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Richard Stearman’s howler gifts Norwich three points at Huddersfield

Huddersfield Town v Norwich City – Sky Bet Championship – John Smith’s Stadium
(Image credit: Richard Sellers)

Substitute Adam Idah scored a late winner as Norwich started life back in the Championship with a battling 1-0 away win at Huddersfield.

The promising Republic of Ireland international striker had only been on the pitch five minutes, but was never going to miss from close range in the 81st minute after an awful mistake from defender Richard Stearman.

Town boss Carlos Corberan handed debuts to new signing Pipa and academy graduate Ben Jackson, but last season’s leading scorer Karlan Grant was left out of the squad following speculation of a transfer to West Brom.

Canaries’ manager Daniel Farke included three new signings – left-back Xavi Quintilla, Tottenham loan midfielder Oliver Skipp and former Everton midfielder Kieran Dowell all started.

Stearman then went close to giving the Terriers the lead, but his poked shot from Alex Pritchard’s corner was cleared off the line.

Xavier Quintilla’s pacey delivery looked to strike Juninho Bacuna on the arm, but Eltringham, waved away the visitors’ protests.

A quick counter-attack from Farke’s team led to their best clear-cut chance of the first-half, but after a piercing run forward striker Onel Hernandez blasted straight at goalkeeper Ben Hamer.

Skipper Christoph Zimmermann headed just over from Quintilla’s inswinging corner, while Pukki tried his luck from an acute angle. However, his shot flew well wide of the target as the Canaries continued to search for a breakthrough.

Koroma had a left-foot strike charged down on the edge of the area, but then Farke’s team took a fortunate lead after Stearman’s attempted pass to Hamer.