Huddersfield 3 Brentford 2
Brentford sacrificed a two-goal lead to lose only their third away game of the season – and a controversial first goal for Huddersfield was the trigger.
Gary Alexander’s double put the Bees two up inside half an hour, his first coming from the penalty spot and the second a poacher’s finish inside the six-yard box.
But Alan Lee’s response for the Terriers was marred in controversy as he seemed to back into keeper Richard Lee and knock him to the ground before nodding the ball into the empty net.
The goal galvanised Huddersfield and they were able to fire past Lee twice more either side of half-time through Jamie Macombe and Jordan Rhodes.
Brentford’s freedom in away games, which has rarely been emulated at home, was evident again as the Bees scored twice in 30 dominating minutes.
Marcus Bean controlled the midfield and his surge into the penalty area forced a clumsy challenge from Terriers captain Peter Clarke, with Alexander coolly converting the resulting penalty.
And Bean was pulling the strings again to release Niall McGinn, whose cross was met by Alexander to blast into the corner from close range.
Bean should have added a third when he was put through one-on-one with keeper Ian Bennett moments later.
Uwe Rosler and his side were justly furious after Huddersfield’s first goal was allowed to stand.
And it proved to be the catalyst for an equaliser on the stroke of half time, when Macombe stole in at the near post and steered a header wonderfully over Lee’s reach.
Rhodes’ 26thgoal of the season in the 50th minute put Huddersfield into the lead and the home side were in control from then on, with only Myles Weston’s piercing run threatening an equaliser.
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This post was last modified on 21/01/2012
