Huddersfield Town 0, Leicester City 1
Winger Stephy Mavididi’s goal from an acute angle won the game for dominant visitors Leicester City at Huddersfield Town.
Both sides had failed to take their chances in an entertaining game before Mavididi scored late on from the tightest of angles to hand the spoils to the Foxes.
The visitors had the better chances in the game and look set to make their stay in the Championship a brief one after their relegation from the top flight last season while the Terriers will reflect on earlier missed chances.
Neil Warnock named captain Jonathan Hogg in the side in the one change from last week’s side that played against Plymouth Argyle – he replaced Rarmani Edmonds-Green in midfield.
Dennis Praet replaced Wilfred Ndidi, Stephy Mavididi replaced Jamie Vardy, while Wanya Marcal-Madivadua replaced Kasey McAteer in three changes from the visitors’ last league game.
After some early nerves in front of the home crowd the Terriers played themselves into the game.
Lee Nicholls saved from Kelechi Iheanacho and Dennis Praet (who was clean through after 22 minutes) while Leicester’s goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk was denied Jack Rudoni and Josh Koroma as both sides entertained in a first half despite some glaring misses.
Iheanacho, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, youngster Wanya Marcal-Madividua, and Town’s Michael Helik – who blazed over after a great cross by Sorba Thomas – should have done better with their own key chances.
Danny Ward headed Josh Ruffle’s left wing cross over the bar early in the second half while Stolarczyk saved from Brahima Diarra in the 48th minute.
Stephy Mavididi’s tame shot didn’t test Nicholls and for a while it looked like the Foxes were out of ideas.
The exciting but wayward Wanya Marcal-Madivadua made way for Wilfred Ndidi early in the second half while Jamie Vardy replaced Iheancho with 23 minutes to go for the Foxes.
But they were looking short of ideas until Mavididi opened the scoring after 73 minutes – a fierce shot that squirmed past Nicholls, off his leg and over the line , from the tight angle on the left.
Nicholls had to race off his line to beat Vardy to a loose ball and Town struggled to make Stolarczyk make a save – in fact Dewsbury-Hall could have doubled the Foxes’ lead after Vardy unselfishly put him through right at the end.
GOAL – Huddersfield Town 0, Leicester City 1
Huddersfield Town 0, Leicester City 1: 73. Stephy Mavididi’s fierce shot from an acute angle on the left squirmed past Lee Nicholls, off his leg, and rolled over the line.
MATCH STATS – Huddersfield Town 0, Leicester City 1
Huddersfield Town: Nicholls, Edwards, Pearson, Helik, Ruffels, Hogg (C), Rudoni, Thomas, Diarra (Jones 79), Koroma, Ward (Harratt 79)
Huddersfield Town Subs not used: Maxwell, Edmonds-Green, Rhodes, Hudlin, Jackson, Nakayama, Austerfield
Booked: Hogg 53 (foul on Kelechi Iheanacho)
Leicester City: Stolarcyzk, Pereira (C) (Choudhury 84), Faes, Vestergaard, Doyle, Marcal-Madivadua (Ndidi 55), Winks, Dewsbury-Hall, Praet (Albrighton 84), Iheanacho (Vardy 67), Mavididi
Leicester City Subs not used: Ward, Iversen, Justin, Thomas, Nelson
Booked: Dewsbury-Hall 16 (foul on Josh Koroma), Vestergaard (foul on Jack Rudoni), Winks 90+2
Referee: David Webb
Attendance: 19,541 (2247 from Leicester City)