THE first home result of their centenary year was one of which Huddersfield Town, a club with a great heritage, can be proud. There was nothing fortunate in their achievement in beating Premier League Birmingham City, and while the League One team may not, as their supporters joyfully chorused at the final whistle, be on their way to Wembley, the manner in which they took on and often outplayed opponents some 40 places above them in the league pyramid should do wonders for their confidence when they return to the battle for league points.

“It was a fantastic day for the town, the fans and the players, who gave their all, though we were lucky and they were a little below par,” said manager Andy Ritchie, a relatively generous assessment of a Birmingham team that, as Blues manager Alex McLeish acknowledged, looked apprehensive from the start.

“Huddersfield showed the better composure and won most of the 50:50s, which was baffling considering how we have been playing in recent matches. I’ve been assessing the players for seven weeks now, and we definitely have to add some faces to the squad,” said McLeish.

The Terriers’ chances of causing an upset did not appear to have been improved by the absence of centre-forward Andy Booth, variously reported to have a broken toe, slight thigh strain or incapacitating illness.

The general belief seemed to be that Ritchie was ensuring his leading striker’s availability for next Saturdays match at home to Gillingham, vital to Town’s aim of getting back into the battle for a playoff position; not only certain Premier League teams priori-tise league football, it seems.

Allowing for injuries, Birmingham, by ironic contrast, were at pretty much full strength, McLeish clearly believing a cup run could boost their chances of avoiding relegation. The shock when Town opened the scoring after barely four minutes must therefore have been considerable, but Birmingham’s defence looked frozen as Danny Schofield and Chris Brandon worked their way into the City area by twice exchanging passes. Schofield’s shot was a weak one, but a stretching Maik Taylor could only push the ball into the space in front of him, from where Luke Beckett turned it into the empty net.

The lower league team were looking good value for their lead when City got back on terms. Fabrice Muamba’s strong run saw him get clear of the Town back four, and although Town goalkeeper Matt Glennon came out quickly to block, the ball rebounded for Mikael Forssell to side-foot home.

Garry O’Connor thought he had put City ahead soon afterwards, poking Daniel De Ridder’s cross past Glennon from short range before turning to see an offside flag, but pressure from the home team meant the visitors were attacking only on the break. Indeed, it took a fine save by Taylor to prevent the lively Brandon from putting Town back ahead with a header from a Robbie Williams free kick shortly after the half hour.

The second period began in similar fashion, with the Huddersfield players looking a match for their opponents technically and more than that in terms of workrate. Muamba, one of the few City players prepared to really get stuck in, worked hard to create a midfield platform, but all too often his ball-winning was wasted, particularly by Gary McSheffrey, who in quick succession shot wildly high and then wide. The share of possession was beginning to swing though, and McLeish looked to take advantage, sending on Cameron Jerome – Huddersfield-born and on the club’s books as a youngster – for the increasingly ineffectual Forssell.

While losing little in excitement however, the game did begin to lose its shape. Tempers deteriorated along with the standard of football, and City captain Liam Ridgewell, James Berrett and O’Connor all went into the book within a minute as the likelihood of a replay increased.

Huddersfield, however, were not done yet. Schofield’s pass found Beckett, working his socks off on the right and despite the attentions of two defenders, he put over a superb cross. Brandon’s run from midfield had not been picked up, and the young man calmly volleyed the ball low past Taylor.

The remaining few minutes were agony for the Town supporters, not least when McSheffrey almost squeezed a stop-page-time shot past Glennon. The goalkeeper produced a fine, diving save to block with his right hand, before kicking the ball clear for a corner.

“Huddersfield did well, and should be applauded for that, but the Birmingham fans deserved better,” said McLeish, grimly.

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