If Huddersfield Town were ever to be the subject of an episode of Sesame Street, it would surely be brought to us by the letter B.
Town’s aversion to beating teams whose name begins with B away from home had become such an odd affliction that this alphabetical anomaly has become an illogical, paranoid data point which was finally laid to rest at the 13th time of asking on a sunny afternoon in Burton.
The Staffordshire town had been the scene of 2 particularly painful and damaging defeats in the recent past, serving to illustrate how far the Terriers had fallen in a few, short years.
Coming off the back of a horrible and memorable for all the wrong reasons defeat at Bromley, a trip to the Pirelli stadium offered little comfort to those who feared another autumnal slump was upon us.
Burton’s neat and tiny home is a location resonant of meek defeats to upstart clubs punching above their weight, and the encounter seemed pivotal, more for the easy comparisons to the past two disappointing campaigns than any particular logic.
As it transpired, the match couldn’t have been much more different to the mood music beforehand, with Town putting in a display of energetic competence which imposed their superiority, forced errors and effectively blunted the hosts’ offensive ambition.
More dogged than artful, the performance was, nevertheless, a vast improvement on Bromley with dominance translated into a convincing victory with one or two encouraging flourishes in and amongst the hard work.
A bright start should have seen Town take the lead, but Fletcher and Mumba both spurned one-on-one chances by taking an extra touch when instinct should have prevailed.
Radulovic was also denied when his header from a good cross by Balker was tipped over acrobatically, if routinely, by Addia.
Fluffing chances has become a major issue for Drury and his team, and one which was not entirely erased here, even in a game where 3 goals were scored. Further chances went begging towards the end of the game, too, and it seems unlikely that future opponents will give Town as much assistance as the hosts did on this occasion.
However much credit can be given to Town for pressing at the right time and place, Finn Delap’s awful attempt to pass to a teammate owed more to a brain fart than any undue pressure. Sanchez Fernandes was the grateful recipient and calmly tucked away the opener, for a deserved if fortuitous lead.
Town’s grip on the game was total by this point, with the hosts unable to get near the final third and only a vital header off the line prevented Murray Wallace from doubling the advantage, which would not have been undeserved.
Instead, the visitors managed to claw themselves back into the game with their first meaningful attack just after the half hour mark.
Although Town could point to a poor non decision when Bowat was clearly tripped while conceding a corner, Delap was given far too much freedom to atone for his earlier error by striking a very good effort into the top corner for an unlikely and ill deserved leveller.
Though some have been critical of Young’s attempt to save it, the shot was rising, powerful and exceptionally well placed, and he could only brush it with his fingertips.
To Town’s credit, the setback was rectified quickly.
Burton briefly stirred after the equaliser, but the effervescent Sanchez Fernandes found the inexplicably unmarked Mumba in the box and, this time, the former Plymouth man finally opened his Huddersfield account with a smart and, crucially, instinctive finish.
Heading into half time with the advantage deservedly restored, Town had dominated without dazzling though a more ruthless edge could have seen them out of sight.
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a Gary Bowyer team, Burton started the second half with a little more adventure and threat and if Young had to atone for Delap’s equaliser, he did so by denying the same player with his legs as the ball broke loose in the area.
The slightly improved response from the home team was short lived, however, and Town reestablished control as the promising pairing of Collins and the excellent Humphreys dominated midfield and constantly set the tempo.
Humphreys brought a good save out of Addai from a free kick won by a strong run from the much improved Mumba, but the on loan keeper was just a few minutes away from disaster to hand Town a two goal advantage.
Though it wasn’t the best pass to him that he could have expected from a teammate, Addai took an age to decide how to handle the situation unfurling before him and seemed to decide that hesitation and procrastination would make his problem disappear.
It would be hyperbolic to suggest Fletcher pounced. He lightly jogged forward to take advantage of the custodian’s non decision making for the easiest goal he is ever likely to score.
The Brewers, already subdued, now drooped.
Addai, constantly abused by a raucously cruel following behind the goal, managed to thwart Collins after some lovely play by Sanchez Fernandes, but it was scant consolation as Town comfortably negotiated the final minutes to earn an important and cathartic victory.
Banishing voodoos is no bad thing, and while the performance was competent rather than spectacular, a defeat would have been accompanied by confidence draining despair – it remains far too early in the season to draw conclusions from one win, but avoiding the ramifications of defeat seems just as important.
