This was a detox performance by Swansea City. An afternoon to forget the stresses of their miserable early season, to relieve and soothe many of the frustrations in both their performances and results.
A welcome first home win of the season was earned thanks to two goals from Tammy Abraham, lifting them out of the relegation zone and restoring smiles to faces at last.
The international fortnight had clearly given Paul Clement time to think. Suddenly, there was plenty of attacking endeavour from his hitherto shot-shy team, a change of shape paying dividends.
Tammy Abraham slots the ball home past Jonas Lossl three minutes before half time to give Swansea the lead
Paul Clement’s side ended a three-match run without a win with a 2-0 victory over visitors Huddersfield
Abraham celebrates his opening goal at the Liberty Stadium which helped give Swansea an important three points
Chelsea loanee Abraham has consistently given evidence as to why Swans boss Clement holds him in such esteem
MATCH FACTS, RATINGS AND PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Swansea (4-3-1-2): Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson; Fer (Ki 73), Britton (Clucas 84), Carroll; Narsingh (Dyer 76); Ayew, Abraham
Subs not used: Van der Hoorn, Nordfeldt, Routledge, Rangel
Goals: Abraham 42, 48
Yellow Cards: Fer 2
Huddersfield (4-2-3-1): Lossl; Smith, Jorgensen, Schindler, Malone; Billing (Williams 60), Hogg (Mooy 45); Kachunga, van La Parra, Ince; Depoitre
Subs not used: Sabiri, Coleman, Cranie, Lowe, Hadergjonaj
Yellow Cards: Schindler 25; Smith 45; Jorgensen 45 +2; La Parra 66
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
- Premier League
- Premier League
- Championship
- League One
- League Two
- Scottish Premiership
- Scottish Div 1
- Scottish Div 2
- Scottish Div 3
- Ligue 1
- Serie A
- La Liga
- Bundesliga
Tammy Abraham tapped home from Jordan Ayew’s blocked shot for his second after Aaron Mooys dispossession of Luciano Narsingh fell to Ayew, who lead the charge. For more key information and match facts, visit Sportsmail’s Match Zone, here.
There were plenty of chances and, most importantly, two of those chances were converted into goals. They managed two but might easily have won more handsomely.
Hearty cheers and appreciative applause greeted the final whistle, representing a welcome change from the recent jeers that clearly indicated Clement was under pressure.
‘I feel good about what the players did today. It was an important game for us based on how we had been playing at home,’ Clement said.
‘This was the best game Tammy has played. He has a good smell for where to be when the ball is up and around the penalty area.’
Clement will breathe a sigh of relief after watching his side move out of the relegation zone into 13th
Huddersfield were dealt further blows when Danny Williams left the Liberty Stadium pitch on a stretcher
Leroy Fer battles for the ball with Scott Malone as he helps his side to their first home win of the season
Swansea were made to work for their first home win of the season in a contest which provided six yellow cards
Clement will take positives from a game which his Swansea dominated but struggled to set the world alight
David Wagner and Huddersfield could have few complaints; they had their moments – notably when Tom Ince skied from close range – but were comprehensively second-best in the final reckoning. Two-down shortly after the interval, there was no second-half charge.
The Yorkshire side have now taken just three points from the last 18 available. Wagner needs to ensure the plateau they settled into after their winning start doesn’t become a nosedive.
He won’t be cheered that Manchester United are next weekend’s opponents. Life in the top-flight has suddenly become very real indeed for the Terriers.
Swansea players celebrate with scorer Abraham as they looked to put their poor start behind them while Aaron Mooy looks on
Abraham puts the game to bed as he bundles the ball over the Huddersfield line for his second of the game
Chelsea loanee latched onto to a chip by Jordan Ayew over Jonas Lossl and managed to stab the ball in from close range
Ayew (left) lifts the ball over Lossl, who struggled throughout the game, for the waiting Abraham to meet and score
Wagner will have been angered by how Swansea’s opening goal, three minutes before the break, came gift-wrapped.
Goalkeeper Jonas Lossl, whose distribution had been suspect beforehand, tried to find Mathias Zanka on the touchline but passed straight to Tom Carroll.
Swansea couldn’t believe their good fortune as Carroll rolled in a cross, Jordan Ayew dummied and Abraham gobbled up the chance.
‘The goal was a mistake but we had practised that and persevered with pressing high,’ Clement said.
Lossl is dealt a heavy blow by Fer after the midfielder chases down the goalkeeper and puts him on the floor
The Terriers haven’t won a Premier League game since beating Newcastle at home back in August
Frustrations began to boil for the Terriers as Jonathan Hogg becomes one of five team-mates to be shown a yellow card
Huddersfield supporters hope their team can regain the form they enjoyed at the start of their debut Premier League season
Chelsea loanee Abraham played the target man role superbly and might have scored early on, only to be denied by Lossl’s full-stretch save.
They doubled their lead moments after the restart. Luciano Narsingh tore through the middle but was halted by Aaron Mooy’s slide tackle.
Unfortunately for Huddersfield, it diverted the ball to an unmarked Ayew in the box. His dink cleared Lossl and Abraham raced in to make sure it crossed the line, his fifth of the season.
‘My problem today was in the first-half we didn’t show how good we can be in possession,’ Wagner said. ‘I think we could have got something out of the game.’
Abraham celebrates scoring his fourth Premier League goal with team-mate Tom Carroll shortly after half time
But could have easily scored his first top-flight hat-trick after leaving Lossl helpless but couldn’t find the net