Bees beaten at Huddersfield in opening game

Huddersfield 2 Brentford 1

Chelsea loanee Kasey Palmer scored the winner with his first touch in a Huddersfield shirt to condemn Dean Smith’s side to defeat in the Championship curtain-raiser.

Having weathered a storm from the home side to go in at half-time goalless, Brentford fell behind five minutes after the break as Elias Kachunga headed in.

A double Bees change soon afterwards made a difference, though, and sub Nico Yennaris equalised following Romaine Sawyers’ quickly taken free-kick.

But Huddersfield then introduced a game-changer of their own, Palmer netting the rebound after Rajiv van la Parra’s shot was saved by Brentford keeper Dan Bentley.

Seeking a first victory on opening day since 2011, Smith handed debuts to all four of his summer signings, with Bentley far the busier keeper early on.

Former Wolves winger Van La Parra was the chief threat for Huddersfield, while Joe Lolley and Jack Payne both had efforts saved by Bentley.

Early in the second half, the home side made the breakthrough when left-back Tommy Smith’s cross was headed in by Kachunga, on loan from German club Ingolstadt.

Bentley also palmed Payne’s shot behind to prevent a second, but the arrival of Yennaris and Saunders gave Brentford a better shape, and Scott Hogan and Lewis Macloed drew saves from Huddersfield keeper Danny Ward.

On 76 minutes, Bentley had to make a fine stop, spreading himself to deny Van La Parra – and within moments Brentford were level, Yennaris sent clear through a dozing Huddersfield defence before slotting home.

Parity was brief, though, with Palmer in the right place at the right time to profit from Van La Parra’s saved shot.