Really foul weather - fine driving rain blown around by a blustery wind. Run ragged by their slick short passing (passing on the ground) game in the first half, we were lucky not to get to half time a goal or two behind. They moved the ball with accuracy and purpose through our non-existant midfield. Their were several examples of last ditch tackles and blocks in our box as Huddersfield looked odds on to score. Certainly there wasn't all that much that came through as far as Caspar but that was down to tenacious tackling in the area mixed with woeful final balls. Meanwhile we had thumped high balls up towards Beckford and Kandol - neither of whom were getting much change out of their Chalfs - who were "rugged". So imagine the laughs when the hitherto hopeless Douglas picked up a loose clearance about 30 yards out dead centre - "shoot" yelled some of the crowd "oh god, please don't" I thought, just as he hit a daisy cutter along the wet turf and into the left hand corner. Looked like the keeper might have done better. Then, after this brief interuption, it was time to return to the script thus far. Huddersfield passing rings round us. Douglas got a few tackles in but promptly gave the ball away. Kishishev looked off the pace - was rightly booked for a hopelessly late challenge and could have walked 15 minutes later for more or less the same thing. Prutton was doing OK on the right - some decent linking up with Fraser and Beckford. Westlake was being busy without achieving over much. Hughes was being given tough time by their right winger who was strong and fast. Hughes kept on fighting as you'd expect but I don't think this position does him many favours against a good winger. A lot of Huddersfield's early good stuff came down our left. The second half started with us swapping Howson for Kishishev. Looked to be a good move as we stepped up the pitch and really pressed each Huddersfield player whenever they had possession. We also kept the ball much better and began to pass it around, quickly putting their defence under a whole different set of pressures than in the first half. And it was't long before it paid off. Kandol and Beckford came much more to the fore; Richardson and Prutton made good headway down the right and swung some decent crosses. Howson seemed to believe that he could waltz through the middle...which he couldn't. Kandol was fed with a good early ball and moved in from the left - he should have been looking to play it square where he had 2 team-mates charging forward, but he delayed too long and nearly got caught. He was driven back round and out to the left where Prutton was lurking, he slid a low ball into the front post where Beckford got there before the defender and guided it home. "2-0 and its your keeper's fault" sang most of the 32, 000 in attendance. We're a bunch of heartless bastards, really. From then on we pressed and pressed, Beckford nearly getting free several times down the right, after quick balls out of defence released him. Howson and Westlake were featuring much more, picking the ball up, prompting and probing, and running miles on this dreadful heavy pitch. Westlake ran on through the inside left channel, pulled the ball low and hard across the box, Prutton's first effort was saved but it only spilled to Beckford who was where all good poachers should be. 3-0. Flo replaced Beckford with 10 minutes or so left. Did nothing again, except score that is. And that will do just fine. Marques lifted a long ball forward, Kandol flicked on, Westlake thumped a shot which was saved and again the poacher was there to pick up the pieces, this time it was Flo. On the first half this was tough on Huddersfield, but the truth was that as we upped the game in the second half they were floundering and while 4-0 flatters us a little, the victory was definitely earned over the 90 minutes. ANGKERGREN - more tidying stuff up than actual saves - made a good interception to touch a cross out of the way of the incoming forward early the second half RICHARDSON - decent defensively, good working of the Rwing with Prutton - some dubious passing though HUGHES - tough first half against a lively winger but stuck to it. I think that the team loses more than it gains by moving him to LBack. HEATH - his kind of game - dealt with the big ugly stuff - but was struggling with the fast quick passing when that came his way MARQUES - probably not his best but still better than the others PRUTTON - a real hard working game DOUGLAS - as ever with this guy - loads of effort goes into breaking stuff up, winning the ball back etc only to give it up too easily with some rank bad play. Nicely struck goal - but a decent keeper would have had it. KISHISHEV - off the pace - could have been sent off on 40 minutes WESTLAKE - v quiet start - increasingly influential as his midfield opposite number ran out of steam and sat further and further back BECKFORD - 2 goals - loads of running and threats - almost invisible in the first half KANDOL - worked hard again but looks like he desperately needs a couple of goals. Frustration showed at the end with his stupid booking for a petulant outburst. ---------- Subs Howson - pushed our midfield forward and upped the tempo - whether it was tactical as such or whether DW just thought that Kishishev was dea man walking, who knows, but I though it worked Flo - came on - scored - doesn't he always? Carole - with seconds left ---------- biggest crowd since forever in this league - lots of noise - great respect for the rememberance of Billy - even from Huddersfield, despite the apparent defacing of the statue in the early hours - as reported in the YP.
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