Nigel Clough made two changes to the team that lost to Brentford on Saturday. In came Kyle McFadzean and Hamza Choudhury and out went Ben Turner and John Mousinho.
The away side immediately looked to exploit the space either side of Burton Albion's back three when Elias Kachunga was allowed the time to pick out Nahki Wells inside the box who took his shot first time but it just landed wide of Jon McLaughlin's left-hand post.Burton looked much the better side in the opening half hour but no clear-cut chances were created in order to break the deadlock at the Pirelli, although Damien McCrory came close when he found himself with time and space some 25 yards out but his dipping shot was a touch too high to trouble Danny Ward in the Huddersfield goal.
Nahki Wells will have good memories of the Pirelli Stadium after scoring in the play-offs against the Brewers some years back but he couldn't replicate that with a 30-yard free kick which was watched well wide of the goal.
Half time: Burton Albion 0-0 Huddersfield Town
Damien McCrory kept his place in the team from Saturday and he proved to be key when Nahki Wells got a cross in from the left which was met inside the box by Elias Kachunga on the volley but the Albion defender blocked it brilliantly on the line to deny him.
Martin Cranie took some inspiration from Damien McCrory just minutes later when Lloyd Dyer raced through on goal thanks to a great through ball from Jackson Irvine but the Huddersfield defender threw himself brilliantly in front of Dyer's shot to block it away for a corner.
The Brewers maybe thought they should have had a penalty just after the hour mark when pinball in the box was finally struck towards goal which definitely hit the arm of a Huddersfield man but stand-in referee Jeremy Simpson was unmoved.
Jamie Ward had looked lively all game and was probably full of confidence from his goal at Brentford, but he couldn't convert the opportunity that was presented to him by Jackson Irvine inside the box. His shot bounced up into Danny Ward's arms.
Will Miller replaced Jamie Ward with 15 minutes to go in a like-for-like change.
GOAL: Totally against the run of play it was the visitors that took the lead, undeservedly. A long free kick was pumped into the box with five minutes to go which was headed back across goal and finished off at the back post by Nahki Wells' header (0-1).
That goal inspired the Terriers as Elias Kachunga raced through on goal, he took his time which allowed John Brayford to race back and win the ball with a last-ditch tackle inside the area.Â
FT: Burton Albion 0-1 Huddersfield Town
Attendance: 4,564
Ash's man of the match: Damien McCrory