Huddersfield Town player ratings from 1-1 draw at Northampton
The Terriers were once again hurt by a lapse in concentration that allowed the hosts to score an early opener before Leo Castledine's goal secured a point
Lee Nicholls - 4
Caught in two minds by Conor McCarthy’s excellent cross to the back post as the hosts opened the scoring — just never got a proper read on it. Had little else to do beyond routine work.
Josh Feeney - 7
Played as the right-sided centre-back in a new-look 3-5-2. Played on in some discomfort after seeming to tweak his groin when winning a tackle early on, but was able to walk it off. Looked to take both man and ball with a second-half challenge — hard one to call but probably did just enough to justify nothing being given. Won another good tackle inside the box at the end of Northampton counter-attack.
Joe Low - 6
Composed performance throughout the first half. Won the ball well on halfway to set Town on their way to their equaliser. Had an iffy first ten minutes in the second half with an unnecessary backpass that pout Nicholls under pressure and a poor touch that let Northampton in the box before Feeney bailed him out. Settled back down after that and went back to defending the box well.
Murray Wallace - 6
Good and combative where he needed to be. Looked to have let Jordan Thorniley get free in the box late in the first half but recovered and did just enough to put him off his finish. Over-ambitious with some of his long balls early on but kept things a bit simpler thereafter.
Lasse Sorensen - 3
Right wing-back. Completely switched off at the back post as Northampton took their early lead, allowing Nesta Guinness-Walker to steal in and volley home under no pressure. Had a few opportunities to get forward in the second half but his crossing was awful - hooked after two poor balls into the box in quick succession.
Marcus Harness - 7
Reliable with his defensive work in central midfield. Played a deeper-lying playmaker role to decent effect and released Charles up the right to set up Leo Castledine’s goal.
David Kasumu - 6
The deepest lying midfielder behind Harness and Castledine with Ryan Ledson suspended. Took a bit of time to warm up into the game but was decent after the break, doing his part to break up Northampton’s counter-attacks and try to put Town on the front foot. Chased back to stop a late counter-attack by the hosts and did enough to stop Ethan Wheatley getting clean through on goal.
Leo Castledine - 7
Town’s most advanced midfielder, playing a bit higher than Harness did on the other side of Kasumu. Scored for a fourth league game in a row to make it 1-1, putting a well-taken header into the bottom corner off Charles’ cross.
Sean Roughan - 7
Left wing-back. Played a fabulous long ball in behind the Northampton defence to find Charles’ run late the first half, only for the striker to waste that chance. Looked for that ball a few more times and caused Northampton some problems with it. Created a late chance for Ashia after making an interception and getting forward to cross.
Dion Charles - 6
Can’t fault his efforts at all but he absolutely did not have his shooting boots on, otherwise we’d be talking about an excellent performance. Cleared the stand with an early shot on goal after doing well to make the chance for himself, and hit row Z midway through the first half with a presentable chance after seizing a loose ball. Kept motoring away and put in a good ball for Castledine to head home the first-half equaliser. Missed a glorious chance off Roughan’s brilliant ball in behind the defence, looping over the bar with only the keeper to beat. Put another teasing ball across the face of goal just after the hour that just needed someone on the end of it.
Bojan Radulovic - 6
Made the space for Castledine to put home a free header. Pitched in to help defend set pieces and helped in the build-up, but didn’t get any chances on goal until the 78th minute when he shot straight at the keeper just after he had pushed away a Cameron Ashia cross - should have done better. Had another shot blocked shortly after off Roughan’s cutback.
Substitutes
Cameron Ashia (for Sorensen 74) - An attack-minded switch at wing-back. Brilliant first touch to control Feeney’s pass over the top on his way to putting in a cross that the keeper cut out. Put a late strike straight at the keeper. 6
Joe Taylor (for Charles 77) - Took over from Charles but unable to win forward balls to the same effect. 5
Alfie May (for Castledine 86) - Took over the attacking midfield role but no real opportunity to influence the game. n/a
Unused substitutes: Owen Goodman, Radinio Balker, Dan Vost, Ben Wiles.
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