Huddersfield Town struggled against Peterborough yesterday but managed to get their act together after going 1-0 down, scoring three goals before Peterborough’s late consolation goal made it 3-2. The drab first hour of the game raises concerns but the final half an hour had plenty of entertainment and dynamism.
So this game was a real Jekyll and Hyde performance, with most of Towns’ best players coming off the bench to turn the tide.
Lee Nicholls – 6 out of 10
At the time of writing, I’ve not seen replays of either Peterborough goals but the first looked like another horrendous deflection and the second saw the ball go to the far post, so Nicholls couldn’t get across. Three deflected goals in three games seems like rotten luck but I wonder if we’re dropping too deep to allow these shooting opportunities on the edge of the box.
Lasse Sorensen – 8 out of 10
Struggled to keep track of their wingback Mendy in the first half, often caught between wanting to push up but also keep track of his man. Improved a lot in the second half and carried out a brilliant run and cross to set up our opening goal which changed the momentum of the game. Showed skill, strength, determination and good execution to lay a scoring opportunity on a plate for Will Alves.
Jack Whatmough – 5 out of 10
Didn’t have to do much defensively but was poor on the ball. Spent too long dithering and slowing the game down. Not the only culprit but was subbed at half time. I didn’t see any signs of injury, so I presume it was because Lee Grant wanted to change how we moved the ball around at the back.
Joe Low – 6 out for 10
Lucky to avoid a booking on a few separate occasions, mostly because he resorted to fouling when he let players get goal-side of him. His huge physical size gives him the ability to bully opposition players but I’d rather see the more composed versionkf Joe Low that doesn’t need to resort to that. Like Whatmough, was a bit pedestrian with his passing.
Sean Roughan – 7 out for 10
A very odd performance, as he was pretty poor in the first spell of the game but when Castledine and Alves came on he sparked into life. So it was a five out for ten for an hour but an eight or a nine for the closing spell. In his good spells he carried the ball out of defence superbly and progressed us up the pitch. It was like he took the handbrake off, after an overly cautious and lethargic first hour. Hopefully he’ll carry on like he finished the game from now.
Ryan Ledson – 4 out of 10
I felt like he needed a big game after being sub-par against Barnsley last week but this was as bad or worse. Gave the ball away frequently, struggled to impose himself on the game and looked sluggish. He was rested in midweek, so can’t blame fixture congestion for his dip in form. With Kasumu looking good, it may be time for Ledson to make way so he can concentrate on improving his form.
Herbie Kane – 7 out of 10
It looked like he was trying hard to make things happen when we were struggling but it didn’t come off for him. Peterborough didn’t give him the time on the ball he wanted and too many of his passes were rushed and wayward. But he also scored an absolute rocket of a goal, so that’s why I’ve bumped his score up. I’ve always felt like Kane doesn’t get enough goals, so hopefully now he’s off the mark he’ll have a taste for long range goals.
Marcus Harness – 5 out of 10
I’m a big fan of Harness but I thought this was his worst game for Town so far. Looked like he was a bit lost in terms of his positioning off the ball and didn’t do enough to influence the game on the ball. A passenger in a game where we needed him to be involved more.
Ben Wiles – 4 out of 10
All the criticisms of Harness also apply to Wiles alongside a few just for him. Far too static when we had the ball, so wasn’t an available option to pass to. Tended to drift forward and let himself be marked by a defender rather than looking for pockets of space. Wiles can be great on his day but this was the latest in a run of anonymous matches for him and I think his starting place must be under threat now.
Ruben Roosken – 4 out for 10
Another player that didn’t do enough to give options when we couldn’t get the ball out of defence. Whether it was running into the channels or dropping deep to pick it up, nothing really came off for him. He’s still taking too long to decide what to do when he gets forward too and it kills the pace of our attacks.
Joe Taylor – 8 out for 10
Could have had an early goal when he caught them in possession with his aggressive running but bad luck prevented getting the goal. In the second half he did wonderfully well to force another error, pick up the ball in the box with a narrow angle, then use a bit of skill to open up the angle before smashing the ball into the post. So he did all the hard work but missed an open goal. Thankfully, he got another chance when May played him in behind and he slotted it past their keeper. His all round play was good, with plenty of selfless running and lonely spells. I’d say he’s now enjoying his best run of form since joining Town and hopefully we’re getting to see why we paid so much money for him.
Substitutes
Murray Wallace – 7 out for 10
Looked calm and assured at the back after coming on at half time. Seemed to spread that calm to those around him too.
Leo Castledine – 7 out for 10
Lively as always, popping up all over the pitch to receive the ball and move it somewhere else. Had a curling shot from range that went high over the bar and missed the rebound from Taylor’s shot that hit the post, which was in itself another sitter. Regardless, brought a lot of energy to the pitch and gave the whole team and the fans a boost with his positive play.
Will Alves – 8 out for 10
Scored with his first touch in a League One game, which isn’t a bad way to introduce yourself to the fans. While the goal was a tap in, he showed good movement to get in that position and a cool head to finish it. His running with the ball was exciting to watch and he caused panic in Peterborough’s back line. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him.
David Kasumu – 7 out of 10
Added a bit of spark to our previously flaccid midfield.
Alfie May – 7 out for 10
Only a short cameo but in his time on the pitch he played a wonderful through ball to set Joe Taylor away to score his goal. It was exactly the kind of service Alfie May must wish someone would provide him when he’s playing as a lone striker.
Your assessments TS as usual make perfect sense. The first half was ruined by some prankster or perhaps a Peterborough fan who dressed his string of seaside donkeys in blue and white stripes, sent them out to graze on the Accu stadium pitch who then found themselves involved in a football match, for much of the first half the home supporters had to endure a plodding demonstration of how not to play football.
Peterborough was organised and pressed well all over the pitch forcing us to give a picture-perfect performance of the latter part of last season’s malaise; passes everywhere and nowhere, the major culprits being the so-called midfield. It was a surprise that we were level at halftime even though the opponent barely had a meaningful shot on goal. Why do we regularly start games in such an abject fashion?
Why the Kane charge for their scoring freekick and then turn his back? The wall disintegrated leaving a path to goal albeit with deflection – as you say TS strange hattrick for Nicholls.
Fortunately, changes were made and we began to look like a proper team. Sorensen’s energy and skill created the first goal then had a foot in the second a sweetly struck Kane strike, partially rectifying his contribution thus far. Taylor ferreted and sped around the field all afternoon cleverly manufacturing a couple for himself, sadly missing both, but made the game safe by using his strength when accepting May’s through ball. Finally, sleepily conceding a second at the death, by which time, I amongst many I presume was grateful for the three points.
The issue for me was midfield. Roughan, as you say, improved when Alves & Castledine came on because they moved the ball better and allowed him to move forward in a structure. I only realised Wiles was on the pitch when he was subbed. I was berating Kane for his poor decisions and passing but I think the problem was more Wiles and Ledson. Same with Harness who lacked support.
We still have too many players who perform inconsistently. The upside for me were Taylor and Sorensen.
Difficult with Ledson because, like Hogg, he is the captain and should be the rock at the back. Be interesting to see how Grant manages this.
Agree with the above comments, on performance on some of Towns players.
Kas should be brought in to start . Give Ledson a break on the bench . Wiles in my opinion, is power puff . When the going gets tough , he’s hiding . Prove me totally wrong Ben. We require an up grade for his position. Kane is giving away far too many fouls , just not quick enough to cope with faster opponents. Lowe was again caught out of position for Peterborough’s second goal . Ball watching . Hope Miller is back in the next 2 to 4 weeks. On the plus side . Rest of the starters were pretty Good. Grants subs worked again. 👍.
UTT- ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
Lucky to be 0-0 at half time. Almost losing to another bottom team. Terrible passing, but second period much better. I agree Kas should start, need his energy there, and also the calm of Castledine. Taylor starting to look good , but as you say needs more support, no point in buying someone for 3 mil if a headless chicken could do the same job. Need some consistency now to avoid performances like last seasn. A little more positive this seson !
Another good performance by Town. Not at there best but that’s the sign of a good team. Peterborough toothless and despite fairly useless possession weren’t able to have one shot on goal in the first half. The depth of the squad meant an easy win for Town when the subs came on. Peterborough flukes a goal then had a consolation goal when the match was already lost. A chance now to recover for a week before we take on Bradfords OAP’’s.