Danny Ward scored after just 47 seconds as Huddersfield beat Derby to continue their encouraging start to life back in the Championship.

Ward's goal from Adam Hammill's cross was enough for the Terriers to claim their second win of the season.

After a terrible start, Derby played some attractive football but they were unable to rescue a point.

Conor Doyle spurned a great chance to equalise when he fired over the crossbar in the second half.

Huddersfield have lost just once since returning to the second tier and look increasingly assured as they climb to eighth in the table and remain unbeaten at home.

The visitors sit 19th with five points from five games, and after their team coach was late arriving because of heavy traffic, Nigel Clough's side were caught cold on the pitch.

Winger Hammill, on loan from Wolves, raced down the right flank unchallenged and was allowed to pick out Ward, who got in front of his marker and diverted the ball past Frank Fielding with a neat right-foot finish.

The Rams belatedly found their stride with some slick passing and movement. And it needed a great last-ditch tackle from Huddersfield captain Peter Clarke to prevent Derby striker Conor Sammon levelling from Jamie Ward's lay-off in the first half.

Derby's revival continued after the break though it was Huddersfield who almost doubled their lead when Adam Clayton's shot was tipped round the post by Fielding.

But the visitors were seeing more of the ball and Doyle failed to stretch home goalkeeper Alex Smithies from another fine Ward ball, before the Rams felt they had a strong case for an injury-time penalty.

However, referee Trevor Kettle waved play on when Jeff Hendrick fell in the area after a strong aerial challenge and the Terriers held on for victory.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Huddersfield Town

  • 01 Smithies
  • 03 Dixon Booked
  • 05 P Clarke
  • 32 Hunt Booked
  • 33 Lynch Booked
  • 04 Norwood
  • 08 Clayton
  • 11 Ward (Novak - 67' )
  • 14 Hammill (Arfield - 86' )
  • 24 Southern
  • 18 Vaughan (Scannell - 89' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Bennett
  • 02 Woods
  • 06 Gerrard
  • 16 Arfield
  • 07 Scannell
  • 09 Novak
  • 19 Lee

Derby County

  • 01 Fielding
  • 02 Brayford
  • 03 Roberts (Buxton - 90' )
  • 06 Keogh
  • 16 O'Connor
  • 04 Bryson
  • 08 Hendrick
  • 19 Hughes
  • 10 Ward Booked
  • 14 Doyle (Jacobs - 64' )
  • 32 Sammon (Robinson - 78' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Legzdins
  • 05 Buxton
  • 21 Gjokaj
  • 23 Freeman
  • 12 Jacobs
  • 09 Tyson
  • 11 Robinson
Ref: Kettle
Att: 15,265

Match Stats

Shots

5 5

On target

3 1

Corners

7 10

Fouls

10 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:37 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +3:18 Booking

Booking Joel Lynch receives a caution for time wasting.

90:00 +2:41

Will Hughes concedes a free kick for a foul on Keith Southern. Joel Lynch restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +1:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Clayton by Jake Buxton. Alex Smithies takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +1:18

Oliver Norwood challenges Will Hughes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Richard Keogh restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:14

Michael Jacobs takes the inswinging corner, Alex Smithies makes a save.

90:00 +0:14 Substitution

Substitution Gareth Roberts goes off and Jake Buxton comes on.

88:48

Gareth Roberts takes the free kick.

88:48 Substitution

Substitution (Huddersfield) makes a substitution, with Sean Scannell coming on for James Vaughan.

88:48

Adam Clayton challenges Gareth Roberts unfairly and gives away a free kick.

88:02

Effort from deep inside the area by Jamie Ward misses to the left of the goal.

87:39

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Will Hughes by Keith Southern. Free kick taken by James O'Connor.

86:15

Richard Keogh fouled by Joel Lynch, the ref awards a free kick. Frank Fielding takes the free kick.

85:28

Oliver Norwood takes the inswinging corner, Richard Keogh manages to make a clearance.

85:28 Substitution

Substitution Adam Hammill goes off and Scott Arfield comes on.

83:22

Corner from the right by-line taken by Michael Jacobs, Joel Lynch makes a clearance.

81:38

The offside flag is raised against James Vaughan. Frank Fielding restarts play with the free kick.

80:57

Oliver Norwood takes the outswinging corner, save by Frank Fielding.

79:23

Theo Robinson concedes a free kick for a foul on Peter Clarke. Peter Clarke takes the direct free kick.

78:30

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Alex Smithies.

77:59 Substitution

Substitution (Derby) makes a substitution, with Theo Robinson coming on for Conor Sammon.

77:12

Michael Jacobs takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Keith Southern.

75:21

The assistant referee signals for offside against Lee Novak. Direct free kick taken by James O'Connor.

74:13

Free kick taken by James O'Connor.

74:13 Booking

Booking Jack Hunt goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

74:07

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jack Hunt on Jamie Ward.

73:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Hammill by Jeff Hendrick. Oliver Norwood takes the free kick.

69:44

James O'Connor challenges James Vaughan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Oliver Norwood crosses the ball in from the free kick, Gareth Roberts manages to make a clearance.

66:24 Substitution

Substitution Lee Novak on for Daniel Ward.

63:39 Substitution

Substitution Michael Jacobs is brought on as a substitute for Conor Doyle.

60:44

James O'Connor challenges Adam Hammill unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adam Clayton takes the direct free kick.

59:12

Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Ward from the left by-line, clearance by Oliver Norwood.

58:23

Conor Doyle produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.

54:56

Corner from the right by-line taken by Conor Doyle, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by John Brayford goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

54:12

Corner taken by Conor Doyle.

51:51

Jamie Ward has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

50:05

Corner taken by Oliver Norwood from the right by-line, clearance by Craig Bryson.

49:22

Adam Hammill has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses right.

48:44

The referee blows for offside. Alex Smithies takes the indirect free kick.

47:39

Adam Clayton takes a shot. Save by Frank Fielding. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Oliver Norwood, Keith Southern takes a shot from close in clearing the crossbar.

46:45

Corner from the right by-line taken by Jamie Ward, clearance by Adam Clayton.

46:09

James Vaughan challenges Richard Keogh unfairly and gives away a free kick. Frank Fielding takes the free kick.

45:34

Corner from the right by-line taken by Oliver Norwood, Jeff Hendrick manages to make a clearance.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +2:54 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +1:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Clayton on Jamie Ward. Gareth Roberts takes the free kick.

45:00 +0:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joel Lynch by Conor Sammon. Direct free kick taken by Alex Smithies.

44:28

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Adam Hammill from the left by-line, save by Frank Fielding.

43:33

John Brayford concedes a free kick for a foul on Daniel Ward. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Adam Hammill, Jamie Ward makes a clearance.

39:43

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Conor Doyle.

39:16

Corner taken by Conor Doyle, clearance made by James Vaughan.

37:12

Conor Sammon takes a shot. Joel Lynch manages to make a clearance.

34:53

Unfair challenge on Peter Clarke by Conor Sammon results in a free kick. Alex Smithies takes the direct free kick.

34:22

Will Hughes fouled by Jack Hunt, the ref awards a free kick. Frank Fielding restarts play with the free kick.

30:49

Jamie Ward crosses the ball.

29:20

Alex Smithies takes the direct free kick.

29:20 Booking

Booking Jamie Ward shown a yellow card.

29:09

John Brayford concedes a free kick for a foul on Joel Lynch.

25:21

Unfair challenge on Adam Clayton by Jeff Hendrick results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alex Smithies.

24:08

Richard Keogh takes the free kick.

24:08 Booking

Booking The referee shows Paul Dixon a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

23:56

Paul Dixon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Conor Doyle.

23:13

Foul by Jeff Hendrick on Adam Clayton, free kick awarded. Keith Southern restarts play with the free kick.

22:33

Short corner taken by John Brayford from the right by-line.

21:28

Adam Hammill takes a shot. James O'Connor gets a block in. Oliver Norwood takes the outswinging corner, Jamie Ward makes a clearance.

16:51

Indirect free kick taken by Alex Smithies.

11:55

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Dixon by John Brayford. Adam Hammill takes the free kick.

6:51

Foul by James Vaughan on Richard Keogh, free kick awarded. Craig Bryson takes the free kick.

2:29

Gareth Roberts challenges Adam Clayton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Alex Smithies takes the free kick.

0:45

Assist on the goal came from Adam Hammill.

0:45 Goal scored

Goal - Daniel Ward - Huddersfld 1 - 0 Derby A goal is scored by Daniel Ward from inside the area high into the middle of the goal. Huddersfield 1-0 Derby.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association