Tommy Smith’s 21st minute goal has given the Blues a rather fortunate 1-0 lead against Huddersfield at half-time at Portman Road.

Smith, Teddy Bishop and Luke Hyam returned to the Town side for Jonny Williams and Kevin Bru, who suffered knocks at Cardiff on Tuesday, and the suspended Tyrone Mings, who picked up his fifth booking of the season against the Bluebirds.

Skipper Luke Chambers switched to right-back with Smith coming in at the centre of the defence and Jonny Parr moving to left-back.

Neither side threatened seriously in the opening minutes but on 13 the visitors ought to have been ahead through former Canary Grant Holt, who had already been on the end of boos from the home support.

Huddersfield right wing-back Tommy Smith blocked a Parr clearance midway inside the Town half and fed Jacob Butterfield, who in turn played in Holt on the left of the area. Dean Gerken advanced and Holt tried to lift it over the Blues keeper but scuffed the ball well wide.

It was a very lucky escape for Town who had been well and truly carved apart and a bad miss from a Terriers perspective.

The visitors were made to rue that miss in the 21st minute when the Blues went in front with their first shot on goal.

Bishop - who had hit the first defender with two earlier corners - sent over a flag-kick from the left and returning Town centre-half Tommy Smith nodded home from close range at the near post to record his first goal of the season.

There was a scare for the Blues on the half hour when one-time Town trialist Nahki Wells nipped in as Gerken waited for a Conor Coady ball forward to reach his hands on the edge of the area on the Town left. Christophe Berra did well to prevent the Bermudian getting on to the loose ball and Gerken gratefully claimed.

Huddersfield had an even better chance on 34 when Paul Dixon brought the ball forward after seizing on an aimless Tommy Smith header on halfway and played into the area towards Holt.

The former Norwich man left the ball for Wells, who found himself in on goal six yards out but hit his shot at Gerken’s feet and then his rebound over. Whether the ex-Bradford man was onside was questionable.

The Town goal had led a charmed life but on 42 the Blues were close to increasing their lead. Bishop’s freekick from deep on the left flicked off Daryl Murphy’s head and hit Smith, who was just unable to add a final touch before Terriers keeper Alex Smithies grasped hold of the ball.

As the half moved into injury time Huddersfield threatened again, Butterfield hitting a distance effort which Gerken pushed away to his right for a corner.

The Blues were more than a touch fortunate to find themselves in front at the break, the visitors having played the better football and created the best chances,

The Terriers really ought to have gone in front via Holt prior to Smith putting Town in front with the Blues’ first chance of the game, while Wells twice had decent opportunities to equalise.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Parr, Skuse, Hyam, Bishop, McGoldrick, Murphy, Sammon. Subs: Bialkowski, Anderson, Hunt, Bajner, Tabb, Clarke, Ambrose.

Huddersfield: Smithies, Smith, Peltier, Dixon, Hudson (c), Lynch, Hogg, Butterfield, Coady, Holt, Wells. Subs: Murphy, Scannell, Ward, Wallace, Robinson, Paterson, Bunn. Referee: Richard Clark (Northumberland).

Photo: Action Images

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