Grayson named a slightly different squad to what he had put on the field against Leicester City on Tuesday. James Vaughan was declared fit and he partnered Jermaine Beckford upfront whilst Paul Dixon gave way to Calum Woods who made his first starting appearance for the terriers in the Championship. Adam Hammill also was named on the bench by Grayson who had previously stated that his injuries made him 'touch and go' for the game.
Town's Starting XI; Smithies, Woods, Clarke (c), Gerrard, Hunt, Ward, Norwood, Southern, Clayton, Vaughan, Beckford.
Huddersfield started the game off very well and the new striker partnership of Beckford & Vaughan was already causing problems for the home sides defence. Beckford hassled Curtis Davies and forced the defender to make a mistake on the left wing which gifted Jermaine the chance to set up the first attack. He ran with the ball at his feet before playing it to Vaughan who spun in front of goal under heavy pressure before lashing it wide of Butlands goal.
Beckford was looking very lively in the opening minutes of the game and he nearly converted a Danny ward cross and was just inches away from getting on the end of a great cross by Vaughan. It was all Huddersfield Town and continued to be so when Oliver Norwood smartly crossed into the Blues area but Vaughan was also off target as he headed over the bar.
Birmingham City created their first chance of the game through a quick counter attack as Jonathan Spector broke away before playing the ball to Nathan Redmond on the wing who's shot at goal was superbly headed away by Anthony Gerrard. Lee Clark had chosen to go with an attacking 4-3-3 formation but the Blues were getting overrun in the middle of the park by Grayson's men.
Keith Southern was expertly denied from just eight yards out by a committed defensive block by Curtis Davies but the terriers got their breakthrough just moments later through Jermaine Beckford. James Vaughan picked up a smart pass from Adam Clayton before sliding it in behind the Birmingham City defence for Beckford to run onto and casually slot past Jack Butland to give the visitors the lead.
Thirty minutes into the game, Birmingham City very nearly got an equaliser through the ever dangerous Nathan Redmond. The winger picked up the ball and immediately cut inside to send a curling effort crashing into Smithies post. The goalkeeper was completely beaten by Redmonds shot and it signified just how much a threat the winger was for the Blues and why Town needed to keep a very close eye on him at all times.
Huddersfield saw the first half out very well after being woken up by Redmonds curling effort and the terriers very nearly doubled their lead before the interval when Danny ward forced Butland into an acrobatic save from a powerful 25 yard shot.
Half Time; Birmingham City 0-1 Huddersfield Town
Lee Clark made the games first change at half time when he replaced Keith Fahey with the prolific goalscorer Nikola Zigic who had been surprisingly left out of the starting line-up by the former Huddersfield Town boss. The change seemed to have a positive effect on the game for Birmingham as they started the second half much better than what they had finished the first. Smithies was centre of attention yet again just moments into the second fourty-five when he flapped at a free kick only to redeem himself straight away by tipping over a cheeky chip by Chris Burke who had seen Alex off his line and had tried to take advantage.
Burke was back into the action moments later when he skipped into the terriers box but failed to test Smithies by sending his curling effort wide of the mark. The home fans were starting to get restless and the Blues were also starting to lose any hope of getting anything out of the game. Adam Clayton had two half chances to put the game to bed for Huddersfield Town but he failed to hit the target on both occasions.
Huddersfield Town were starting to put pressure on themselves as they continued to give possession away to Birmingham City in dangerous positions. However, Butland was still the busier of the two goalkeepers and he had to be on top form to push a Peter Clarke header onto the bar from vlose range.
Things went from bad to worse for Birmingham City in the 75th minute when they were reduced to ten men as Zigic got sent off. The tall Serbian went in late and high on Calum Woods which saw the referee brandish a straight red card.
The sending off didn't really have an effect on the game but it did allow for six minutes of stoppage time to be added on by the fourth official. Birmingham City were pressing Huddersfield back into their own half as they went in search of a late equaliser to salvage a point from the game and they came very close to doing just that. Elliott had a free header from just five yards out superbly saved by Alex Smithies and Peter Clarke put his body on the line to deny Leroy Lita his equaliser from a similar distance.
The referee blew for full time to the sound of boo's ringing around St. Andrews as Lee Clark's men fell victim to another home defeat at the had of his former club, Huddersfield Town. The terriers deserved all three points with a gutsy performance away from home.
Full time; Birmingham City 0-1 Huddersfield Town
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