Huddersfield Town 2-5 Stoke City: Tyrese Campbell helps Potters stay out of relegation zone
- Published
Tyrese Campbell had only scored two league goals in his entire Stoke City career before his double at Huddersfield
Stoke scored four second-half goals as they came from behind to thump Huddersfield Town in a thrilling Championship encounter.
Sam Vokes gave the Potters a first-half lead as he tapped in Nick Powell's pass from close range after a defensive mix-up.
Having not had a shot before the break, Town scored twice in two minutes early in the second half - Steve Mounie powering a header in at the back post from a corner before Danny Batth put Juninho Bacuna's free-kick past his own goalkeeper.
But Stoke were level six minutes later as Powell converted Tyrese Campbell's low ball into the bottom corner, before Campbell put the game beyond doubt - deftly lobbing Kamil Grabara after the Town keeper failed to punch clear a cross and then drilling into the bottom corner four minutes later.
Lee Gregory wrapped it up with a 90th-minute strike as Stoke moved to within four points of Huddersfield.
Stoke remain one place above the relegation places after Wigan won at Birmingham City, and the Potters are now a lot closer to Huddersfield, who are just one spot further up the table.
Having not scored more than three goals in 88 games before Michael O'Neill's appointment as manager, the Potters have now scored three or more in four of his 11 matches in charge - Stoke have now won five times since Northern Ireland boss O'Neill took over in November, having won just twice in the league prior to his appointment.
Huddersfield could have been further behind after a poor first-half showing as Powell blazed over the bar while Vokes had two decent chances to add to his goal and Jaden Brown hit the bar in stoppage time.
The high-octane second half almost saw Huddersfield pull it back to 4-3, but Jack Butland saved well from a Karlan Grant free-kick.
However, the match was marred by a stadium announcement towards the end of the match warning fans about "offensive behaviour affecting the game" - believed to refer to chants from the home fans towards Stoke's Republic of Ireland midfielder James McClean.
Huddersfield manager Danny Cowley told BBC Radio Leeds:
"It was a car crash of a performance. I didn't think we were very good in the first half, we were miles off the pace physically.
"We got bullied and beat up by a powerful Stoke team. We couldn't cope with it.
"To be fair to the players it's been a tough Christmas and we've got such a small squad. We've only got about 14 players that we can go to and even some of them were injured."
Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill:
"The reaction of the players was fantastic - I don't think that anyone can dispute we deserved to win.
"It's been a difficult year for this club. I think there was only nine wins in the last calendar year so it's testament to the players' mentality.
"Today was a fresh start for us and the players took it. It would have been easier for us to not have a reaction but the reaction was fantastic to going 2-1 down.
"The intensity and quality of our play was great and game by game we're building confidence."
