Five conclusions as Jon Worthington makes dream start

The Terriers raced to a four-goal lead inside half an hour against a rotten Crawley side, reclaiming their top six spot

1. Yeah, alright that

There’s always a different feeling about the first game under a new manager — a strange mix of freshness and cautious optimism, like the first day back at school after a long and boring summer holiday.

Only this time, we knew what to expect from a Jon Worthington side, and we already liked it. The interim head coach had delivered high-pressing, attack-minded football during an enjoyable spell last season. That’s exactly what we got again here.

We had to spare a thought for Michael Duff, who must have been sitting at home wishing he had the opportunity to take on this thoroughly dreadful Crawley side.

All of Huddersfield Town’s first four goals were gifts from the opposition. Crawley even followed up their own goal with an own assist for goals two and three. We don’t think we’ve seen a more shambolic defensive performance since Town lost 7-0 at Norwich back in 2020/21.

But we should balance that out with the fact that Town have been woeful in attack for months, especially at the John Smith’s Stadium. They scored as many goals here as they did in their previous ten home games combined. They have played plenty of other poor sides this season and struggled. This is the first time they’ve scored five in a game since beating Charlton in January 2016.

In light of all that, let’s not look pony Crawley’s horsey gifts in the mouth too much.

As Duff himself said last week, you make your own luck in this game, and Town certainly did more than enough to earn what they got. By the time Crawley were allowed a sniff, Town had already established an unassailable lead.

The Terriers were quick, they were incisive, they were tidy with the ball, and they put away their chances. This could not have been any further from the tentative, nervy, sloppy displays we have seen so many times this campaign.

This finally felt like a team no longer defined by its shortcomings — lack of height, quality, and leadership — but instead beginning to fulfil the potential it should have shown all season.

However long Worthington’s managerial career lasts, he is unlikely to face such a generous opponent again. But even if you went looking for fault in Town with that in mind, it was difficult to find.

2. Wingers! What a concept

Worthington made just three changes to the side that lost at Bristol Rovers last weekend, with Matty Pearson and Neo Eccleston the only players back available from injury.

But of course, the shape was completely different. Despite looking on paper like it fit best into a 3-5-2, Town in fact lined up in a flexible 4-3-3 that played more like a 4-2-3-1 in the earlier phases of the build-up.

None of it was complicated, but it was effective.

The back four held a straightforward brief, with neither Josh Ruffels nor Ollie Turton relied upon for creativity. Instead, they were there to facilitate the wingers, Ruben Roosken and Callum Marshall, supported as required by the three central midfielders.

Oh yes: wingers! Remember those?