Huddersfield Town 2-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Saturday, 21st Jan 2017 16:58

Goals either side of half-time from Izzy Brown and Christopher Schindler saw Huddersfield to a comfortable victory over the Blues at the John Smith’s Stadium. Brown netted on 41 and Schindler 12 minutes after the break, while Town never looked getting back into the match once they had gone behind.

Jordan Spence was handed his Town debut, while Andre Dozzell, Kevin Bru and Freddie Sears all returned to the Blues line-up having been left out of the starting XI at Lincoln on Tuesday. Dean Gerken kept his place in goal with Bartosz Bialkowski unwell.

The Blues continued with their 3-5-2 system with skipper Luke Chambers in the centre at the back between Paul Digby on the right and Christophe Berra on the left.

New boy Spence was the right wing-back with Josh Emmanuel dropping to the bench. Jonas Knudsen continued on the left.

In midfield, Dozzell and Bru joined Cole Skuse with Jonathan Douglas and Grant Ward among the subs. Tom Lawrence started up front with Sears, who replaced Leon Best, who was left out of the 18.

Town’s other new signing Kieffer Moore was on the bench, alongside Tristan Nydam, who TWTD revealed was set to travel with the squad on Friday.

The 17-year-old midfielder was with the first-team squad for the first time for a competitive match, although having come on as a sub in the pre-season match at Cambridge, and was handed squad number 45. Michael Crowe was the sub keeper.

Huddersfield were without key midfielder Aaron Mooy, due to a back injury, while new German striker Collin Quaner's clearance didn’t come through in time for him to be involved.

The Blues, wearing their Barcelona-style third kit, started brightly and Lawrence curled a third minute freekick into the arms of Terriers keeper Danny Ward after he’d been fouled by Jonathan Hogg a couple of yards outside the area to the left.

The home side made a scruffy start but on 11 Elias Kachunga hit a low shot from the edge of the box which Gerken saved comfortably.

Huddersfield began to get their passing going and in the 15th minute Terriers skipper Tommy Smith crossed from the right and Gerken pushed Kachunga’s far post header onto the roof of the net.

On 21 Berra blocked a van La Parra strike after the Dutchman had cut in from the left, referee Andy Davies waving away ambitious appeals for a penalty. Soon after Kachunga headed Brown’s right-wing cross over from close range but with the linesman’s flag raised.

Huddersfield had been on top but up to then without being able to create many serious chances, but on the half hour Spence won the ball on the right and found Sears on the other flank with a raking pass. The former West Ham man brought the ball in on goal before hitting a shot which flew over Ward’s bar.

But the Terriers were still having most of the ball and on 34 van La Parra sent over a deep cross from the left but Kachunga’s header was too close to Gerken, who claimed.

On 37 Bru stole possession on the left and crossed to Lawrence, whose shot struck a Huddersfield player and deflected to Ward. The on-loan Leicester man appealed for a penalty but again referee Davies wasn’t interested.

A minute later, Huddersfield failed to deal with a Sears cross from the right and debutant Spence sent over a subsequent low ball from the same flank which flew across the six-yard box but with no Town player there to add the final touch.

Four minutes before the break Huddersfield went in front. Brown took a ball in to feet midway inside the Town half, turning Dozzell as he did so. The on-loan Chelsea man then brought the ball forward unchallenged before planting a 20-yard strike past Gerken.

The home side deserved their lead at half-time having been the better side having taken charge after a sluggish start, although without ever dominating in the manner that they have on occasion this season.

Prior to the goal, there hadn’t been too many clear-cut chances but Brown, who was on loan with Rotherham until earlier in the month, grabbed his first Huddersfield goal with great confidence.

The Blues had had a couple of opportunities, mainly on the break, but nothing clear-cut and an improvement was required in the second half if they were to avoid an already thoroughly disappointing week ending with another defeat.

Dozzell, who had been largely peripheral in the first half, was replaced by Douglas at the break, the announcement of the change provoking boos from the visiting support.

The second half began much as the first had ended and on 57 the Terriers doubled their lead. After Chris Löwe’s freekick - Bru had been booked for the foul which led to it - had initially been cleared, Philip Billing hit a powerful shot from the left of the area which Gerken blocked down to his left but the ball was pushed back into the danger zone and Schindler slammed into the roof of the net.

It was the German defender’s first goal at the John Smith’s Stadium but his second against Town, his header having won the game between the teams at Portman Road earlier in the season.

The Blues now had a mountain to climb but almost immediately Spence broke away dangerously down the right. However, his cross-shot flew past the post and was too far in front of any of his team-mates.

But aside from that Town were looking unlikely to get back in the game and in the 67th minute Spence was replaced by the afternoon’s second Blues debutant, Kieffer Moore, as Mick McCarthy switched his side to 4-3-3.

A minute later Huddersfield weren’t far from a third when Löwe crossed from the left and Kachunga headed wide at the far post.

The Terriers continued to look the more likely scorers, van La Parra shooting wide from inside the area before Douglas was yellow-carded for a foul on Brown. On 74 Brett Pitman replaced Bru as the Blues threw everything forward.

Huddersfield replaced their first goalscorer Brown in the 76th minute with Joe Lolley taking over.

After Berra had headed a Lawrence corner wide at the far post, the Terriers should have added to their lead when an 81st minute cross from the left found Michael Hefele in space in the area but the defender waved a foot at it and failed to make contact.

A minute later, Blues striker Moore turned and hit a low shot through to Terriers keeper Ward, who had had a very quiet half. Soon afterwards, Lawrence frustratedly smashed the ball away having been adjudged to have fouled Billing and was booked as a result.

The Blues continued to unconvincingly look for a goal in injury time but a comeback had never looked on the cards once the Terriers had gone two in front. Late on, van La Parra screwed a shot well wide as Huddersfield broke having defended a brief spell of Town pressure.

Moments later, referee Davies confirmed what was a very routine win for the Terriers, who were the better side once they had got over a sluggish start.

The Blues were in the game at 0-0 but once the home side had gone in front and then added to their lead a turnaround never looked likely with Town looking thoroughly bereft of confidence and belief following Tuesday's embarrassing FA Cup exit at Lincoln.

Huddersfield didn't ever really need to get into top gear and showed few signs of missing the injured Mooy.

The defeat means the Blues have gone 23 league games without repeating the same result in successive matches - since they drew with Wolves and then Norwich in August - beating the previous club record of 22 established in 1965/66.

The Blues stay 14th in the table ahead of next week's trip to Preston, who are 10th following their 2-2 draw at Aston Villa this afternoon.

Huddersfield: Ward, Smith (c), Hefele, Schindler, Löwe, Hogg (Whitehead 85), Billing, Kachunga, Van La Parra, Brown (Lolley 76), Wells (Hudson 90). Coleman, Bunn, Cranie, Stankovic.

Town: Gerken, Spence (Moore 67), Digby, Chambers (c), Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Bru (Pitman 73), Dozzell (Douglas 46), Lawrence, Sears. Subs: Crowe, Emmanuel, Nydam, Ward, Moore, Pitman. Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire). Att: 19,113 (Town: 695).

Photo: Action Images

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martin587 added 18:25 - Jan 22 Seasider, Yes your perfectly correct,I should not have allowed myself to be drawn to that level.But you must agree,sometimes it is just too hard to bite your tongue.!
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grumpyoldman added 20:03 - Jan 22 May I please clear something up, I did not call Swn98 an idiot, I quoted a well known saying about if you argue with an idiot you lose as you have to go to their level and they are more experienced at that level. If he thought I meant him, too bad, to quote another well known saying "if the cap fits wear it"
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Swn98 added 20:38 - Jan 22 Grumpyoldman you must have a guilty conscience as my post was in reply to Spanish blue blood who Clearly called me an idiot no need to apologise.
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