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Post by TomTheTerrier on Mar 7, 2009 20:36:00 GMT 1
This is the first match report I’ve done for the last 3 games, so let’s have a recap of those fantastic Huddersfield wins we’ve not covered. Last week Town visited Stockport, taking with them another bumper away following that were keen to see Lee Clark’s first away win. With much speculation during the week surrounding the Stockport manager Jim Gannon, Town were hoping that Stockport would be flustered, and they could take advantage. After interest from Brighton, the Stockport board decided that rather than letting Gannon go to the beach, they’d bring the beach to Gannon, as the two sides lined up at Edgeley Park on one of the worst surfaces I’ve ever witnessed. Michael Palin did a 3 part documentary about crossing it. Despite the awful conditions, Town played well, with Pilkington in particular impressing, and should have come away with the 3 points, but for a freak Nathan Clarke own goal on the 91st minute.
It was two points thrown away, but all was not lost, and the Terriers had the opportunity to put things right only a couple of days later, at home to Colchester on a blustery Tuesday night. Sadly, things were definitely not put right, and a shoddy first-half performance saw Town go in 1-0 down at the break. Just for a change, the players came out for the second half fighting, and Town pulled level and then took the lead with goals from Pilkington and Roberts, now all that was left was to see out the game! Bugger. Another late goal, this time for Colchester, robbed Town of another 2 points, and effectively shut the playoff door in the minds of all those but the most optimistic.
And so to today, as Town lined up against Millwall. For all ‘must win’ games that there’ve been in recent times, (I count about 8), this one really was it. (No really). Only a win would be good enough to keep Town’s slim, neigh, anorexic playoff hopes alive. Luckily after the last two matches, we must have sorted out the whole conceding late goals thing, right?
Lee Clark’s men lined up in the accustomed fashion, with Lucketti stepping in for the injured Nathan Clarke, and Ainsworth for the sadly absent Cadamarteri. Craney partnered Collins in the centre, replacing the suspended Goodwin. Roberts started the game playing just behind Ali Dia up front. Millwall had clearly not turned up to sit back and play for a draw, lining up in a very attacking 433 formation to stretch Town’s defence. It was the cockney Lions who seized the early initiative, forcing a lethargy-laced Town team straight onto the back foot. Smithies threw a horribly awkward ball out to Holdsworth that was intercepted by the switched-on Millwall striker, who drifted a deep cross to the back post, that Butler could only head against the upright with Smithies stranded. It was unconvincing stuff, and Town were lucky to get away with it.
Town weren’t moving the ball around well, and the only efforts on goal were speculative ones from long distance that even Jon Worthington would scoff at. Second to every ball, and looking clueless at times, it was frustrating stuff for an edgy and subdued Galpharm crowd. The Millwall fans on the other hand were sounding confident. Apparently the ever-terrified West Yorkshire Police had heard that a fair few years ago Millwall had a bit of a reputation for unsavoury behaviour, and so the away fans for this game were housed in a large steel cage, surrounded by far too many police officers, poking them through the bars with long sticks. Back on the pitch, Town continued to struggle, with Ainsworth beating his man but steering the ball comfortably into the hands of the Millwall keeper.
It clearly wasn’t working for Town, so Clark moved Roberts back out to the left, and Pilkington in behind a tall, lethargic, slow bloke who had stumbled into a Town shirt and onto the pitch. Millwall were doing a good job of keeping Clark’s men at arms length, exerting their physical presence across the park and particularly in the air where the referee apparently saw no issue in their centre-backs hitching piggyback rides on blue and white shirts. The referee and the female Linesfarce seemed in agreement that anyone wearing a bright orange shirt could do no wrong. Millwall continued to push, with their wide forwards looking dangerous and sending some good balls into the box. There was a marked difference between their way of doing things, and Town’s. When we break forwards down either flank, in the box we generally have Ainsworth, without a hope in hells chance of winning a header, Collins hanging around the edge, and, on today’s evidence, a striker tottering around 30 yards out from goal. Millwall on the other hand, had 4 and 5 players all surging into the box at full pace whenever the cross was on, and looked a lot more dangerous for it. The Terriers were lucky to go in at the break level.
Half-time saw the thoroughly original crossbar challenge rear it’s apathetic head once again. Apparently someone had lost the broom from the other week. One particularly poor effort from a young lad drew sarcasm from the frankly hilarious announcer, who moments later will have regretted making fun, as the ball was pinged against the bar on the second attempt, raising probably the loudest cheer of the game. Sign him up.
The sides ran out for the second half unchanged, but almost immediately after they had kicked off Clark made his first change, with Legend replacing the honestly pathetic Lukas, who left the field to ironic jeers that he actually deserved. Apparently he is contractually obligated to play with lead in his boots, because that is the only explanation I can think of for his complete inability to run, or jump. He makes Boothy look like Spiderman. It was genuinely one of the most ineffective and lazy performances I’ve seen by someone in the blue and white, and that says a lot considering how hard Jevons worked to claim the title earlier in the season. Town created a superb opportunity as Roberts played the ball through for Ainsworth to destroy the Millwall centre-back for pace, but then roll his finish wide of the post. It really should have been a goal.
Booth immediately showed why he deserved to be on the pitch, and in my opinion, to have started, when he got on the end of a fantastic Roberts’ cross only seconds after coming on, diverting it just wide of the far post. Town started to apply some pressure, keeping hold of the ball and applying enough to force corners, with Butler coming close. Out of nowhere though, Millwall broke, with James Henry turning Holdsworth inside out and finding Mark Laird free in the area to volley home past Smithies. It was against the run of play in the second half, but Town were not without spirit and the goal seemed to wake them up. Pilkington collected the ball on the right hand side and turned his fullback brilliantly, striding to the byline and drifting a pinpoint cross to Roberts at the back post who was able to finish impressively at full stretch. It was 1-1 and Town now had the initiative, spurred on by Galpharm faithful.
Town continued to press, with Boothy holding up the ball brilliantly in attack and bringing Collins, Craney and Pilkington into play. You can say all you want about Boothy’s pace and athleticism, but his ability to retain possession and find a Town shirt is second to none. Another corner from Roberts saw Williams come close but again the Millwall stopper saved well. Worryingly for the Town fans, just as it was looking like the home side might grab another goal, the always-dangerous Pilkington picked up a knock on his ankle, and was replaced by Tom Clarke who sat in the centre allowing Craney to move just behind Booth. This didn’t last long as shortly after Jevons replaced Ainsworth and Town went to a straight forward 442, with Craney on the right. Millwall gave Town a warning that they were still in the game just after the substitution, as they worked the ball well into the box and forced Smithies into a magnificent reflex save from a header.
As the clock ticked down, Clark’s men continued to look for a winner, piling the pressure on the Millwall defence who were holding together well. Ones things for sure though, Town wouldn’t fall into the late goal trap again! Not for a third time! That would be madness. Another Huddersfield corner saw only Holdsworth left in defence, and as the ball was partly cleared, the Millwall player latched onto it, running 60 yards down Town’s right, and then sliding the ball across to James Henry to slot past Smithies. The reaction from the home support was one of fury, particularly in the DG lower as Town fans charged down the steps to scream their anger at the female linesfarce. It did appear that when the ball was played Henry was two yards clear of Holdsworth, and easily offside. The lineswoman apparently judged that the Goal Shooter was inside the shooting circle when the Wing Attack threw him the ball. The Goal Defence begged to differ. Either way, it was yet more points thrown away by Town at the death after a lacklustre performance that surely signals the end of the playoff dream for another year.
Player Ratings:
Smithies – 8 – Made an early error with a poor throw to Holdsworth, but also made two superb saves from what looked like point blank range. Looked confident on crosses again.
Holdsworth – 5 – A poor game from Holdsworth, who looked shakey in defence and should have done better on the first goal.
Butler – 7- Looked solid in the air again as he usually does, and looked really up for the game. One poor header though almost cost Town a goal.
Lucketti – 7 – Dominated in the air, but as we all know his lack of pace is a real problem on the ground. Has to compensate at times by fouling which is dangerous.
Williams – 8 – For me, he had a great game. I didn’t see him put a foot wrong, his passing was spot on and he did brilliantly to cut out some Millwall passes before they reached their target.
Pilkington – 8 – A real quality player. His turn and cross for the goal was superb.
Collins – 6 – Wasn’t at the races today. I can’t think of anything to say because I didn’t notice him.
Craney – 6 – Stepping in for Goodwin in the defensive role, he didn’t have a bad game and won some tackles, but he looks better going forwards.
Ainsworth – 6 – A few pacey runs but the end product wasn’t there at all.
Roberts – 7 – Showed improvement after his last few below par performances, and in the second half looked almost back to his best. Took the goal very well from where I was sat.
Lukas – 0 – And that’s being generous. No effort, no passion, no pace, no strength, no skill, no fitness. Simply awful.
Subs:
Boothy – 8 – Did more in 40 minutes than Lukas has done in the last 3 games. Showed his class with his ability to retain the ball and always found a Town shirt.
Clarke – Had little time to make an impact.
Jevons – As with Clarke, although he did look a lot more interested than he usually does. The grass is always greener….
Lee Clark – Were his selections right today? Personally, I’d say not. Lukas shouldn’t have started the game because he isn’t anywhere near the level we need. In fairness he made the change just after half-time. Was Craney the right choice in the centre? That’s up for debate.
Overall, a first home defeat for Lee Clark that, until the next must-win game at Stadium MK, probably seals Town’s fate of more League 1 football next season.
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