Newcastle spluttered at first but, after finding rhythm in the second half, produced the best move of the match. That work led to a fine goal for Solomón Rondón and another three precious points on the road.
They have earned 10 of their 16 Premier League points this season away from St James’s Park, largely thanks to the sort of efficiency that they eventually showed here against hosts who dominated possession but, as so often, lacked sharpness when it mattered most.
“It’s different the way teams play against you home and away,” said Rafael Benítez, by way of explanation for his team’s record. “In this case we knew Huddersfield would be on the front foot, and the idea was to try to exploit the space they would leave in behind, be dangerous on the counterattack and defend very well.”
That plan came together, but only after a first half when Huddersfield impressed but seemed to lack a killer instinct. Their overall performance was good but a tally of 10 goals from 17 matches leaves no doubt that they have a problem that needs to be resolved if they are to climb out of the bottom three.
Staying out of trouble is also Benítez’s priority for the season, which is why he had described this meeting as “a massive final”.
Both teams were deprived of key players but Huddersfield initially adapted better. Juninho Bacuna did well in midfield, while Philip Billing shone so brightly that the injured Aaron Mooy was barely missed. Chris Löwe caused problems in an advanced role on the left, discomforting Manquillo, who was operating at right-wing-back for Newcastle owing to the suspension of DeAndre Yedlin.
Laurent Depoitre hooked a shot over the bar from a corner by Löwe after three minutes. Then Löwe was given a chance to score himself; Billing won the ball in midfield before threading a deft one through to Alex Pritchard, who picked him out at the edge of the area. The German volleyed wide.
Newcastle were sloppy in the first period, unable to cobble together attacks from open play. They did, at least, threaten from two free-kicks. Fabian Schär forced a good save from Jonas Lössl after being picked out from the first. Later, Schär tried to beat him from much farther out, catching the goalkeeper by surprise by going directly for goal with a free‑kick from near the halfway line. Cute idea, but the shot flew over the bar.
Billing produced the game’s best free-kick, sending a superb effort goalwards from 25 yards but Martin Dubravka tipped it over.
With Federico Fernández missing through injury, Newcastle’s three-man central defence looked ill-at-ease. But that did not justify the wild tackle by Jamaal Lascelles that sent Depoitre crashing into the advertising boards in the first half. The defender was booked rather than dismissed.
Benítez pulled his team together at half-time. They played with much more precision after the break. Christian Atsu nearly profited from errant defending in the 51st minute, pouncing on a loose ball in the area before being denied by Lössl. Huddersfield’s reprieve was short‑lived.
Within four minutes the hosts were undone. The visitors built from the back before Ayoze Pérez slipped a pass from the left through to Manquillo, who curled a low cross to Rondón. The striker finished expertly to claim his fourth league goal since joining on loan from West Brom.
Huddersfield tried doggedly to regain the initiative but Newcastle, by now compact and resilient, no longer gave them hope.
