Huddersfield Town beat QPR 1-0, ending our long wait for an away win with an assured performance which saw Town surrender possession in favour of staying organised and hitting QPR on the break.
The three points is huge for our survival bid and if we can follow it up with a win against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek then I think our relegation worries can be mostly set aside (providing we don’t implode over the remaining games) .
This result came from a strong disciplined, team performance rather than dazzling individual brilliance, so expect to see lots of seven out of tens rather than any huge scores for individuals.
Ryan Schofield – 8 out 10
His save and clearance double movement to deny Kane was superb and kept us in the game. His goal line heroics were as good as scoring a goal at the other end as QPR seemed certain to score. He wasn’t tested with crosses too much but he did claim everything he should have done and looked more confident generally. The only moment I wished he’d have dealt with differently was when Charlie Austin deliberately nudged into him as he was landing and made him fall over. The ball was out of play so there was no risk but I’d still have liked to see him respond more aggressively to such obvious provocation. This little incident summed up how Schofield is a bit too nice sometimes and if he won’t scream abuse in the face of opponents that deliberately knock him over then the other players need to stick up for him a bit more.
Pipa – 7 out of 10
Strangely had his best spell of the game when he was switched over to the left side despite being a right sided player. I still think he cuts inside on his right foot too often and becomes predictable but he did a decent job down the left. His assist for the goal was superb and completely dissected QPR’s defence to give Bacuna a perfect opportunity to score. Too often we just blast balls into the box without thinking where they’re going, this ball was cleverly executed and perfectly played in his colleague.
Rarmani Edmonds-Green – 6 out of 10
He’s definitely the junior member of the back three and is less involved than Sarr and Keogh but the work he does is dependable and steady. He isn’t playing with the same kind of freedom that he did earlier in the season but I think that’s a deliberate choice to be more cautious with this new style rather than any particular failing of his. I can’t be bothered crunching the numbers but I suspect Town concede far fewer goals when Edmonds-Green is in the squad because he doesn’t make many mistakes and has the speed to help out when others around his make them.
Richard Keogh – 7 out of 10
Another very solid performance from the man who constantly looks like he’s seen a ghost. I’d be quick to slate him because I wasn’t impressed by his signing for us but he’s doing a decent job and brings some experience and presence to our back line.
Naby Sarr – 7 out if 10
Very strong in the air when called upon and didn’t do anything daft with the ball at his feet. I don’t want to tempt fate but it’s been quite a while since he last made an error that cost us a goal, which is a marvelous achievement after a pretty shocking few weeks earlier in the year. He also showed some remarkable speed at one point when tracking back. He’s not particularly quick over five yards but when he’s got time to get up to full speed he’s rapid for his size.
Aaron Rowe – 6 out of 10
Not his best performance recently but not awful either and was a bit unlucky to be subbed so early. I suspect Duhaney’s less adventurous approach was preferred so we could keep it a bit tighter at the back. I hope he retains his starting place as Duhaney, even at his best, is far more boring to watch than Rowe.
Jonathan Hogg – 8 out of 10
There was a spell in the first half when QPR were attacking where I stopped watching the ball as closely and watched Hogg instead. It’s fascinating seeing him operate, he never stopped talking, pointing, organising and generally making everything tick. Seeing him command the game like that really highlighted what we miss when he’s not in the team. While his individual performance was good, he also made every player around him better too and that’s why we don’t win games when he’s not in the team. Given his long-standing hip problem and advancing years we will have to think of how we can do better without him but for now I’m just glad we have him back.
Lewis O’Brien – 7 out of 10
Did unbelievable amounts of running, closing down the centre backs then haring back to defend elsewhere. He also grafted with the ball, making those trademark slaloming runs through midfield and playing some lovely through balls in the final third. I still think he should be scoring more goals as he regularly gets into good positions but either chooses to pass or his finishing isn’t quite right.
Juninho Bacuna – 7 out of 10
Brilliant but also frustrating. A seven might seem harsh but prior to blasting in the winner I’d have given him a three or a four because he was losing the ball so often and showing so little care when in possession. But then he popped up with a perfectly timed run and applied an excellent finish to produce the game’s only true moment of quality. So maybe the messing about and sloppy play was worth it in the end. In fairness, his all round game improved after his goal and he did a good job of milking every bit of contact to draw fouls when we needed to slow down the game. Charlie Austin’s petulant kick out at him towards the end showed how annoying he must be to play against.
Isaac Mbenza – 5 out of 10
Had a long-range effort that went just wide in the early stages but faded as the game went on and failed to make much of an impact. This has been typical of Mbenza lately and makes me wonder if he’s actually fit, particularly as Carlos has previously confessed to putting him in the team when he’s been carrying a knock. With genuine alternatives on the bench it seemed like an odd selection but I suppose his threat from set pieces might have been the reason he made the starting lineup.
Fraizer Campbell – 5 out of 10
Did a lot of running and closing down as usual. Not much else that I can remember to be honest. I’ve even looked at his individual stats from the game and can’t see anything much in terms of talking points. He was fine but not notable.
Substitutes
Duane Holmes – 6 out of 10
Buzzed about effectively and made us better at holding the ball in QPR’S half when he replaced Mbenza.
Demeaco Duhaney – 6 out of 10
Solid without being exceptional, which I would say sums up his Huddersfield Town career so far.
Yaya Sanogo – 6 out of 10
Gave us an outlet when we were under pressure and got stuck into the QPR back line. I was disappointed he didn’t start and hope this was so we could save him up for the game against Wednesday on Wednesday.
Richard Stearman – N/A
Trousered an appearance fee for almost no work but helped to run the clock down when he replaced Bacuna late on.
Much needed win and even better with it being away. Nice to see a more direct style and a clear indication that possession isn’t the be all and end all. Also nice that the players efforts were rewarded and holding out rather than conceding a late choker will do the players confident no harm at all. Charlie Austin deserved to know that he can’t go around thinking we are pushovers. Let’s now back this up and turnover Wednesday on Wednesday. UTT
Totally agree with your comments regarding Bacuna, Rowe and Campbell although the goal was a brilliant effort from Bacca a lot of his other contributions were sloppy and over ambitious. It was very noticeable that QPR play their own version of possession based Carlosball and with us playing the opposite for a welcome change created far more opportunities than the opposition. Campbell needs a rest and I would still like to see Vallejo back in the eleven with Hoggy given licence to venture forward. I believe it was Rowe who lost the ball in his own half prior to their big chance which Ryan dealt with brilliantly. Hope we can hang on to O’Brien in the summer but he has got to be worth twice as much as we got for Billing. It is good to see that Carlos has team selection headaches but welcome the change in style as the players we have are far better suited by it.Add Aarons, Schindler and Toffolo to this squad when fit then I am feeling far more optimistic.Really looking forward to Wednesday.UTT
I think your comments are very fair but Mbenza’s style doesn’t suit playing in a two, his supposed pace is rarely utilized; the 7 is far too generous for Bacuna!!!!!!!
The first half produced a not unfamiliar tale with Town creating at least four chances before the home team had mustered one. The penchant for giving the ball away became increasingly evident, Bacuna and Sarr the main culprits.
We managed to become increasingly disorganised as the half wore on with QPR ending it by looking easily the most composed team. Schofield came to the rescue with a brave cross collection and a remarkable double save, following yet another example of sloppiness, this time from Rowe, compounded by him vaguely chasing the ball rather than tracking the mid-fielder who then shot at goal.
Schofield then regularly gave the ball away by pumping it high into the air accompanied by the futile attempts to gain possession by our more advanced players or giving the ball to one of his fellow defenders to mangle possession. I’ve said it before: what are the strategies for keeping possession?
It was noticeable how much more reliable the QPR forwards were in retaining or at least making a meaningful challenge with similarly long clearances. Another two first half highlights were Keogh’s header from a corner and the outrageous but well judged rampage towards the penalty area and the similarly accomplished pass to Bacuna for another attempt at goal
I love Bacuna because he has that extraordinary ability to bamboozle opponents, but here almost everything he tried failed except for the obviously wonderful strike, another from a free-kick and one sublime pass, if there were other positives I missed them.
The second half saw a more effective performance with further opportunities to increase the lead and I thought for a change we managed the game pretty well after the goal .
My wish for six points from six games, this was the fifth from five might happen or even be exceeded, either way the feel good factor will continue to expand for all concerned, me included.
Got to say that 90% of this comment is just negative rubbish. What do they have to do? They won, away from home with a clean sheet. It was a brilliant team performance. There will always be mistakes or moments in a match when the opposition get chances. Town dealt with everything without much problem. If you want to support Town remember “support” is the operative word not being just a doom merchant who is never happy.
I think you’re being very harsh to Beck. There’s nothing in the comment that doesn’t match my impression of the game too. It was a great win but that doesn’t mean there weren’t flaws.
I think support is vitally important when you’re in the stadium and the players can benefit from it. Away from the stadium I don’t see any problem with a moan about things that aren’t right. Then again, maybe I’m a doom merchant too.
And we’d quickly get bored if we could only write positive encouraging comments!
It was indeed a great team performance. I had the occasional shout at my laptop but generally I felt calm as we were in control for the most part.
Hogg was immense yesterday. Undoubtedly my Man of the Match. It’s what he does in organising things on the field that is invaluable.
He was closely followed by Sarr. Yesterday I don’t think he put a foot wrong and his power in the air is awesome.
Lovely goal from the ever-frustrating Bacuna. Great finish to a Sarr/O’Brien/Pipa passing move, simple but accurate. The likes of Bacuna could do with watching that goal and realising that ‘simple & accurate’ is better than ‘flashy & invariably inaccurate’.
I am still wondering about that first half save from Schofield. The thing you notice with Schofield is that he gets absolutely rooted to his line. He doesn’t seem to ever take a pace forward and narrow the angles. It’s a weird style. Yesterday the QPR striker is no more than 10 yards out, centre of the goal and Schofield on his line. What are the odds of pulling off a save? And yet he did. But the most miraculous part of the save was the second part; he’d failed to hold onto the ball, the striker is descending upon him, you’d have bet your mortgage on the striker scoring and yet somehow Schofield had the presence of mind to kick it clear. Skill or good fortune? Who knows and who cares?
I’m another subscriber looking forward to Wednesday on Wednesday. And I do agree that a win on Wednesday will just about ensure safety.
What a difference a Hogg makes, back to his comanding best, Schofield saved the points with his double save and seeing that P—-d off look on Austins face said it all, Carlos has found a system that works for our players, the name of the game is survival, and maybe three more like minded performances will do it, it was full team effort, even from the subs when they came on, we need to take that confidence and determination into the next few games and get to the end of the season above water, well done Town on a ggod away job. UTT.
Great to see Bacuna getting credit for the things he is capable of rather than criticised for his impetuous youth. We are generally too hard on our promising young players. Probably too little too late in his case though, as we all doubt he will be here next season.
It might be worth crunching some numbers to help us understand the impact of Schindler’s injury. Possibly too little too late though, as we all doubt he will be here next season.
Looks like we will be relying on on our recruitment team finding us some quality replacements. And our owner to fund them.
A good performance with an excellent result. How we have missed Hogg.
I’ve always maintained that we should adopt a more defensive approach, particularly away from home and the first priority is not to concede.
Regarding Keogh, I again was sceptical when he signed but I think we were limited with who was available to go straight into the team. IMO he has been a good signing.
Three more wins, hopefully starting on Wednesday, should be enough but, knowing Town, it Is easy not to be too optimistic.
Good all round performance, I agree Rowe, Mbenza & Campbell didn’t have their best games but did enough it was nice for a change to have substitutes that came on and all make a difference, Sarr looks a different player whilst playing in a three & would of normally got mom for his performance if not for Hogg who has been missed & was outstanding REG I think should have a 7 very solid at what he does, bacuna 6 rubbish first half but after his goal grow into the game, I’m being a bit picky because I thought this was a great all round away performance so nice to see us having a more defensive approach the players seem to really enjoy the 3-5-2 system same again Wednesday please