91Èȱ¬

Struggling Huddersfield Town boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Championship with victory over play-off hopefuls Bristol City.

Chris Willock, on loan from Benfica, scored his first goal in senior football to put Huddersfield in front before the break, curling superbly past goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

Bristol City, who suffered a third successive defeat, were woeful during the first 45 minutes but did briefly improve following the half-time introduction of Niclas Eliasson and Adam Nagy.

But, having withstood a period of sustained pressure, the hosts doubled their lead when Nathan Baker brought down Emile Smith Rowe and Karlan Grant scored from the spot.

Famara Diedhiou bundled a late consolation for City, but Huddersfield safely negotiated four minutes of stoppage time to earn a deserved victory.

The Terriers, without a win in three matches, started the day one place above the bottom three but now have a five-point buffer over Wigan Athletic in 22nd.

They may well have beaten the Robins by an even greater margin had they not wasted numerous chances after going 2-0 up, with Grant's deflected effort brilliantly saved by Bentley before Smith Rowe blazed over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

Grant then fired wide after wriggling his way into a shooting position, while Lewis O'Brien squandered their clearest opportunity for a third goal when he hooked into the side-netting from inside the six-yard box.

Apart from a speculative Diedhiou shot that cannoned into the base of the post late in the first half, Bristol City were otherwise limited to few chances and the Senegal striker's late goal against the run of play was their first in three matches.

Lee Johnson's side remain seventh, three points outside the play-off spots after Preston North End were beaten by leaders West Bromwich Albion.

Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Leeds:

We're pleased with the result and able to perform for our supporters. It's been a challenging week but since playing Brentford we felt we performed well.

"We've started to get an identity when playing with and against the ball. I don't think we've ever been able to sustain that in a 90-minute period

"We did that better tonight and started the game well and got in a good place."

Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Bristol:

"It was a very difficult watch. It was nowhere near the standards we've set over a number of years.

"I can't put my finger on it at this point. I thought we were static, immobile and lost individual duels.

"Second half we got it going a little bit. In spells at least we tried and had a go. But that can't be good enough."