Interim boss Jon Worthington said he was in “dreamland” after Huddersfield’s comprehensive 4-0 Championship victory over relegation-rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
The visitors edged the first half and went the closest to opening the scoring as Michael Ihiekwe had a header cleared off the line by Rhys Healey.
But Huddersfield grew into the Yorkshire derby and blew the visitors away in the final quarter, scoring four goals in 12 minutes.
Josh Koroma netted a brace as Matty Pearson and Sorba Thomas claimed one apiece to clinch Huddersfield’s second win in 12 outings.
Academy boss Worthington, placed in temporary charge of the first team following Darren Moore’s sacking last week, said: “It was a privilege for me to take the game.
“I have been here since I was nine years old; I’m normally sat with my kids in the stand supporting.
“To be asked to step in and do that was a great honour and I’m in dreamland when it’s 4-0.
“I will sit back tonight and no one can take that away from me. It is a special moment for me and my family, who are here every single week.
“We knew we had to win the game and that was the message throughout. Nothing else.
“I think you have to go into every home game with that mentality regardless of the opposition.
“I respect Sheffield Wednesday and the job that (manager) Danny (Rohl) has done there but I was really keen to make the game about us and what we can do.
“I wanted us to be on the front foot and impact it today.
“It was so important to get the result. It lifts everybody.
“The players and the staff are buzzing in the dressing room as well as the fans, who will go home extremely happy this evening.”
When asked for clarity on the managerial situation, Worthington said: “We will play it by ear. I spoke to (sporting director) Mark Cartwright and (chief executive) Jake (Edwards) a lot this week.
“I was ultimately asked to take this game so that’s what I have done. I’m sure we will have a conversation after the weekend about what it is going to look like over the next two days.”
With 16 matches remaining, Wednesday face an uphill task to retain their Championship status. They are second-bottom and eight points shy of safety.
Boss Danny Rohl said: “Until the first goal, it was a typical fight from both teams. Both teams had their moments. We didn’t play how I wanted us to play on the ground.
“It was an open game and we had our moments. We conceded from a corner and after this we lost a little bit of our head. We wanted to come back immediately and we were open.
“The goals we conceded were too easy. We have to play 100 per cent for 90-plus minutes and if we don’t do this, it’s hard to take something.
“We put in a great performance against Watford on Wednesday and today we lost 4-0 and it is a knock for everybody.
“Everybody is disappointed. I will lift them on Monday.
“There are still 16 games to go. It’s a challenge but it’s what we have to do.”
No Championship team has lost more on the road than Wednesday this season with 12 defeats, but Rohl remains convinced they can still avoid the drop.
He added: “I have learned a lot about my team in the last few months and how big the morale is. Today is a setback in our fight.
“I always spoke about our process but it is about taking results now. I will go forward and lead this group and at the end we will see if it is enough. Today was not good enough.
“As long as I’m the manager here, we will fight in every game to take something. We have to come back stronger and try again.”
Al-Ahli 1-2 Al-Hilal: Mitrovic double keeps Saudi champions perfect
Aleksandar Mitrovic proved to be the difference once again for Al-Hilal as the reigning Saudi Pro League champions beat Al-Ahli 2-1 on Saturday.
Al-Ahil went in front with 12 minutes played when Gabri Veiga was sent through on goal by Franck Kessie, with the Spaniard rounding Yassine Bounou to open the scoring at King Abdullah Sports City.
The hosts went close to doubling their advantage soon after, with Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney going close, before Sergej Milinkovic-Savic saw his effort cleared off the line at the other end.
But parity was restored early in the second half through Al-Hilal's master marksman, as Mitrovic nodded home a trademark header from Renan Lodi's delivery.
Al-Ahil were then awarded a penalty when Rayan Hamed fouled Malcom inside the box, only for Mitrovic to see his effort saved by Abdulrahman Al Sanbi.
However, the Serbian was given the chance to redeem himself after the VAR deemed encroachment had taken place, and he made no mistake at the second time of asking to net his 14th goal of the season in all competitions.
Data Debrief: Mitrovic the main man
Mitrovic has been in fine form since his move to Saudi Arabia, with his latest double taking his tally to 54 goals in as many appearances for Al-Hilal.
This time out, he contributed 1.16 expected goals (xG) tally to the visitors' 2.24 total, while also recording the most touches in the opposition box (six).
Malcom also impressed for Al-Hilal, creating more chances (three) than anyone on the pitch, with his 14 passes into the final third a total only bettered by Ruben Neves (18) and Salem Al Dawsari (15) among his team-mates.
Championship: Sheff Utd joint-top after win over Luton, Rooney sent off but Plymouth prevail
Sheffield United maintained their unbeaten start in the Championship and moved joint-top of the table with a 2-0 home win over Luton Town.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi marked his 22nd birthday in style, scoring a goal in each half, as the Blades brushed aside their struggling visitors on Saturday.
The youngster was denied in the opening stages, but still ensured United got off to a strong start, firing in an emphatic finish after just 12 minutes.
He then got his second just seven minutes after the restart, sliding it through Thomas Kaminski's legs.
The Blades should have had a third late on when Vinicius Souza struck the post, but they had already done enough to take advantage of Sunderland dropping points on Friday to join them on 19 points at the summit.
Luton, meanwhile, are winless in three as they sit just above the relegation zone in 21st place.
Elsewhere, Plymouth Argyle snatched a dramatic 2-1 home win over Blackburn Rovers, after manager Wayne Rooney had been sent off.
Michael Obafemi's 15th-minute goal looked enough to secure a win until Joe Rankin-Costello equalised with four minutes left of normal time.
Rooney was subsequently sent to the stands for his protests as he felt there was a foul in the build-up, meaning he was not on the touchline when Morgan Whittaker headed in a last-gasp winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Watford also secured a late victory, with Tom Cleverley's side coming from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at Vicarage Road.
It initially looked like they were in danger of falling to a second consecutive defeat, having failed to create chances before George Edmundson took advantage of slack defending to put Boro ahead.
However, the Hornets' substitutions swung the game back in their favour, with Edo Kayembe pulling them level before Kwadwo Baah's half-volley secured the points in the 87th minute.
Al-Nassr 3-0 Al-Orubah: Mane double helps hosts close in on leaders
Sadio Mane scored a goal in either half, helping Al-Nassr cruise to a 3-0 win over Al-Orubah and close in on the top two in the Saudi Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo had given the hosts the lead from the spot, setting them on their way to a dominant victory.
After a slow start, Jean Seri was penalised for a handball, and Ronaldo made no mistake from the spot. After a stuttering run-up, he coolly slotted his strike into the bottom-left corner.
Mane got his first on the stroke of half-time, latching onto Ronaldo's pull-back before firing his low shot into the far side of the net.
He could have had a hat-trick, having also hit the woodwork and squandered a first-time shot by slicing it wide, but he did get his second in the 71st minute, guiding Nawaf Bu Washi's cross past Gaetan Coucke.
Cristian Tello came closest to a consolation for the visitors, smashing a long-range effort off the crossbar.
Data Debrief: Mane's time to shine
Mane, so far this season, has been providing the spark as a playmaker after registering five assists in Al-Nassr's first five games in the Saudi Pro League.
Today, however, he regained his scoring touch, getting his first two goals of the campaign.
He had the most shots (five), and shots on target (three), as he accumulated 0.97 expected goals (xG), while his seven touches in the box was the most of any player on the field.
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