Huddersfield interim boss Jon Worthington insists his side’s “committed performance” earned the Terriers a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at the John Smith’s Stadium.
The all-important moment came in the 38th minute when Jack Rudoni’s free-kick was beaten away by Anthony Patterson, only for Matty Pearson to bundle in the rebound to make it 1-0.
Huddersfield had chances to put the game to bed when Josh Koroma hit the near post from a free-kick before Rudoni’s glancing header was cleared off the line by Jobe Bellingham.
The Terriers were almost punished for those missed chances, but goalkeeper Lee Nicholls fantastically denied Trai Hume at the death before stopping Tom Lees’ from putting into his own net.
Worthington thought his side backed up a good performance in their 5-3 defeat to Southampton at the weekend with all three points.
He said: “Another game I really enjoyed – a committed performance from the lads. We had to go again from Saturday’s performance, in terms of the result, and I was happy with the desire the lads showed.
“I think it was a real squad effort to make sure we all dug in together to get over the line and the result.
“From the first minute we were on the front foot, wanting to run forward and support each other. ”
Pearson, operating at right-back instead of his usual position in central defence, scored his third goal of the season with the winner in the 38th minute.
It was his second goal in the last three games to help Huddersfield move five points away from the relegation zone.
And Worthington was quick to praise the all-round performance of the match-winner.
He added: “I know he will definitely run for me and do anything I ask of him. I was delighted for him today, that was an individual duel I was talking about.
“He puts his head and body in where others probably don’t and that’s a rarity when you’re brave like, and that brings you goals.”
Sunderland slipped to their seventh away league defeat of the season and missed the chance to climb back into the play-off places.
Boss Michael Beale thought his side wasted opportunities to claim points from the game and was unhappy to see his side lose from a set-piece.
He said: “To concede off a set-piece away from home is not good enough is it?
“It’s a pretty standard set-piece we’ve conceded from before half-time. We had our moments, but it’s a bad night.
“It’s a disappointing night. I thought Huddersfield made it a physical game and there was a point in the first half when we needed to roll our sleeves up and give a bit back, and I’m not sure we did that.
“On our best day we are slightly better than teams in this league, but I don’t think we are going to blow anyone away. We don’t score enough goals to blow teams away.”