Huddersfield Town player ratings as ten men squander two goal lead at Walsall
Huddersfield Town player ratings as ten men squander two goal lead at Walsall
Josh Koroma and Josh Ruffels had given the Terriers a two-goal lead in the Carabao Cup but Matty Pearson's red card allowed the League Two side a way back into the game
Chris Maxwell - 8
Alert to balls over the top and seemed to have everything covered, but wasn’t shown the trust to get there by some of his outfield teammates. Went the right way to deny Nathan Lowe from the penalty spot. Nothing he could do on the goals really, and made some other good stops in between times.
Matty Pearson - 3
Physically bested by big Nathan Lowe in the early going to allow the striker a one-on-one with Maxwell he should have put away. Made some good blocks to stop Walsall crosses, but was dismissed shortly before the break for grabbing hold on Jack Earing as he threatened to go clean through on Maxwell. A soft foul, but Pearson did reach out for his man - daft to give the referee the decision to make.
Ollie Turton - 7
Started in the middle of the back three. Played his way out of a couple of tight spaces and worked the offside trap well when appropriate. Shifted over to right-back for the second half as Town played 4-3-2.
Josh Ruffels - 8
Made his first competitive outing since last November on the left of the Town rear trio. Looked a little rusty at times in the first moments of the game, entirely understandably, and allowed Lowe to buy a soft foul that got Ruffels booked in a precursor to Pearson’s later red. Grew into the game, though and made a couple of important last-ditch challenges late in the first half before marking his return with a powerful header to double the lead. Blocked a good Walsall effort late on that looked goalbound.
Lasse Sorensen - 5
Had easily his quietest game to date before being sacrificed at the break to get Michal Helik on at centre-back.
Antony Evans - 5
Combative but frustrated performance, and walked the tightrope a bit in the second half having been booked just before the break. Great delivery on his corner to allow Ruffels the chance to head home Town’s second. Cleared off the line late on having allowed Walsall to get in on goal in the first place.
Jonathan Hogg - 5
Unconvincing in the first half with too many heavy touches and faced an uphill battle in the second half as Walsall repeatedly gained ground by playing over the top of the Town midfield.
Ben Wiles - 4
Had a lot of adventurous passes either blocked or intercepted and a couple of others that were simply misplaced.
Jaheim Headley - 3
Didn’t have much impact on the game from wing-back then had to move to left-back after the red card. Handed Walsall an absolute stonewaller of a penalty with a blatant push on Rohan Maher early in the second half and was poor on the Walsall equaliser, letting Albert Adomah get to the byline to cross all too easily.
Callum Marshall - 6
Energetic off the ball with numerous sharp challenges and interceptions, including one that led directly to a shot that flew narrowly wide. Taken off at the break to get the more experienced Danny Ward on as Town played with ten men.
Josh Koroma - 6
Opened the scoring with a powerful, straight strike to the bottom corner from just outside the box, but offered little thereafter.
Substitutes
Michal Helik (for Sorensen 46) - Partnered Ruffels in the back four as Town were forced to change. Unfortunate to concede an own goal as he tried to cut out a Liam Gordon cross. 6
Danny Ward (for Marshall 46) - Sent on to get another experienced head into the game. Provided a great cross ten minutes from time that Harratt couldn’t turn on target. A difficult brief. 5
Tom Iorpenda (for Wiles 67) - Worked hard to try and get Town back into the game, but in vain. 6
Kian Harratt (for Koroma 67) - Couldn’t get a proper connection on Ward’s header to find an equaliser. 5
Pat Jones (for Evans 85) - n/a
Unused substitutes: Lee Nicholls, Jacob Chapman, Omari Mrisho, Cameron Ashia.
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