Huddersfield missed the chance to go top of the Championship as Troy Deeney's late penalty earned Watford a dramatic win.

Oliver Norwood's free-kick gave the hosts the lead, but Simon Grayson's men were hit by a second-half fightback.

Udinese loanee Fernando Forestieri netted his first Watford goal and Fitz Hall put the Hornets ahead.

After substitute Alan Lee levelled for Huddersfield, Deeney then kept his cool to win it with three minutes left.

The winner for Deeney came on his second appearance since being released from prison and ended Huddersfield six-game unbeaten run.

Huddersfield handed a debut to on-loan Leicester striker Jermaine Beckford and looked threatening early on, with Keith Southern's header destined for the back of the net only for Piccoli Neuton to clear off the line.

Forestieri hit a superb curling effort just wide of the far upright before he scored but it was the Terriers who broke the deadlock, and in some style too.

Almen Abdi fouled Beckford and Norwood stepped up to steer home a breathtaking free-kick from 30 yards out.

Deeney, who served three months for affray, almost curtailed their celebrations but his header cleared the bar, yet Gianfranco Zola's side drew level after 68 minutes when Forestieri's shot deflected off Clarke and crept past Alex Smithies.

Hall made it 2-1 to the visitors after he turned home substitute Mark Yeates' cross from close range and it looked like an upset was on the cards.

Lee, however, had other ideas and having replaced Beckford, equalised with a bullet header with six minutes left.

There was still time for a winner and when Marco Cassetti was fouled in the box, Deeney converted for a memorable first goal of the season.

Watford manager Gianfranco Zola: "I don't think it was our best performance but I will take it.

"On occasions we have played a lot better and not got the points. It was tough and we had the better chances but were 1-0 down.

"We didn't give up and no-one can say we didn't deserve to win."

Huddersfield manager Simon Grayson: "We were just a little lacklustre but that's only our second defeat of the season and the Championship is a learning curve for all of us.

"Expectations have increased and this is probably the first time we were favourites to win a game and that can get in people's heads."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Huddersfield Town

  • 01 Smithies
  • 03 Dixon
  • 05 P Clarke
  • 06 Gerrard
  • 32 Hunt
  • 04 Norwood (Arfield - 79' )
  • 08 Clayton (Scannell - 72' )
  • 11 Ward
  • 24 Southern
  • 09 Novak
  • 21 Beckford (Lee - 79' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Bennett
  • 02 Woods
  • 15 Wallace
  • 16 Arfield
  • 07 Scannell
  • 19 Lee
  • 30 Spencer

Watford

  • 01 Almunia
  • 05 Neuton
  • 06 Hall
  • 18 Pudil
  • 27 Cassetti Booked
  • 31 Hoban
  • 39 Chalobah (Smith - 81' Booked )
  • 08 Hogg
  • 22 Abdi (Yeates - 76' )
  • 09 Deeney
  • 41 Forestieri (Murray - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 30 Bond
  • 12 Doyley
  • 07 Yeates
  • 11 Forsyth
  • 16 Murray
  • 28 Smith
  • 10 Iwelumo
Ref: Sutton
Att: 14,564

Match Stats

Shots

9 10

On target

5 3

Corners

4 7

Fouls

12 7

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:11

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Peter Clarke by Connor Smith.

90:00 +3:07

Free kick taken by Paul Dixon.

90:00 +3:07 Booking

Booking The referee books Connor Smith for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +0:08

Paul Dixon takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +0:08 Substitution

Substitution Sean Murray replaces Fernando Forestieri.

90:00 +0:08

Fernando Forestieri concedes a free kick for a foul on Keith Southern.

89:22

Marco Cassetti fouled by Lee Novak, the ref awards a free kick. Fitz Hall takes the free kick.

87:56

Short corner worked by Fernando Forestieri.

86:41 Goal scored

Goal - Troy Deeney - Huddersfld 2 - 3 Watford Placed penalty scored by Troy Deeney. Huddersfield 2-3 Watford.

85:28

Peter Clarke gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Fernando Forestieri.

84:51

Unfair challenge on Fernando Forestieri by Anthony Gerrard results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark Yeates.

83:41

Lee Novak provided the assist for the goal.

83:41 Goal scored

Goal - Alan Lee - Huddersfld 2 - 2 Watford Alan Lee finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Huddersfield 2-2 Watford.

82:50 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

82:28

Assist by Mark Yeates.

82:28 Goal scored

Goal - Fitz Hall - Huddersfld 1 - 2 Watford Fitz Hall gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the top right corner of the goal. Huddersfield 1-2 Watford.

81:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Arfield on Troy Deeney. Free kick taken by Fernando Forestieri.

80:20 Substitution

Substitution Nathaniel Chalobah leaves the field to be replaced by Connor Smith.

78:29 Substitution

Substitution Alan Lee comes on in place of Jermaine Beckford.

78:29 Substitution

Substitution Oliver Norwood leaves the field to be replaced by Scott Arfield.

76:25

Fernando Forestieri takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Oliver Norwood.

75:08

Indirect free kick taken by Peter Clarke.

75:08 Substitution

Substitution Mark Yeates is brought on as a substitute for Almen Abdi.

75:08

Fernando Forestieri is ruled offside.

74:41

Fernando Forestieri takes a shot. Alex Smithies makes a save.

73:27

Troy Deeney fouled by Paul Dixon, the ref awards a free kick. Tommie Hoban takes the direct free kick.

72:54

Jack Hunt takes a shot from inside the box clearing the bar.

71:11

Anthony Gerrard takes the free kick.

71:11 Substitution

Substitution Sean Scannell on for Adam Clayton.

71:11

Unfair challenge on Oliver Norwood by Troy Deeney results in a free kick.

69:19

Effort on goal by Fernando Forestieri from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

67:34 Goal scored

Goal - Fernando Forestieri - Huddersfld 1 - 1 Watford Fernando Forestieri finds the back of the net with a goal from just outside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Huddersfield 1-1 Watford.

67:03

Jermaine Beckford takes a shot. Save by Manuel Almunia.

62:20

Marco Cassetti concedes a free kick for a foul on Daniel Ward. Oliver Norwood has an effort direct from the free kick, save by Manuel Almunia.

60:11

Unfair challenge on Fernando Forestieri by Keith Southern results in a free kick. Fernando Forestieri fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

57:15

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Fernando Forestieri, Keith Southern manages to make a clearance.

48:28

Outswinging corner taken by Fernando Forestieri from the right by-line, clearance made by Adam Clayton.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +30:01 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

38:51

Effort from outside the penalty box by Keith Southern goes wide right of the target.

38:11

Corner taken right-footed by Oliver Norwood from the right by-line to the near post, Troy Deeney manages to make a clearance.

37:19

Daniel Pudil challenges Jack Hunt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Peter Clarke takes the free kick.

35:36

Troy Deeney takes a shot. Save by Alex Smithies.

34:52

Jermaine Beckford challenges Fitz Hall unfairly and gives away a free kick. Nathaniel Chalobah restarts play with the free kick.

32:52

Unfair challenge on Nathaniel Chalobah by Adam Clayton results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Daniel Pudil.

31:28

Jonathan Hogg is penalised for a handball. Alex Smithies takes the indirect free kick.

27:26

Alex Smithies takes the direct free kick.

27:26 Booking

Booking Marco Cassetti goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

25:33

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Fernando Forestieri from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Paul Dixon.

24:26 Goal scored

Goal - Oliver Norwood - Huddersfld 1 - 0 Watford Oliver Norwood hits the back of the net with a goal direct from the free kick from long distance to the bottom left corner of the goal. Huddersfield 1-0 Watford.

23:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Almen Abdi on Jermaine Beckford.

22:31

Fernando Forestieri takes the outswinging corner, Keith Southern manages to make a clearance.

21:36

Fernando Forestieri has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

19:24

Marco Cassetti produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.

16:18

Free kick awarded for a foul by Keith Southern on Jonathan Hogg. Direct free kick taken by Fitz Hall.

15:47

Adam Clayton has an effort at goal from outside the area which misses left.

12:13

Jermaine Beckford concedes a free kick for a foul on Piccoli Neuton. Free kick taken by Manuel Almunia.

9:20

Effort from the edge of the area by Troy Deeney goes wide of the right-hand post. Corner from the right by-line taken by Fernando Forestieri, Marco Cassetti has a headed effort from close range and clears the bar.

7:22

Foul by Piccoli Neuton on Keith Southern, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Oliver Norwood.

4:41

Jermaine Beckford produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Oliver Norwood, Peter Clarke takes a shot. Clearance made by Piccoli Neuton. Inswinging corner taken by Oliver Norwood from the left by-line.

3:24

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Oliver Norwood, Unfair challenge on Jonathan Hogg by Keith Southern results in a free kick. Manuel Almunia takes the free kick.

2:01

The referee blows for offside against Lee Novak. Manuel Almunia restarts play with the free kick.

1:28

The ball is sent over by Paul Dixon.

0:04

Jermaine Beckford concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathaniel Chalobah. Fitz Hall takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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