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Huddersfield Town 3 AFC Wimbledon 0: Dream debut for Fernandes as 10-man Terriers show polish and grit WEDNESDAY was a tough day for Huddersfield Town, in the words of head coach Martin Drury. Saturday was wonderful - if not quite perfect - and lifted spirits on an opening day to remember. Ahead of the game, Town players all wore 'We're with you, Marcus' T-shirts during the warm-up. It followed news earlier in the week regarding Marcus McGuane's serious ACL injury in midweek. Derensli Sanches Fernandes name may not roll off the tongue, but his contribution on his league debut at the start of the 2026-27 campaign, had supporters name-checking him early on. It followed a sensational start when he netted twice in the opening 16 minutes. A red card for Bali Mumba on 29 minutes - an adrenalin-fuelled and needless challenge on Wimbledon’s Issac Ogundere - threatened to spoil proceedings. We needn’t have worried. Town produced a consummate team display, even accounting for the fact they played for 70-odd minutes with 10 men to triumph. The cherry on the cake arrived late when Bojan Radulovic added a third. After being thrashed by Town 105 days earlier on the last day of 2026-27, the Dons received another humbling on the opening day of the new League One campaign. Town made four changes, with Ilias Bronkhorst, who missed last weekend’s EFL Cup tie with Preston due to injury, handed a competitive debut. He linked up with his Excelsior team-mate - and fellow close-season recruit - Fernandes down the right-hand side. Another summer arrival in Ibane Bowat was handed a bow for Town in the backline, presumably with one eye on combating Wimbledon’s set-piece threat and physicality. Mumba also returned to the starting line-up alongside Joe Taylor - making his first league start in Town colours since last October. Lynden Gooch and David Kasumu dropped to the bench, which also included fit-again Radulovic and Murray Wallace, while Lasse Sorensen and Sean Roughan missed out all together. Aside from Mumba’s red, the first half was uniformly excellent from Town and everything that Martin Drury could have possibly wished for on the opening day at league level. Town were 2-0 up inside the first quarter and life was sweet - only for Mumba to change the complexion of the afternoon. The hosts still boasted the most threat and the only time Wimbledon really came into the game in the first period was late on down Town’s right. But it was the Terriers half by some distance. Taylor looked intent upon making the most of his rare opportunity from the off and that was showcased just four minutes in. Town produced a searing counter following a Dons free-kick. Taylor got things going with a fantastic block tackle on Zack Nelson and the hosts were away with the visitors caught with numbers upfield. He slipped a defence-splitting pass in the direction of Fernandes, whose drilled shot flew underneath the body of Nathan Bishop, in a rotten moment for the Dons keeper. Fernandes’ mate Bronkhorst then almost got in on the act. After bamboozling Steve Seddon with some dazzling footwork, his shot hit the outside of the post. It was a dodgy start from the Dons and definitely Bishop. Soon after, his clearance slammed into the back of Dan Sweeney and careered towards the empty net before spinning just wide. Town - and Fernandes - did not have to wait long for a second. A slick move involving Bronkhorst and Ledson opened up Wimbledon and Fernandes found the sort of position he clearly likes, right of centre. He cut inside and unleashed the sweetest of left-footed curling drives, which whistled into the net. Town fans instantly had a new favourite and they were quick to sing Fernandes’ name. Wimbledon were grasping for air, only for Mumba to give them oxygen. Town continued to have their moments, with Fernandes being prominent. Taylor, superb in the first half, was replaced at the interval with Drury conscious of his side’s man disadvantage and the need to protect their earlier gains. David Kasumu stiffened up midfield. After the exhilaration of the first half, the second period was about Town seeing things through, first and foremost, and showing grit to compliment the early polish. A pass from Marcus Harness almost slotted in Fletcher for a third, while Town were organised and diligent in their duties without the ball. The Dons did eventually post a threat when substitute Sam Stockley’s glancing header flew wide shortly after the hour mark. Fernandes and Fletcher, who had a strong afternoon, soon made way. Both received stirring ovations, especially the former. Radulovic and Wallace entered the fray, with the latter providing some ballast to ensure Town saw things through. Stockley soon headed another opportunity wide before Dons captain Ryan Johnson headed in following a corner, only for a linesman’s flag to cut short his celebrations, with Marcus Browne, in an offside position, impeding Matty Young’s view. And then the gloss. Sensational play from Balker saw him power forward following a one-two with Bronkhorst and then beat Seddon before teeing up Radulovic for a close-range finish. Huddersfield Town: Young; Bronkhorst, Balker, Whatmough, Bowat (Low 90+2); Fernandes (Wallace 64), Ledson, Harness (Gooch 85), Mumba; Fletcher (Radulovic 63), Taylor (Kasumu HT). Substitutes unused: Tzanev, Brierley. AFC Wimbledon: Bishop; Ogundere, Sweeney (Sessegnon 63), Johnson; Tilley, Nelson (Harrison 62), Smith, Hippolyte (Maycock 63), Seddon; Browne, Sasu (Stockley HT). Substitutes unused: McConnell, Hackford, McCoy-Splatt. Referee: J Miles (Sussex). Attendance: 16,182.