Uninspired Huddersfield Town prompt Darren Moore questions in five conclusions on Norwich defeat

The Terriers never sparked into life despite being given the chance to exploit a poor start by David Wagner's side

1. A better side than Huddersfield Town would have exploited Norwich City early on

You don’t need to read the Pink ‘Un every week to know that David Wagner’s side have been extremely up and down this season. With Huddersfield Town effectively flatlining down in 21st, it felt before the game like the only way the visitors were likely to get anything was by catching Norwich on an off day.

And in fact, they did. Norwich were not at it at all in the first 25 minutes. Even with Town initially continuing their improved work on the ball from the Millwall game, it really does take a lot of passive defending to allow Town as much time and space on the ball as they got here.

But of course, Town did absolutely nothing to exploit that. They continue to act like a pint of Guinness 0.0%: they may bear resemblance to the real thing and contain a fair bit of iron, but they’re completely flat and provoke none of the giddiness and warm feelings you would normally expect.

Town’s issues were only exacerbated by their best players all having an off day, with David Kasumu, Jack Rudoni and Sorba Thomas all falling short of the standard you would expect from them.

As such, Norwich were allowed to get through a poor start without so much as a fresh pair of Christmas mittens laid on them. Once they scented blood from forcing Chris Maxwell to save an Ashley Barnes header midway through the first half, it was only going to go one way – and that’s exactly the way it went.

Darren Moore was once again left holding back barely-concealed anger after the game, particularly around the timing of the opening goal. His side have a horrible habit of conceding either immediately before or immediately after the break this season, doing so:

• In the 42nd minute against QPR

• In the 43rd minute against Cardiff

• In the 45th minute against Leeds

• In the 45th minute against Southampton

• In the 41st minute against Sunderland

• In the 46th minute against Bristol City

• In the 47th minute against Norwich.

That’s seven times in the space of just 12 games since 21st October, accounting for 35% of the goals Town have conceded in that time. Conversely, Town haven’t scored immediately before or after the break since Sorba Thomas forced an own goal out of Middlesbrough all the way back in August.

Conceding so early in the second half meant Moore had plenty of time to change things up, as they clearly needed to do: they had had just two shots in the first half, and none since a wayward Thomas effort in the 22nd minute.

Yet for some reason, those changes did not come.