Huddersfield Town player ratings as Terriers fortunate to get three points against Rotherham
Lenny Agbaire's own goal provided a very unconvincing 1-0 win for Liam Manning's side, despite an almost complete paucity of attacking threat
Lee Nicholls - 7
Forced into a good save at the top corner early on to keep out a looping effort. Had the scramble to get a dodgy Radinio Balker backpass away from danger under pressure.
Bali Mumba - 6
Started at right-back. Had to play a more conservative role than when he has been at left wing-back but did it well enough.
Radinio Balker - 6
Put in a perfectly unobjectionable 42 minutes — that backpass aside — before going down with a groin injury that forced him out of the game.
Murray Wallace - 7
Drew some impatient grumbles from the fans with his patient approach on the ball — not sure if that was about trying to draw a press or waiting looking for options to present themselves. Defensively sound and made a vital block int eh last mintue of injury time, which Rotherham claimed as a handball but not given.
Sean Roughan - 7
He at least looked to play the ball forward when he could, we’ll give him that, and looked frustrated whenever he had to go backwards due to a lack of options ahead of him. Put in a good shift with his defensive work. Good cross from the left to force the own goal.
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Ryan Ledson - 6
Tried to play quick one-touch football where it was appropriate, usually to try and bring Marcus Harness into play quickly — a shame his teammates refused to join in. Made some decent challenges in the first half, often to make up for mistakes by his teammates. Overhit a couple of passes into the box out for goal kicks.
Cameron Humphreys - 4
Had some bright moments, most notably getting to the byline and crossing for Ryan Hardie to head off target, and playing a lovely long ball onto the wing for Ashia. Won some decent sliding tackles too. But was often too slow, much too unadventurous, and occasionally sloppy with the ball in the first half, drawing the groans of the crowd multiple times in the first half. Just not what the side needed on the occasion. Better in the final half hour. With some justification, felt he should have had a penalty in the second half after looking like he was pulled down inside the box after beating a defender. Great delivery from the resulting corner for Josh Feeney’s saved header.
Antony Evans - 5
Made his first start of the season, operating as a number 10 who tended to drift to the left in search of space — but often felt compelled drop deep to try and give Town an out ball as they kept getting stuck int heir own half. Played some promising through balls looking for Hardie, giving Town a bit of something that has been missing from the side. A bit over-ambitious with some of his passing but hard to knock him too much for trying a risky ball in a side that didn’t do nearly enough of it. Got a bit of a kick just before we went off but that substitution was already in the works — didn’t look to be anything serious.
Marcus Harness - 3
Played off the left wing. Struggled to get his into the game in the early going and pretty much strayed in that vein throughout the first half. Was under heavy pressure most of the time he got the ball but was unconvincing even when he had space.
Cameron Ashia - 4
In for his first start since facing Rotherham in the Trophy. Plenty of endeavour and running, as usual, but didn’t find any moments of real quality. Made an important clearance midway through the second half to get away a dangerous ball to the back post.
Ryan Hardie - 4
Cut a frustrated figure for the first 10-15 minutes then looked a little rusty with the timing of some of his runs and work with the ball when Town actually gave him something to try and get onto. Took a poor touch after racing onto the best pass of the game courtesy of Evans, causing the opportunity to go begging. Forced Lenny Agbaire to go up for the header that looped over the keeper for the own goal.
Substitutes
Josh Feeney (for Balker 45) - Introduced just before the break for his stricken comrade. Had a great header superbly kept out off Humphreys’ corner. No issues at the back. 7
Bobby Wales (for Evans 62) - Named on the bench with Alfie May missing through illness. Came on alongside Hardie as Town went two up top. Chased and harried well. Unnecessarily offside on a late opening. 4
David Kasumu (for Harness 62) - Offered his usual work rate and was a benefit to Town’s play. 6
Will Alves (for Hardie 82) - Useful trickery and ball-keeping for the closing stages to see the result out. n/a
Unused substitutes: Jak Alnwick, Lasse Sorensen, Mickel Miller.
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