Huddersfield lose unbeaten start after goalkeeper Danny Ward's late blunder
Brighton forward Anthony Knockaert's late strike ended Huddersfield's unbeaten start to the Sky Bet Championship with a 1-0 win.
The Frenchman struck in the 80th minute of a terrific contest with a low shot which Huddersfield goalkeeper Danny Ward will feel he probably should have saved.
Ward was given some consoling words by opposite number David Stockdale at the end, as the Terriers saw their lead at the top of the table trimmed to a single point.
Huddersfield have been flying and knew they would head back to Yorkshire top of the table no matter how they fared at the Amex Stadium given their four-point buffer at kick-off.
An unchanged XI showed glimpses of why they have proved so tough to beat this season, as they weathered an early Brighton storm on a sultry night and looked in a degree of control at half-time.
Brighton, winless in their three previous games, could have had a flying start when Tomer Hemed sent Jamie Murphy clean through in the seventh minute.
But Ward stood his ground and parried a somewhat nervy shot,
Beram Kayal flashed a shot inches wide and Hemed flicked a clever effort off target after Lewis Dunk had nodded Knockaert's deep corner back across goal.
But Town were well organised off the ball, and very good on it, and they came strongly into the contest as a very watchable first half wore on.
Jack Payne had a low effort well saved at his near post by Stockdale.
The home goalkeeper was less convincing when he came for, and missed a Payne cross, and looked on in relief as two Huddersfield men failed to get the final touch.
Rajiv van La Parra also went close, against his old club, with a lovely curler which drifted just wide of the far post
Brighton, eager to re-ignite their season, saw their bright start fizzle out against David Wagner's well-drilled outfit.
But they were back on the offensive after the break and almost went ahead in a high-powered start to the second period.
Hemed fired into the side-netting, Bruno saw his shot blocked in front of goal by defender Chris Schindler and, closest of all, Dunk headed inches wide of the far post from Knockaert's corner.
Huddersfield again regained control and had a very decent spell in which Payne saw his low shot saved by Stockdale, diving to his right
But Brighton made the breakthrough in the 80th minute - and it was an awful moment for their Wales international goalkeeper.
Penalty appeals were waved away as substitute Glenn Murray went down in the box
But Murphy cut short any arguments as he alertly followed up to slide a pass square to Knockaert.
And the Frenchman's mis-hit low shot was inexplicably fumbled into his own net by Ward.
Source : PA
Source: PA