Huddersfield Town beat Doncaster Rovers 2-0 with two late goals sealing the win after Town weathered a storm in the first half, during which Doncaster played Town off the park. The game made clear that Doncaster Rovers are a very good team at this level but Town did (just) enough to keep them out and stayed in the game long enough for the quality on our bench to make the difference.
This wasn’t a fluent display of attractive football but we did show some nice moments in the second half and the struggles in the first half were at least punctuated by some excellent last-ditch defending and decent stops from Goodman.
It’s good to be back to winning ways after the defeat to Blackpool but this was a performance that raised more questions than answers about this new-look Town team. Here are a few of my thoughts on the game…
A difficult first half
After feeling like Steve Bruce did a number on us at Blackpool at the weekend, Grant McCann found a different way to expose our frailties in this game. The way Doncaster played in the first half of this game was as good as any other team I’ve seen at our stadium since we came down to League One level. I anticipated an open, free-flowing game of football but, being a bit arrogant about how Town compare to other League One teams, I thought we’d naturally be the better team. We were not.
Doncaster were completely dominant in the first half and Town could barely get out of their own half for long periods. This wasn’t like the spell in the Leyton Orient game where they had possession but just tapped it around in front of us. Doncaster repeatedly opened up our defence and had some very good chances. Goodman’s saves, Feeney’s block and Castledine’s incredibly sliding tackle after making up nearly ten years on the player carrying the ball all kept us in the game when we deserved to be behind.
The attacking play from Donny was excellent, with the majority of their final balls being genuine quality and putting us under a lot of pressure. They were excellent off the ball too and their dominance was built upon pressing Town relentlessly and making it impossible for us to get out and attack. They pushed so many players forward and they closed down so aggressively, that all of Town’s possession was repeatedly knocking it around the back under pressure and eventually making a mistake or booting the ball away. There was very little quality possession from Town and too much dicing with death when we tried to build up.
I’ve talked about this in my player ratings article, but Murray Wallace’s struggles in the first half contributed to the whole team’s struggle to get themselves out of trouble. The left-back is usually the player that has the most touches of the ball in Town’s system. Both Miller and Roughan have shown for the ball a great deal and then been able to progress Town up the pitch by either carrying the ball themselves or finding well placed Town players further up the field. Wallace made some fairly significant errors early on and then played very safe from then on and looked very reluctant to push forward for fear of having his lack of pace exposed.
How Town won the game in the second half
Blackpool is the exception, but Town have typically come out stronger in the second half of games so far this season. This game was no different and there was a notable improvement from Town in the second half.
Part of the reason may be that Doncaster couldn’t sustain the pace of pressing they had in the first half so allowed us more time on the ball. They also may have just generally felt despondent that they were still level in a game when they’d thrown everything they had at us. A bit like in a film where the hero throws their best punch at the bad guy and they don’t even flinch. But I think Town were also a lot better too, and should get credit for that.
There was still a bit of wishful thinking about our forward balls at times but generally we used the ball better when we attacked and showed some creativity. More importantly Town fought harder for loose balls and disrupted Doncaster’s attacking play. Compared to the first half, the game became disjointed and marred by niggly fouls and silly offsides, so there wasn’t a lot of fluency to the football. Where bits of football did break out though, it was increasingly Town that looked the better team.
The rules about what to do when the ball hits the referee have been tweaked this season and play is stopped and then restarted with a drop ball. This happened just before Town scored their first, with Doncaster momentarily switching off and lookinh disorganised as Town resumed play with an uncontested drop ball. The lapse meant that Harness spun into space and then played a perfectly weighted pass to Wiles, who had slipped goal side of his marker. Then Wiles shrugged off an attempt to pull him back and smashed the ball past their keeper.
I anticipated Town would have a nervous finish to the game when they had a single goal advantage but thankfully we kept pushing forward and got the second goal that made the win all-but certain. I’ve talked recently about Taylor not getting the right kind of balls in behind to take advantage of his pace but a long ball into the channel gave him opportunity to race free of his marker on the left wing and dribble inside to the penalty area before he felt a pull on his shirt and went down. In real-time, I thought it might have been a dive. After watching multiple replays there was a single angle that showed a clear pull on Taylor’s shirt, so the ref did a good job to pick this out. Just like Taylor did a good job to convert his penalty, meaning we’ve now scored two penalties at home this season after years of drought on that front.
Is it better to be on the bench or start?
Increased grit and determination was a factor in Town turning the tides in this game but our options on the bench also played a part. Being able to bring on players of the calibre of Joe Taylor and Ben Wiles in the latter stages of games was also a large factor in swinging the game in our favour. Few teams, if any, will have the depth of squad that Town have at the moment which is a massive advantage in the era of five substitutions being available.
Danny Cowley in his time as Town manager tried to rebrand substitutes as “game changers” in a way to try to make warming the bench sound like a better alternative to starting, as you get the opportunity to be the headline act rather than the opening act pushed out to warm up the crowd. I suspect most of his subs could see straight through this kind of talk but Lee Grant made some comments that had a flavour of this idea.
While Joe Taylor and Ben Wiles will have desperately wanted to start this game, their late introduction meant that they had the advantage of having fresh legs against a team that is mostly made of physically and mentally exhausted players. I’d have expected tighter marking in the first half for Wiles’ run in the box and Taylor’s charge down the wing that were instrumental in their goals.
Lee Grant tends to make quite a lot of changes and it’s rare for any striker to play for more than an hour. So I suppose in a tight game like the one against Doncaster, being on the bench means that you’re likely to be on the pitch in the game’s decisive moments whereas starting the game in a forward position means you’ll most likely have been hooked before those crucial final stages begin. However, I doubt that’s enough to make players believe they’re better starting on the bench.
McCann’s whining
One indicator that we’re in for a good season is the grumpy comments from opposition managers after their games with us. The way Grant McCann whinged after this game about his bad luck and Town’s profligate spending was sour grapes personified. After not losing since March, it seems that their manager has lost the ability to accept defeat gracefully.
He said that they should have been 4-0 up at half-time, said that Joe Taylor dived for his penalty because he was that kind of player, repeatedly complained about how much we’ve spent and wouldn’t utter a word in recognition of Town’s qualities.
Despite having filled out quite a bit in his post-playing days, seeing McCann on the touchline reminded me of him captaining the Peterborough team that beat Town so thoroughly in the Old Trafford playoff final (the one where Lee Clark played Afobe up front on his own while Rhodes and Novak warmed the bench). I’ve disliked him since that day and after having three spells of managing them as well as playing for them, I associate McCann with Peterborough completely.
If you thought that McCann’s three times (one of which was caretaker but I’m still counting it) at the helm of Peterborough was weird, then you’ll be surprised that their current manager, Darren Ferguson is enjoying his fourth spell as their manager. So I presume McCann has taken the job at Doncaster to fill the time while he waits for his next turn in charge of Peterborough.
I bring up the Peterborough connection here mostly to give context to why I dislike Grant McCann but I think his comments after this game were probably enough to think he was a bit of a prat on their own. Which is a shame really, as there’s no question that he’s done a good job with Doncaster Rovers but I’m reluctant to give him any praise when he acts like a spoiled brat in the media.
Expect a very different game on Saturday
This game against Doncaster saw two teams trying to play decent football and I came away feeling entertained as well as happy with the three points. Our next opponents are table-topping Stevenage, back at the Accu Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Stevenage will present Town with an entirely different set of challenges and we should expect a bruising encounter.
They play a physical and direct style of football that isn’t always beautiful but it is effective. So effective that they’re the only League One team with a 100% record this season. This game will be an interesting test for Town and will be a chance to show that we can mix it up with the best of them.
Any other business
I thought I’d add an additional section at the end of these write-ups for more trivial bits and bobs. Such as…
- Was there something going on with the floodlights? I spent about 80% of this game seeing spots from the floodlights and at times had my hand cupped over my brow like I was looking out to sea on a blisteringly hot day. Have we increased the wattage on the floodlights or turned them up extra bright for some reason? From the Riverside, the Kilner Bank looked really dark, presumably because of the harsh light being thrown on the pitch. I’d be curious to know if this was just me, as I am getting older and my eyes are getting worse. Pop a comment below if you thought similar or know what has changed.
- Low socks – Sorba Thomas was guilty of wearing his socks so low to his ankles that they almost looked like trainer socks but Town’s current team are littered with players doing the same. Castledine, Harness and Taylor all had socks on that skimmed their ankles in the Doncaster game. This seems to be a modern trend but I have no idea how these players fit shin pads in those socks, they must be the size of matchboxes. Somewhat ironically, Joe Low keeps his socks nice and high, as you would expect from a no-nonsense defender.
- Rhys Healey’s loan move starts in the same way his career at Town has gone – I don’t take any satisfaction in mentioning that Healey’s debut at Barrow was cut short when he went off injured. His rotten luck continued when he broke down just 11 minutes into his substitute appearance, leaving his new club with just ten men as they’d made all their changes. I hope it’s minor and he can continue his journey back to fitness at Barrow but it could be that he’s back in the Canalside physio room before long.
- Farewell big(ish) screen – According to a club update published a few days ago, this game was the last time we’ll see the current big screen that sits at the back of the South Stand. Work began on the installation of a new, jumbo-tron style screen on Wednesday this week and will take weeks to conclude. For Saturday’s game, and a fair few others by the sounds of it, there will be a temporary score board in place in the corner between the South Stand and the Kilner Bank. While I’m sure most fans would prefer we spent our money on a big target man to play up front, these kinds of “quality of life” improvements at the stadium do make the match day experience that bit better.
(McCann) said that they should have been 4-0 up at half-time … is that not the point? They werent, so in that Town deserve credit. We had at least 3 or 4 goal saving challenges as well as the sitters missed by Rovers. Healey’s dabut reminds me of the coup we had when we signed David May on loan from Man U , that lasted 35 minutes as I recall before he went off injured and we invoked the 14 day money back guarantee.
I can now imagine Barrow’s chairman arguing with Argos customer services that he was broken when they signed him while he tries to get a refund on Healey. We could have done with a returns policy on a lot of our signings in recent years.
Including Tyreece Simpson who was signed knowing he would be out injured for four months, ironically missing now as he has a long term injury
That’s a shame that he’s injured again but at least they weren’t daft enough to sign him while he had a significant injury. That was £500,000 well spent by Town!
As far as the lights are concerned, the tower by the away section wasn’t lit at all. That’s why we Kilner Bank denizens looked dark.
Glen, as well as that floodlight being out completely, the digital advertising board that runs between the 2 tiers in each of the Riverside and the South was not functioning for long periods (I wasn’t looking at it for most of the time of course!); though I’m sure it ‘flickered’ on at least one occasion, indicating a fault I suppose, as against a planned shutdown of one of the electrical phases as a part of the scoreboard work. Just a guess ….
It felt like there was a disco happening behind me at times, so that must have been the advertising boards failing. One panel in the pitch side ones in the Kilner Bank also failed.
Ah, I was in the Riverside so didn’t even look at the ones on my side of the ground. Maybe the other ones were cranked up to compensate.
And of course, McCann is – and always was – a whinger …. not in the same class as Garry Monk-on but pushing him close. I also pml at the billy sharp post-match interview. Ha b****y ha
I just watched Sharp’s interview, very similar to McCann. According to Google, he’s scored seven goals against Town in his career but it feels like more. He’s a player I always assume will score when he plays us so I was delighted when his number came up to come off without him getting one. Though he should have left earlier for his rash reaction to Joe Low’s challenge.
Here’s a link to the interview: https://youtu.be/U-sJAnX5IkA?si=NUPpQPI_v7PghhI9
Having said that, the point about Goodman feigning injury (allegedly) is a valid one which I’ve seen happen in loads and loads of games …. though because loads of teams do it, I personally class it as cheating. The tactic’s used presumably cos goalkeepers don’t need to leave the field for 30 seconds after receiving on-field treatment.
I saw a clip someone posted on Twitter where Goodman did the exact same thing for Wimbledon last season (possibly against Doncaster, I can’t remember). It’s like pinching yards at throw ins, wrong but seemingly tolerated. I’d rather Town use these little bits to give themselves an advantage than trying to be noble gentlemen while other teams push the limits.
Floodlights or A massive robust center forward plus winger ???
McCann was a whiner as a player.
So don’t know why we expect anything different has a manager .
For the record, Taylors shirt 👕 had been stretched by there defender , to be 10 x bigger . Pulled him down , all in the box . McCann blind has well as stupid.
UTT- ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
I noticed whining, whingeing Grump Mac didn’t make any comment about Silly Billy attempting to break our player’s ankles with a retaliatory, lunging 2 footed scythe-down.
I remember seeing that and thinking it had to be a red card. Then I was disappointed it was only a yellow. Before remembering how bad we were against ten men in the Blackpool game and feeling relieved the ref spared us that again.
Honestly? I’d rather have working floodlights so I can see the match without feeling like a rabbit in the headlights. Though hopefully there’s money in the pot for transfers and stadium maintenance.
The new screen is currently being installed, so I suspect the dodgy electrics on Tuesday must be linked to the work being done to accommodate a much bigger screen.
I respect McCann’s work with this team but I’m glad he’s not our manager as he’s hard to like.
I thought the pull on Taylor’s shirt was more subtle than that. Maybe it’s a quality control issue with the new kit manufacturer!
Adding to your ‘Any Other Business’ thread, one of the things I noticed on Tuesday was our groundsman’s continued excessive watering of the pitch before the game. So much so that even after 25 minutes of play water was still splashing up from players boots and the ball was slowing in places. I get they want a wet surface to allow the ball to zip around but invoking a monsoon 10 minutes before kick-off is extreme. At some point it is going to lead to an underhit backpass and a goal, heaven help the groundsman if its Town who conceed it.
It’s a modern obsession in football to saturated the pitch. But, like you say, when it goes too far it creates the opposite of the desired effect. We want a slick passing surface but too often ends up like playing in a swamp.
McCann is of course right in that Rovers were well on top in the first half and should’ve taken the lead, but they failed to score and Town came back excellently in the second half. However, it’s always surprising to hear a manager not knowing the rules and even using his players not knowing the rules as an excuse for them switching off: the referee should always drop the ball to the team in possession when it hits him – and it would be shocking if the Doncaster players weren’t aware of that. Calling almost tearing the jersey off a player “a soft penalty” is also pretty daft, in particular in a season where PGOML have been very public about declaring that holdings in the penalty area should be punished more severely. Interestingly, McCann didn’t mention the only really strange decision by the referee: Billy Sharp’s retaliation on Joe Low should normally be a straight red card; both the referee and the assistant referee seemed to have good, unobstructed views, so I fail to understand why they only gave a yellow.
Billy Sharp wasn’t the only one together away with it. Low had another tussle with a wee Rovers player, by the goal line and whilst Low was on the floor he raised a boot, ala Beckham v Argentina, although not under the refs nose. I think the ref was okay with a few handbags and let both incidents go by.
I did think the ref should have given out at least one red card to them. But I’m also pleased he didn’t, after the Blackpool debacle.
The drop ball did seem to create some confusion but if anything, the way the rule was implement helped them as it gave them a brief break to get organised and set. I’d guess some didn’t expect us to be given the drop ball because we were in possession just before the incident but the ball clearly bounced off their player and onto the ref, so we deserved the drop ball.
I’m sure the managers have all be fully briefed on the way referees want to officiate games but it’s easy to forget this when it doesn’t suit your agenda.
The first half display was a concern. It was reminiscent of last season as was the Blackpool game, we lacked ideas and look like a team of rabbits caught in the floodlights. I hope our game plans will combat this moving forward and we will not allow lesser teams to run us ragged again. The second half was much better and the substitutions did make a difference.
The fluorescent lights in the kilner bank didn’t come on until mid way through the second half, it looked dark because it was dark. Maybe a cost saving exercise or they wanted to shock the opposition into thinking another 8000 had just turned up.
Grant McCann needs to remind himself who he is, who he is coaching and most importantly who he is playing.
I’m not sure I’d describe Doncaster as one of the “lesser teams” in League One as they looked really good when they were on top. Though I think there’s some truth that we can’t let other teams impose their game on us and that was the key change in the second half, we were a lot less passive without the ball.
I’d not noticed the floodlight issue but that and the flickering of the advertising boards makes me think they’ve been messing with the electrics in advance of the new big screen being installed.
Why do u all think mccan is a moaner he was just stating the facts . You are not or never will be a big club and you need to get used to it . We will never be a big club ( donny ) and we know it so get real .We won’t go up this year and neither will you and I’d be very surprised if Lee grant lasts the season . He wouldn’t be able to do the job mccan has done on a shoestring so I know who I’d rather have managing my club ..all the best for the season ahead and they’ll be at least 6 better teams that finish above you. Come on stevenage.
I can see you have a similar temperament to your manager, so it does make sense you have a tin ear when it comes to someone whining and indulging in sour grapes. Historically, Huddersfield Town’s average position has been around the second tier, so we are unquestionably a big team in League One. We also have a very wealthy owner who has spent a lot on our team, so are big in terms of the quality of players. Though not to the extent McCann talked about our spending, suggesting we’d spent something like £20m on players. Very few of our signings have arrived for fees, so that figure is pure fantasy. Though Nagle has said his spending on Huddersfield Town is around £50m since he took over, but a lot of that will be settling debts, acquiring the club and pouring money down the drain on bad players.
You sound like a bit of a tool when you wish us well despite being quite unpleasant with all your other remarks. Why say things you obviously don’t mean? If I’m honest, I genuinely want Doncaster to do well because you played some decent football and I like to see that rewarded. Though comments like yours and McCann’s after the game make you a lot harder to like.
I’ve got the opposite view of you, as I think both Town and Doncaster are at least among the best six teams in the league and will most likely be competing for promotion. I find it a bit odd that you’re not more optimistic about at least your team’s chances. Though thinking about it, you look to be just trying to get a rise out of Town fans. So well done!
Are Bournemouth and Brighton ‘big clubs’?
I think any club that can sustain themselves in the Premier League for an extended period is a big club even if they have a smaller fan base and don’t have a rich history at the top end of the football pyramid. That weird guy from Doncaster probably has his own special formula to calculate the bigness of a club. Though he’s some way to go before being as obsessed about the size of club as Sheffield Wednesday fans.