Huddersfield Town player ratings as Terriers run riot over Port Vale
Lee Grant's side sound saw off League One's bottom side with a 5-0 victory at Accu Stadium
Apologies for lateness on this - I thought I had hit send but apparently not!
Lee Nicholls - 6
Had a restful Boxing Day with nothing to worry about all afternoon.
Radinio Balker - 7
Got away with losing track of Ben Waine in the first 90 seconds as the Port Vale forward met a cross and put his shot into the side netting. No issue defensively after that. Got to the byline to create a chance for Leo Castledine late in the first half. Took a bit of a knock around the hour and continued for a bit before being subbed off.
Joe Low - 7
Largely given routine work to do by an extremely poor Port Vale side (more like Poor-t Vale, am I right?) but did what he needed to do confidently and well.
Murray Wallace - 7
Ditto.
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Lynden Gooch - 8
Caused Port Vale problems in all kinds of ways: his runs, his crossfield balls, his drives inside to shoot from the edge of the box, including going inches wide with another attempt late in the first half.
Marcus Harness - 8
Made up for missing an interception by winning a tackle then setting Castledine on his way to score. Claimed his second assist ten minutes later as he found Ryan Ledson in space with a crossed free kick from the left. Consistently reliable outlet to get Town out of their own half.
Ryan Ledson - 8
We’re very much in favour of a volleyed back heel as a way to score your first goal for the club. Constantly in the right place to win loose balls and clearances and quickly put Town back on the attack.
Leo Castledine - 9
Made it six goals in seven outings as he ran straight at the Port Vale defence before passing into the bottom corner to open the scoring early on. Had a deflected effort saved before Radulovic turned home the rebound and had a decent chance well blocked later on in the first half. Improved his record yet further in some style as Town got their fifth goal, bursting into space then playing a one-two off Radulovic and curling it into the top corner. Got a well-earned rest for the final 20 minutes.
Sean Roughan - 8
Defended his flank well. Got forward into acres of space as Town hit Port Vale on the counter-attack just after half time and played Alfie May in to score. Provided some good set piece deliveries.
Alfie May - 8
Had a glancing header very well saved from a set piece late in the first half. Cleverly held his run at the end of a Town counter-attack before finishing smartly to the bottom corner. Constant nuisance off the ball.
Bojan Radulovic - 9
Another all-round superb performance up top. Scored a proper striker’s goal as he made sure he got to the rebound from Gooch’s shot to score Town’s third goal. Played a significant part in the build-up to the fourth with a wonderful cross-field pass to find Roughan before Vale could get men back. Ended his afternoon with an absolutely exquisite back-heeled assist to set up Castledine’s second goal. Taken off to give him a rest ahead of the next game having played his part.
Substitutes
Dion Charles (for Radulovic 59) - Came on with the result well beyond doubt. 6
Cameron Ashia (for Castledine 69) - Didn’t get a huge amount of opportunity to make an impression in the number 10 role as Town calmly saw out the game. Booked for a rash tackle from behind. 6
Lasse Sorensen (for Gooch 69) - Put a difficult header over the bar off May’s dinked cross late on. 6
Ruben Roosken (for Balker 69) - Took over at wing-back with Roughan joining the back three. Booked for a petulant foul in responses to a challenge he felt should have been given as a foul on him. 6
David Kasumu (for Ledson 78) - n/a
Unused substitutes: Owen Goodman, David Kasumu, Joe Taylor.
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