson.

After Mark Hudson headed an Aaron Mooy free kick over, Matt Doherty charged inside from the left flank, showing great footwork before forcing Danny Ward into a save from a tight angle.

Wolves were vastly improved from the first half and they were inches away from a deserved equaliser on the hour mark.

Coady brilliantly won back possession and raced down the right flank before playing inside to Teixeira who set aim from 20 yards and hit his shot against the upright.

On came Helder Costa for Saville as Zenga upped the ante, sending Teixeira back to midfield and Costa on the right flank, with Mason now on the left.

And Wolves continued to threaten.

They won successive corners, ramping up the pressure in front of their travelling fans. From the second it looked for all the world as if Bodvarsson was going to head home from six yards, but Ward somehow kept out the striker's downward header.

Costa then raced through on goal - his deflected shot was heading for Mason for a tap-in, but the bounce took the ball away from the striker and Huddersfield survived again.

Zenga sent on Prince Oniangue for Edwards with 17 minutes left as he tried to engineer the equaliser Wolves' second half performance had merited.

But Wolves' momentum petered out and it was Huddersfield who looked the more likely scorers, with substitute Harry Bunn flashing the ball across goal.

They rallied again in the dying minutes - Oniangue acrobatically shot wide - but didn't create a chance in five minutes of added time before Huddersfield celebrated wildly at the final whistle.

Huddersfield (4-2-3-1): Ward; Smith, Hudson (c), Schindler, Lowe; Hogg, Palmer (Payne, 57); Mooy, Wells (Bunn, 61), Van La Parra (Scannell, 88); Kachunga. Subs: Coleman, Hefele, Cranie, Whitehead.

Goal: Van La Parra (6)

Wolves (4-3-3): Ikeme; Coady, Iorfa, Batth (c), Doherty; Edwards (Oniangue, 73), Price, Saville (Costa, 61); Mason, Bodvarsson, Wallace (Teixeira, 45). Subs: Lonergan, Hause, Borthwick-Jackson, Henry.

Attendance: 19,972

Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire)