Wolves 0-1 Huddersfield: Izzy Brown nets Terriers' winner at Molineux as David Wagner's side book their place in the Championship play-offs
- Huddersfield secured a Championship play-off place with a win at Wolves
- Izzy Brown handed the promotion-chasing Terriers the lead at Molineux
- Dave Edwards hit a post for Wolves in the second half as they chased parity
Izzy Brown’s elegant strike saw Huddersfield beat Wolves to confirm a Championship play-off place for the first time in the club’s history and David Wagner can now use the coming fortnight to prepare for a final push at an implausible promotion.
Brown, the on-loan Chelsea forward, has given his parent club plenty to consider during his temporary stay in Yorkshire and provided another example of his potential with the decisive moment of this drab encounter.
Huddersfield moved back up to third ahead of Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, and Fulham with two games remaining. Leeds United are also lurking and picking a favourable play-off opponent may be difficult but Wagner will want his side entering with positive momentum.
Izzy Brown is congratulated by his team-mates after opening the scoring for Huddersfield
Brown curled home from the edge of the penalty area to put Huddersfield in front at Molineux
Brown's goal was enough to give the away side all three points at Molineux on Tuesday
He celebrated the final whistle by calling his players into a huddle on then pitch then led a Borussia Dortmund-style salute in front of the travelling fans.
Wagner will hope he can call upon Elias Kachunga when the definitive action begins, with the club’s top scorer missing against Wolves for the second successive game due to a calf problem. Nonetheless Wagner decided to rejig his attack after Saturday's 4-1 home defeat to Fulham.
Nakhi Wells started up front in place of Collin Quaner, but the 26-year-old wasted a fine first-half opportunity to mark his recall with a goal.
Brown won possession deep into Wolves territory and fed Wells, who rather carelessly lifted his finish over the bar from the centre of the area.
Brown was at the heart of all Huddersfield’s best play, dropping deep to tackle and picking the right passes, so it was little surprise when he delivered a moment of real quality to open the scoring on the half hour.
Aaron Mooy’s neat footwork gave Brown an opening 25 yards from goal and he clipped a precision shot into the far corner of the net. Harry Burgoyne, in at the last minute due to Andy Lonergan suffering an injury in the warm-up, had little chance.
Rajvi van La Parra of Huddersfield challenges Dominic Iorfa of Wolves for possession
Dean Whitehead gets a shot away for the visitors during the Championship clash
Brown celebrates his opening goal as the Terriers' push for promotion continued apace
Sean Scannell volleys towards goal as Huddersfield push forward for a second
Iorfa tangles with Huddersfield striker Nakhi Wells during the second half of the match
Wolves fleetingly responded by winning a free-kick in a good position that Ben Marshall whipped across. But Dave Edwards headed straight into arms of his Wales team-mate Danny Ward when he really ought to have scored.
Edwards had an even better chance eight minutes after the interval but was this time denied by the post.
Andi Weimann wriggled into space to strike a firm low shot that Ward could only palm out and with the goal at his mercy Edwards seemed put off by the sliding block attempt of Christopher Schindler, dinking the ball over the defender’s body but onto the upright.
Schindler then set up a glorious chance for Quaner, who had arrived as a substitute. Schindler nodded back Mooy’s free-kick and Quaner hit a firm strike but wide of the target.
Quaner then darted into box with a sharp turn but his finish was duff and straight at Burgoyne.
It mattered not, Brown’s strike had guaranteed what seemed highly unlikely before this season started and Huddersfield’s band of supporters cheered with glee.
Danny Batth of Wolves goes to ground under the challenge of Brown
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