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Blackburn Conclusions

29/09/21

Danny Ward showed exactly why he is in the team

I mentioned in the Forest conclusions that Town fan's shouldn't be blaming the striker for the defeat as it was a lack of creativity in open play that was the issue, Town today created the most amount of the chances from open play we have seen all season. There was a bit of luck that Danny Ward was in the positions he was in to be able to receive the ball, but if anything he has probably missed that luck in recent weeks. Arguably he could have had a hat trick of headers if he managed to convert his chance in the first minute. If anything comes from this, hopefully Wardy has gained confidence, while Town has shown themselves that they are able to create chances in open play which has been a stumbling block in recent games.

Danel Sinani will score direct from a corner this season.

Danel took 5 corners today and Town looked like scoring from each of them, although Town didn't manage to get any contact on any of them and the 'keeper claimed them, it was one of those where if the 'keeper is that split second too late, Town are scoring. Danel was whipping it in at the back post and it wouldn't surprise me if he manages to score directly from the corner flag this season as he looks more likely to score from there than in open play!
I am still unsure on Sinani's attacking importance in open play and his ability to finish, his dead ball ability is scarily good, but in open play he has missed a few really good chances where you would have expected to score at least one. With this being said he has been very impressive and is a huge upgrade on what we had in that area last season.

Lewis O'Brien was key for Town

Usually, Lewis is religiously praised by Town fans for his performance (sometimes in my view, it is not entirely justified), but today he was the reason Town won the game. Playing in that advanced 8 role Lewis was pivotal in possession turnover, ball transfers and then chance creation. 8/10 tackles completed, 3 key passes, 1 interception and being unlucky not to have scored when he hit the woodwork early on in the game.
He was named as captain for the injured Hogg and he did a good job in rallying the team to victory, with it being the first time since 2nd January 2017 that Town won a game which neither Hogg nor Schindler were involved in.
I think against these expansive sides who are happy to run with the ball, Lewis is in his element, for me anyway he plays his best football when Town are playing the likes of the Brentford's, West Brom's and Blackburn's. When he is given licence to roam and win the ball back in the advanced 8, with Vallejo behind him Town look really good.

Town needs to be better at the back against the better sides.

Ben Brereton-Diaz showed why he is the Championship top scorer tonight with his 5th goal in two games, but it was too easy for him. The first goal he wandered past 2 or 3 defenders and it was a gift to him the penalty. Town allowed Rothwell too much time on the ball and he was pivotal in their attacking play. If Town did this when West Brom are in town, West Brom might score as many goals as Lancashire managed ducks today against Warwickshire (5).
Back to the point, Town allowed Blackburn (whose cricket fans must be wondering why they like sport) two chances that were above 0.5 xG, for reference Town didn't have one, win or lose that is unacceptable from the team.
The penalty was poor from Sarr, there was no need for it and shows why he is the backup defender in the side at the moment. It could have been really costly for Town had it condemned town to a point and why I don't think it should go unnoticed even though Town won.

It was a great fight from Town to win.

Conceding two equalisers when leading and then still managing to win is not a thing that is usually associated with Huddersfield Town. It was important from that perspective that Town won as it gives them a foundation to say that they have experienced it before and pulled through it for future games when this inevitably happens. Town still however, need to work out a way of coming back into games when they go behind as shown against Nottingham Forest and Swansea where they struggled to make an impact.
On the topic of Swansea and Forest, it was another key point that they hit back at the critics with a win and playing expansive football after those two dismal displays. Roll on Luton!