htfcreports.com/2024/09/15/town-sort-of-answer-critics-with-emphatic-victory/Town (sort of) answer critics with emphatic victory.
While the supporters of Huddersfield Town have every right to complain and worry when defeats pile up, particularly given their experiences of the past few years, the criticism of the team and manager before the international break seemed a little lacking in context.
For all the trauma inflicted by serial mismanagement and a desperately poor relegation season, losing a couple of largely unlamented cup encounters with shadow squads and being on the wrong side of refereeing decisions at an admittedly deserved defeat against Rotherham provoked slightly hysterical reactions.
3 not entirely convincing league wins preceded the New York stadium defeat, a strong start to the league campaign wasn’t accompanied by a great deal of optimism and the over reaction to the subsequent defeats needed a response before negativity set in.
The performances of Town’s middle three in and amongst the losing streak were such that many felt that changes to the Hogg, Wiles and Evans triumvirate were not only necessary but inevitable. The lack of chemistry and cohesion had been evident for some time, but Michael Duff ignored the clamour for change from the armchair experts and retained faith in them all.
Standing in the way of Town’s quest for a much needed confidence boost were a Bolton Wanderers side suffering from a play off hangover of Oliver Reed proportions. Despite a shaky start and a goal drought, The Trotters were amongst the favourites for a promotion challenge at the start of the season and picking up points in Horwich is never easy, despite a good, relatively recent, record there for The Terriers.
A rather forgettable, generally even, first half of few chances was petering out when Miller found the hard working Marshall down the left. The youngster found his striking partner Koroma with a first time cross and the Sierra Leone international glanced the ball in past Bolton’s helpless keeper.
Up to that point, both sides were guilty of carelessness in possession and both squandered opportunities to capitalise when space opened up with neither keeper sufficiently disturbed or troubled.
Town caused their hosts some alarm down the right when Sorensen was released in to space but the passes to him were just inaccurate enough to blunt the threat, while some loose play freed Charles for a run on goal magnificently halted by Helik, who redeemed himself for his own initial mistake.
Koroma looked to have a good shout for a penalty as he tangled with a defender in the box following good work by Sorensen, only for the decision to be given against him. By this point, Town were beginning to exert some control over an untidy contest as the hosts became increasingly pedestrian and predictable against a backdrop of simmering discontent in the home stands.
The goal just before half time was a bitter blow to Bolton. In times of adversity, fortunes can be cruel and setbacks are deeply felt. The real damage was to come in the second half, but the visiting supporters could easily recognise a horrible pivotal moment when things are going badly.
While Bolton made a tactical change at half time with the more direct Adeboyejo replacing the ineffective Charles, an injury to Miller saw him replaced by Headley.
Dealing effectively with a brief opening flurry from the hosts, which included a booking for Hogg who pulled back another opponent he had let past him, Town established a superiority they weren’t to relinquish.
Substitute Headley floated a cross to the back post which was met by Evans, powering over his marker, only to be denied by a superb point blank save by Baxter. From the subsequent corner, Helik hooked a half chance over the bar.
Just before the hour, Town’s second goal finally arrived when, after a smart interchange in midfield, Wiles fed Koroma in behind the home defence. The contact which brought him down was clear, and very similar to the first half incident. This time the referee had a better view and pointed to the spot almost immediately.
Koroma calmly despatched the first penalty of the season and Town gained a two goal cushion and a stranglehold on the game they maintained with some comfort.
Ten minutes after the penalty, the destination of the 3 points was sealed as amidst a flurry of activity following a corner which Bolton seemed determined not to clear, Lees kept his head with a deft ball to Wiles who finished nicely to dispel any doubt about the result.
By the time Wanderers gifted Town a 4th goal in a comically inept manner, the ground had emptied of righteously aggrieved home fans and the stalwarts who remained were rewarded with the embarrassing spectacle of their team trying to pass around a penalty area press but only succeeding in presenting Evans with the easiest of chances to put a gloss on an emphatic victory.
A fourth league win from 5 games creates a significant shift in perspective with the meaningless cup defeats drifting out of the conversation and Town now have two winnable home games to cement their automatic promotion credentials in front of them.
Although Bolton proved to be poor opponents on the day, it is far from fanciful to suggest they can turn things around and Town have now ticked off 3 tricky away games and gathered 6 points, without really hitting any heights in performance.
Despite the win, the midfield combination still looks capable of improvement. Hogg was bypassed more times than was comfortable, and while Evans and Wiles had much improved performances, their partnership still lacks a certain dynamism and may come under pressure as options increase in the next few weeks.
Though it may seem churlish following such a heartening win to point out areas of weakness, and Sorensen’s fragile defending can be added, it is hugely encouraging that this squad can and will improve from a position of strength as injuries clear.
The positives, of course, also came well to the fore as Town ruthlessly exploited an opponent in disarray and after many miserable experiences on the road it was an afternoon to savour.
