Diedhiou goal earns Cardiff win over Huddersfield

Cardiff City added to Huddersfield's relegation worries with a 1-0 win over the Terriers in the Welsh capital.

Huddersfield will feel aggrieved not to have taken a point after Danny Ward missed a late chance from close range.

The defeat means Huddersfield are outside of the Championship relegation zone only on goal difference in 21st.

Cardiff rise to 10th with their third win on the spin in the league, seven points behind Hull City in the final play-off berth.

Defeat will be hard to take for the Terriers in a game where they contributed much, but failed to turn chances into goals.

Terriers head coach Andre Breitenreiter, Huddersfield's fourth manager of a turbulent campaign, made two changes to the side that held Leeds United, with the German hoping to become the first Huddersfield boss in 99 years to win his opening two away games.

Cardiff boss Erol Bulut, without injured striker Kion Etete, made three alterations to the side that won the Severnside derby at Ashton Gate, with Cardiff in improved form, having picked up seven points from their last nine after a dismal prior run.

With Huddersfield firmly entrenched in the Championship relegation battle it was no surprise that they produced a cautious first half display with both sides seemingly happy to cede possession and look to create opportunities on the counter-attack.

Ben Wiles fired over on the turn and Sorba Thomas saw his free-kick deflected just wide as the visitors looked to create an opening, but Huddersfield goalkeeper Lee Nicholls was also forced to save Karlan Grant's effort from a quick Cardiff break.

Huddersfield came close when Brodie Spencer's header was saved by Ethan Horvath, but it was Cardiff who went ahead on 29 minutes thanks to an incisive move that saw Ryan Wintle and Josh Bowler combine, with Bowler crossing to Diedhiou who got across his marker and stretched out a boot to turn the ball home.

The visitors had only won one of their previous 10 visits to Cardiff, but they did threaten an equaliser on 49 minutes as Delano Burgzorg forced Horvath to save, before Jack Rudoni missed a golden opportunity when he mistimed his jump and headed over from five yards as Cardiff failed to clear.

Cardiff goalkeeping coach Mario Galinovic was sent off for protesting after a clash between Ryan Wintle and Jaheim Headley, with Galinovic unhappy Headley wasn't sent off for shoving Wintle in an incident that saw both players go down theatrically.

The visitors showed plenty of spirit even though they rarely managed to put any sustained pressure on Cardiff and the hosts threatened to add a second when substitute Rubin Colwill's driving run culminated in a 20-yard shot that Nicholls saved.

Huddersfield's big chance to level finally arrived on 85 minutes, but ex-Cardiff striker Danny Ward miscued his kick and fired wide from close-range after Headley headed Thomas' cross back across goal.

That was to be Huddersfield's final opportunity as Cardiff's recent revival continued.

Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut told BBC Sport Wales:

"For the last four games I am happy. We needed to get our confidence back.

"We scored a nice goal, this time not from a set-piece. If you win goals you always feel much, much better.

"We've now got to be positive and aim for the full 30 points in the last 10 games. You always feel better after a win and you try harder.

"The goal was a goal playing out from the back. We held back Famara Diedhiou, he was angry he didn't play against his ex-team (Bristol City) but it was a good decision I think."

Huddersfield Town boss Andre Breitenreiter said:

"We are disappointed as it was possible to get some points. In the second half we controlled the game and had big chances.

"But you don't deserve to get a point when you don't play at 100%. There is no excuses from me. We had lots of time to recover from the Leeds game.

"There are reasons why we are sitting 21st in the table. This evening was disappointing, but I learnt many things.

"Today was like a day we should forget as soon as possible. I could have changed any of the players after the first half."