Huddersfield Town 2-1 Blackburn Rovers: Mounie winner ends Rovers unbeaten run

Steve Mounie scored a brilliant long-range winner for Huddersfield Town to end Blackburn's eight-match unbeaten run.

Danny Graham put play-off chasing Blackburn ahead early on, heading a cross from Lewis Travis in off the post.

Karlan Grant tested goalkeeper Christian Walton in response, and then hit the crossbar with a chipped effort before having a penalty appeal waved away after seemingly being brought down by Darragh Lenihan.

Jon Stankovic eventually levelled with a powerful header from a fine Juninho Bacuna free-kick from the left.

Grant remained a threat and was again foiled by Walton before the break, but there was no denying Mounie midway through the second half as he found the top corner from distance.

Rovers' first defeat since 9 November saw them slip from ninth to 13th in the table, although they remain just three points off the play-off spots, while Huddersfield's second successive home win moved them up one place to 19th.

Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray made five changes for the trip to the John Smith's Stadium, with striker Graham given a start and Ryan Nyambe, Lewis Holtby and Derrick Williams all sidelined following the Boxing Day draw with Birmingham City.

Former England winger Stewart Downing started at left-back for the much-changed visitors, who were at least boosted by the return of on-loan Manchester City defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

Blackburn made a strong start, with Sam Gallagher calling Kamil Grabara into action inside five minutes before Graham nodded them ahead moments later.

Danny Cowley's Huddersfield, however, were vibrant in search of a equaliser, with leading scorer Grant their chief threat.

While Walton and the bar denied the striker, the Terriers were left most aggrieved by referee Andy Woolmer when he ignored shouts for a penalty after Lenihan appeared to bring Grant down in the box.

Stankovic nodded home the equaliser their first-half endeavour deserved, while Grant continued to search in vain for a goal of his own with Walton again foiling the striker before he had another threatening shot blocked before the interval and a header deflected wide in the second half.

Benin striker Mounie's 25-yard striker completed a fine fightback, but a reaction save from Grabara was needed to keep Adarabioyo from snatching a point for Rovers late on.

Huddersfield Town manager Danny Cowley said:

"We showed real resilience and character to fight back from a really bad start.

"We were poor in the first 10 minutes and they deserved to score, but credit to the players for picking up. We were worthy winners in the end.

"I'm proud of the players, because that was a very important win. It wasn't perfect, it was far from perfect, but they climbed the mountain that they made for themselves.

"Everybody understands the cause now - and we're all fighting for the same cause. Previously there was a lot of disharmony maybe, but we've all got a common goal."

Blackburn Rovers head coach Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"I think for 20 minutes, we controlled the game. We scored a goal, could have scored another.

"But I think they changed their formation, went more direct, played two strikers, made it a scrappier game. They're a big, strong, physical team , we knew that before we came here. They've got some powerful players.

"We're really disappointed with the first goal, because a team with Graham, Johnson, Graham, Lenihan, Adarabioyo, we shouldn't be losing a goal like that. A frustrating day for us, really."