Huddersfield Town U21 secured a 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers U21 in the Professional Development League regular season on Monday. The hosts opened their campaign with a statement win, while the visitors continued a difficult start to their season. Four goals were scored across the match, with the hosts dominating the latter stages.
The opening goal came in the twenty-third minute, giving Huddersfield an early advantage. It was the kind of start that sets the tempo for the rest of the game — one team takes the initiative and the other has to chase.
QPR responded before the interval with a goal in the forty-fifth minute, briefly suggesting they could level matters. But the hosts struck again in the forty-fifth minute plus four, and then added a third in stoppage time at ninety-five. By then, the contest was effectively over.
The result moves Huddersfield to five places in the standings with three points from one game. QPR remain in thirteenth place after two matches, sitting on a single point from one draw and one defeat. The gap between the two sides is becoming clear.
Huddersfield have been in fine form recently, scoring four goals in three of their last five fixtures. QPR's results have been more erratic — a 3-3 draw against Hull City U21 followed by a 0-2 loss to Peterborough United U21 is not the consistency they need.
One mistake ends it sometimes, and QPR may have paid for theirs in the closing moments. This was never really in doubt after the ninety-fifth minute goal.