04 May 2023 , 21:28
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Neil Warnock roared his delight after Danny Ward’s stunning second-half strike secured Huddersfield ’s Championship status and relegated Reading.
Legendary former Sheffield United boss Warnock, 74, arrived at the John Smith’s Stadium in February when the Terriers were heading to League One at pace.
Danny Schofield and Mark Fotheringham had both been axed during the season after disastrous spells in charge but Warnock stopped the rot, restored belief and could finally celebrate survival on Thursday night.
Terriers striker Ward, a key figure in Huddersfield’s Warnock-inspired revival, scored in the 59th minute with a superb left-foot strike which flew into the far corner.
That Huddersfield’s safety was achieved against the Blades, the club Warnock holds close to his heart, merely added to an emotionally fraught evening.
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“One more year, one more year,” was the chant in the home stands with Warnock set to go back into retirement at the end of the season, his latest rescue mission complete.
For Paul Heckingbottom’s Premier League-bound Blades it was a disappointing night after four straight wins, all on home soil.
United fans turned out in force, but their team could find no way through during the first half.
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Neil Warnock was celebrating survival at the end of the night (Getty Images)
Daniel Jebbison, 19, had impressed as a substitute against Preston on Saturday, creating two goals in a 4-1 win, and was rewarded with a start last night.
The striker had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the eighth minute after being played through but his shot was well saved by Huddersfield goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.
The Blades were dealt a blow when wing-back Max Lowe was forced off through injury and replaced by Enda Stevens.
Jebbison spurned another decent opportunity in the 29th minute when he headed over a dangerous ring-wing from George Baldock.
The teenager was unmarked and should have at least hit the target, but Huddersfield offered precious little as an attacking force during the opening 45 minutes.
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Danny Ward scored Huddersfield's winner (Matt West/REX/Shutterstock)That changed after the break as they showed far greater urgency and began to cause their visitors big problems.
Three minutes into the second half, Huddersfield went close from a corner which Tom Lees headed goalwards, only for the ball to hit team-mate Jonathan Hogg.
In the 55th minute, Town went agonisingly close as Josh Koroma showed delightful skill to nutmeg Chris Basham and hit a low shot which drew a smart stop from Wes Foderingham.
But four minutes later, 32-year-old Ward’s moment came when he collected possession from a throw-in, turned Basham and hit a fizzing diagonal left-foot shot into the far corner.
Huddersfield pushed hard for a second goal which did not come. It did not matter.
Warnock, whose side host Reading on Monday in their final game, will bow out a winner once again.