Norwich City 2-1 Huddersfield Town: Canaries get first win of the season

Dean Smith’s attacking changes paid off as goals from Josh Sargent and Danel Sinani gave Norwich their first Championship win of the season against 10-man Huddersfield.

The Canaries boss brought the forward pair into the line up, with Teemu Pukki out with a foot injury.

Two goals in the opening 17 minutes were enough to see off a poor Terriers side, who had Tom Lees sent off in the second half.

Norwich held out for victory despite a late consolation goal from Huddersfield teenager Patrick Jones.

With Finland international Pukki missing, American Sargent and Luxembourg forward Sinani stepped up and linked brilliantly for their two goals.

Early on Sinani, playing against his former club, crossed from the right and Sargent showed his physicality and aerial skill to head past Lee Nicholls in the Huddersfield goal.

Sargent was able to set up his team-mate soon after. Having skipped round Nicholls, the ball fell to Sinani who coolly finished to double the Canaries’ lead.

They then linked up again for what appeared to be the decisive moment, with Sinani setting Sargent through down the middle, before being brought down by Terriers defender Lees, who was the last man.

However, a brilliant individual goal from Wales Under-21 international Jones made for a nervous final 10 minutes for the home crowd.

Neither side could convert good chances in the final stages, and Dean Smith’s side held on for a first league win since relegation from the Premier League.

Norwich City boss Dean Smith told BBC Radio Norfolk:

“The win feels really good, but it was a really good performance as well. The red card killed the game, we ended up trying to see it out rather than kill the game off and make it 3-0.

“We had really good control of the game, and we’ve got our first win which is something to build on now.

“The two early goals were what our play deserved, there was a real injection of energy from Sargent and Sinani tonight, even though we should have had more goals.

“Teemu Pukki’s foot was too fat to put his boot on, his X-ray came back clear and we expect him to be available for the game against Milwall on Friday.”

Huddersfield boss Danny Schofield told BBC Radio Leeds:

“The effort and application of the lads was fantastic, they never stopped going until the end. The first half was disappointing, we didn’t deal with a cross and found it difficult down our right.

“We always have a game plan, and coming away to Norwich it was always going to be difficult. But when you concede goals early it’s difficult.

“We felt comfortable coming on in the second half, but Tom Lees was sent off early which made it difficult. These things happen, it’s instinctive from a centre-back, and it is what it is.

“The big positive is that the players are fighting for themselves, the club, for me and the staff. If we keep that up we’re going to be alright.”