Huddersfield Town 2, Wycombe Wanderers 3
Anis Mehmeti, Joe Jacobson, and Josh Knight scored as Wycombe Wanderers overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Huddersfield Town 3-2.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Terriers have now failed to win in eight games in 2021 with just two draws in that time but had looked comfortable against championship basement club Wycombe.
Goals by Juninho Bacuna and Isaac Mbenza had given them a 2-0 lead until first half injury before they succumbed to lapses in concentration to be turned over by the visitors.
It all started so brightly for the Terriers who made just one change – Harry Toffolo was serving a suspension after his injury time red card at Luton last weekend – his place was taken by Alex Vallejo who played a deep midfield role with Lewis O’Brien and Jonathan Hogg dropping into defence when Town were under pressure while Isaac Mbenza switched the left wing.
The tactical reshuffle certainly had the Chairboys scratching their heads early on as Fraizer Campbell’s cross from the right was put wide by Duane Holmes.
Town continued to stretch the visitors without creating much of note but the lack of predictability about the Terriers’ forward options without the outlet of Toffolo on the left flank created uncertainty in the visitors.
But the combinations eventually worked with Campell’s volleyed cross headed past Ryan Allsop from 5 yards out by Juninho Bacuna who stooped to convert the chance while unmarked after 18 minutes – only his third goal of the season.
Holmes also had a shot saved after a clever through ball by O’Brien released him inside the Wycombe box while Pipa was denied by Allsop after cutting inside from the right for a shot from 18 yards.
Wycombe found themselves frustrated by Town defending, with Uche Ikpeazu having a shot blocked and going wide earlier in the game while Naby Sarr cleared the ball before Anis Mehmeti could get a sight of goal.
Sarr also cleared a certain goal off the line from Ikpeazu after 35 minutes to keep the Terriers in the lead and was there again to deny Ikpeazu minutes later although a foul was given in the build-up.
Mbenza doubled the Town lead after 41minutes, lashing home from wide on the left after Pipa had slipped the ball to him for his fourth goal of the season.
Josh Knight hit the bar with a deflected late shot in the first half but from an offside position before Mehmeti pulled a goal back for the visitors from the edge of the area as the Terriers lost concentration just before the break.
Pipa shot wide after his trade mark cut in from the right in the second half and completed a clearance after Wycombe had the Terriers under the cosh with Ryan Schofield having to come off his line to stop one of their attacks.
Daryl Horgan went close after Town conceded a soft free kick with the game getting more physical before the visitors won a penalty after Ikpeazu went down under a foul from Hogg.
Joe Jacobson made no mistake from the penalty spot to bring the Chairboys back to parity in the 63rd minute.
And Wycombe could have taken the lead after Horgan’s close range header was parried over by Schofield for a corner.
Alex Pritchard replaced Vallejo as Town went more attacking for the last quarter of the game.
Garath McCleary curled a shot over for the visitors before Jacobson was replaced by Jordan Obita due to injury.
Scott High replaced Holmes with 10 minutes to go to make his home debut as the Terriers looked to be running out of energy with Wycombe finishing strongly.
Mbenza wasted a decent free kick, sending it straight into the arms of Allsop to underline how tired the Terriers looked as they defended a free kick poorly later and Schofield had to clear off his line as Wycombe piled in.
But the reprieve was short lived as Knight completed the turn-around 3 minutes from time sliding the ball home from wide on the left.
Town desperately appealed for a handball from Anthony Stewart in injury time but referee Keith Stroud waved away the penalty appeal.
GOALS – Huddersfield Town 2, Wycombe Wanderers 3
Huddersfield Town 1, Wycombe Wanderers 0: 18. Juninho Bacuna stooped to convert Fraizer Campbell’s volleyed cross from the right with his head past Ryan Allsop from 5 yards out.
Huddersfield Town 2, Wycombe Wanderers 0: 41. Isaac Mbenza lashed the ball home from wide on the left after Pipa had slipped the ball to him.
Huddersfield Town 2, Wycombe Wanderers 1: 45+3. Anis Mehmeti pulled a goal back for Wycombe from the edge of the area getting the ball from Daryl Horgan after Town lost concentration.
Huddersfield Town 2, Wycombe Wanderers 2: 63. Joe Jacobsen converted a spot kick after Uche Ikpeazu had been fouled by Jonathan Hogg.
Huddersfield Town 2, Wycombe Wanderers 3: 87. Josh Knight scored from wide on the left after the Terriers failed to defend a late attack from the visitors.
MATCH STATS – Huddersfield Town 2, Wycombe Wanderers 3
Huddersfield Town: Schofield, Pipa, Keogh, Sarr, Vallejo (Pritchard 68), Hogg, O’Brien, Mbenza (Thomas 86), Bacuna, Holmes (High 80), Campbell
Huddersfield Town Subs not used: Leutwiler, Stearman, Duhaney, Crichlow, Rowe, Phillips
Booking: Mbenza 57 (foul on Uche Ikpeazu); Pipa 62 (dissent); Holmes 79 (foul); Hogg
Goals: Bacuna 18; Mbenza 41
Wycombe Wanderers: Allsop, Grimmer, Stewart, Tafazolli, Jacobson (C) (Obita 73), Wheeler, Knight, Mehmeti, Horgan, Ikpeazu, McCleary (Onyedinma 83)
Wycombe Wanderers subs not used: Anderson, Kashket, Muskwe, Thompson, Samuel, McCarthy, Ofoborh
Booked: Tafazolli 23 (foul on Fraizer Campbell), Grimmer 71 (foul on Juninho Bacuna); Stewart (foul on Alex Pritchard); Ikpeazu 90+5 (foul)
Goals: Mehmeti 45+3; Jacobson pen 63; Knight 87
Referee: Keith Stroud