Albion Analysis: A breakthrough victory

Albion are learning quickly in the Premier League.

A week after failing to capitalise on a numerical advantage at home to Leicester, they made the most of playing against ten men again for around an hour.

It is harder to do away and when you are 1-0 down, rather than 1-0 up.

This is a breakthrough result, the first time since promotion they have come from behind to win.

The significance was not lost on Chris Hughton. "I'm really pleased," he said. "And it's away from home.

"Sometimes you reflect and, going back to Leicester, they have a lot of pace and with ten men they were able to work a diamond and one up front with a lot of legs.

"We found it difficult. Huddersfield are a different type team.

"They are in good form but probably don't have the pace and energy that Leicester have.

"But you have still got to do it and we were certainly better than last time."

It was chalk and cheese by comparison to the second half against Leicester. Albion were much improved in possession, controlling the game and making the extra room work for them.

The three players brought in by Hughton, utilising the squad to cater for three matches in a week, all played a part in the key moments.

Florin Andone (above), handed his full debut in place of the rested Glenn Murray, scored a fine winner, getting across his marker to convert a flying header.

The Romanian, hit by injuries, also impressed with his movement and would have scored much sooner if a close range effort had not been deflected over the bar by Jonathan Hogg.

Hughton said: "The pleasing thing is his performance is testament to how he's trained. This is not a player who has played a lot of under-23 games. You have got to have trained well to step up."

The inviting cross for Andone was provided by Solly March, who took over from Anthony Knockaert on the right.

March now has four assists from his last three starts. Getting on the scoresheet more often himself would further strengthen his claims in the fight for the wide spots.

He also provided the cross for Shane Duffy's thumping header which pulled Albion level deep into first half stoppage time.

The goal owed much to the athleticism and quick-thinking of Bruno. An airborne, scissoring volley to keep the ball in play forced a corner which the veteran skipper swiftly played short to March, catching Huddersfield off guard.

It made amends for an uncharacteristic mistake inside the opening minute, when Bruno's attempted clearance on the volley turned into an overhead kick which spiralled into the six-yard box.

There were plenty of bodies to deal with the situation, perhaps too many as the crowded Mathew Ryan was beaten in the air by Zanka, who nodded in on his return from suspension (below).

The match turned on the red card for Steve Mounie, Albion's two-goal wrecker in the corresponding fixture last season.

The striker's challenge on Yves Bissouma, the other change made by Hughton at the expense of Beram Kayal, was due more to cowardice than malice.

Mounie's initial chest control let him down and there was much not conviction in the tackle as he caught Bissouma shin-high.

Dale Stephens challenged at greater speed but his foot was much lower when he was sent-off in the previous away game at Cardiff. Michael Oliver was justified in dismissing Mounie.

Huddersfield manager Dave Wagner protested that Oliver got the big decisions wrong. In fact, he got them right.

Alex Pritchard went down far too easily when Pascal Gross made minimal contact from a corner. It was neither a penalty nor the red card Wagner claimed it should have been.

Wagner (below left) had more of a case when Leon Balogun, on for the injured Bruno at right-back, caught Erik Durm on the foot with a nasty challenge. Oliver, in issuing a booking, gave Balogun the benefit of the doubt.

The result was just what Albion needed after one point from the previous nine.

They are the equivalent of three wins clear of the relegation zone and Hughton has a full squad with plenty of competition for places apart from Stephens, who is available at Burnley on Saturday, and the hamstrung Alireza Jahanbakhsh.

Hughton has some nice choices now for Crystal Palace's visit on Tuesday night. How Albion cope with Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend will have a major bearing on the outcome.