Huddersfield Town News 24/7 

Conclusions from the smash and grab against Sheffield United

21/08/21

Two wins, one draw and one loss, not a bad way to start the season as Town executed the robbery for the three points at Bramall Lane in emphatic style. 29% possession and without a shot for 67 minutes, but Town won't care as an injury-time winner from an 18-year-old wonderkid ensured they got their first win on the road this season.

Josh Koroma was simply outstanding.

It is not often that the striker makes the most tackles in a team, but Josh today attempted 7 tackles, completed 5. He led from the front, was integral in winning the ball back for us. He may have robbed Sorba Thomas of an assist, but he adapted brilliantly to take the rebound, sit the defender down and pick his spot in the goal. The goal was reminiscent of the own goal that Preston scored on Tuesday evening. Holmes made the run in behind, Koroma slotted him through and the Preston player bundles his attempted tackle in. Today Koroma makes the same run and Thomas slips him through.
It may have taken Town's new number 10 four games, but Josh is now up and running in the Championship this season.

Carlos got his tactics spot on.

Defend for the first 70 minutes, then attack. It may not be a top-quality viewing, but Carlos is getting results. Last season Town scored early in games and clung on. They only came from behind once to win a game and lost nearly 30 points from winning positions. This season has seen a much more tempered approach. From the off, be more controlled and don't lose all your energy straight away and overexert yourself.
Town are now starting to grow in the game, use their substitutes to influence a game and keep fighting till the bitter end. How many times could you say that about The Terrier last season? Not many. It is clear that Carlos is learning and using failure to benefit future decisions. I think Corberan now needs to try and produce a formula for Town to be consistent throughout a game and not be so defensive, as it can be a poor watch. The only issue with this approach was exposed when Town played Fulham, they were defensive from the outset and they looked like they had no idea what to do when the plan to prevent them from scoring failed.
Last season, if Town concede in the 92nd minute, they would have gone on to settle for the point, if not lose, so it was a breath of fresh air for them to go on and try and get a winner and succeed.

Corberan would play 10 defenders if he could.

Naby Sarr, Matty Pearson and now Levi Colwill have got on the scoresheet this season. Defensively solid while being potent in attack, other than the humiliation at home to Fulham, Town have looked a million miles better than the side that conceded 71 goals last term.
I am a big fan of Ollie Turton, no-nonsense, proper footballer, but when Town are relying on their wing backs to be one of their main creative outputs on the pitch, I am unsure of his impact. I think he is better suited in a back four. If we are continuing to play this 5, then Pipa is needed back as soon as possible as you can't ask Turton to do the attacking work we need him to do.
The return of Toffolo is timely and Ruffels will be hoping for some minutes in the near future after being out with COVID. Town have added depth and quality to the defence this season and with a goalkeeper who is looking confident, Town are looking solid at the back.

The last 15 minutes were some of the most exciting we had seen in a long time!

It was a dire watch on Tuesday, although Town won. It was the same again today until the 75th minute, but the last 15 minutes made it all worth it. Town taking the lead against the run of the play, then putting up a valiant defensive effort, the agony of the injury time equaliser, but the ecstasy of the winner. Football is a form of entertainment at the end of the day, analysts can sit here and say Sheffield United wasted their chances or Huddersfield don't do enough progressive passes, but you have to entertain and bring enjoyment to the fans, otherwise they don't turn up. Today was another poor watch for the first 75, Town didn't have their first attempt of the game until the 67th minute, but the fans will go home happy. They can say, A that they won, B it was worth the ludicrous £33 ticket price and C they will forget about how boring the first 75 minutes was, because the last 15 stays in their memory.

Town are starting to build a bit of form here.

Two wins in 5 days, a free hit in the cup against Everton before a home game against slow starters Reading, who are without star striker Lucas Joao. Town took advantage of Sheffield United and they now have a chance to do the same to Reading. Even with Town's battering against Fulham, they are still only 3 points off the top. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, but it would be great if Town could end August with 10 points in the bag and a fifth of the way to Championship survival!

Ref Review

I think it should become a feature of all my reports from now on that I review the officials. For those that have read my conclusions before, you would know I think the Championship officials are horrific, but today was surprisingly different. Michael Salisbury was the man in the middle and he put in the best performance I have seen by a match official this season. He didn't let any player 'buy' a foul and really let the game flow. Maybe Town could have had a penalty for a bodycheck on Campbell, but Salisbury was consistent and fair for both sides.
Rating: 9/10

Town side:

Starting 11: Lee Nicholls, Ollie Turton, Matty Pearson, Naby Sarr, Levi Colwill, Sorba Thomas, Lewis O'Brien, Jonathan Hogg, Scott High (60' Harry Toffolo), Josh Koroma (81' Alex Vallejo), Danny Ward (60' Fraizer Campbell)
Subs: Ryan Schofield, Harry Toffolo, Alex Vallejo, Danel Sinani, Tom Lees, Fraizer Campbell, Duane Holmes
Formation: 532