Huddersfield Town player ratings from totally toothless defeat at Lincoln City
A set piece goal proved the difference in a 1-0 loss at Sincil Bank as the Terriers once again proved unable to do anything at all dangerous in the final third
Lee Nicholls - 6
No chance of doing anything on the corner from which Lincoln scored as a flick-on was looped over his head. Had very little to do for the rest of the game but did save well from Jovon Makama in the second half.
Ollie Turton - 4
Given plenty of license to get forward up the right flank and leave the defence in a back three, but ineffective with his work in the final third. That role felt much more fitting for Lasse Sorensen so no surprise that was the first change Jon Worthington made.
Radinio Balker - 6
Unable to stop Adam Jackson winning a flick-on from a corner for Reeco Hackett to tap in to give Lincoln the lead. Far tidier with the ball. Seemed to be struggling with little tweaks and twinges for most of the game and was eventually replaced.
Matty Pearson - 6
Switched sides with Balker from the last game so he could go into the middle of what became a back three on the ball. Much more steady than at the weekend and read the game well to cut out a couple of Lincoln counter-attacks.
Josh Ruffels - 6
In for the hamstrung Brodie Spencer as one of four changes to the starting line-up. Left-back out of possession, left of the back three on the ball. Absolutely fine.
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David Kasumu - 6
Sat alongside Hogg on the ball but a bit higher off it. Sharp and reactive with his defensive work, largely kept things simple on the ball. Took on the number 6 role for the final 15 minutes.
Jonathan Hogg - 6
Made his first start since February as Town’s deepest-lying midfielder and did the usual Jonathan Hogg stuff decently enough to keep the side ticking over. Finished the game at centre-back and started a really promising counter-attack through Ruben Roosken only for Joe Taylor to be called offside on the final pass.
Callum Marshall - 4
Really good at getting to second balls whenever the ball came loose up his side, and tried hard to move the ball closer to teammates to enable close-quarters exchanges to get the ball forward. Just not quite able to get free of the last defender despite getting into some good positions.
Ben Wiles - 4
Seemed to have Hackett covered on the corner but then switched off and paused momentarily to allow him to steal in for his tap-in. Had some decent moments, particularly when drifting out to the left, but Jon Worthington will want more from him in and around the box.
Josh Koroma - 4
A bit like Town as a whole: had some promising moments and worked hard, but lacked the quality he needed in the final third. Started brightly enough on the left wing but frustratingly unable to turn his running into creativity. Shooting and crossing consistently off target. Moved over to the right briefly before being subbed. Gave away some cheap offsides.
Joe Taylor - 4
Cut an extremely frustrated figure from around the half hour having once again been given a few too many hit-and-hope balls to chase into the corners. Was given a couple of better through balls up the middle to try and work with but was unable to free and clear of his former club’s deep-lying defence. Anonymous second half and called offside when Roosken put him through late on.
Substitutes
Lasse Sorensen (for Turton 55) - Strangely played a slightly more conservative full-back role than Turton, which felt the wrong way round. Did cause his former teammates some problems, but crossing not great. 5
Antony Evans (for Balker 73) - Took on Kasumu’s central midfield role. |n/a
Ruben Roosken (for Marshall 73) - Took over from Koroma on the left wing. n/a
Joe Hodge (for Kasumu 80) - The third and final players to take up the deep midfield role. n/a
Tawanda Chirewa (for Koroma 80) - Played right wing for the final few minutes, to no particular impact. n/a
Unused substitutes: Jacob Chapman, Freddie Ladapo.
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