Huddersfield Town player ratings as Terriers stink out the joint away to Burton
Lee Grant's side reverted to their worst habits as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against a side who started the day inside the relegation zone
Lee Nicholls - 5
Soundly beaten by all the Burton goals after being let down by his defence. Won a somewhat soft foul just before the hosts put it in the net for a third time and had it disallowed as a result.
Radinio Balker - 4
Up and down on and off the ball. Covered for Gooch well on a few occasions in the first half, but would follow up each good action with something poor. Too casual about getting back to try and cut out the cross for Burton’s third goal.
Joe Low - 4
Reverted to his slightly nervous-making form on the ball and almost got caught out on a couple of poor touches around his own box before the break, but quickly made up for them each time. Taken off in a tactical switch midway through the second half.
Murray Wallace - 3
Was left with two men to cover from a crossed free kick as Burton went ahead after just four minutes. Unable to get his shot away quickly enough from a corner on the stroke of half time. Failed to close down Jake Beesley as he strolled into space and picked his spot from 25 yards for Burton’s second. Too easily beaten by a ball in behind only for Julian Larsson to put his finish wide — a bit let-off for Town. A little unfortunate that the loose ball fell Burton’s way as he cut out a cross only for them to smash the loose ball home for 3-1. Rightly booked for a cynical foul in injury time.
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Lynden Gooch - 6
Got caught out positionally a couple of times in the early going but recovered well. Excellent run and cross for Alfie May to make it 1-1 — his sixth assist of the season. The rest of his deliveries were a mixed bag. Booked for dissent just before the break after giving the linesman an earful over a goal kick decision. Moved over to left-back as Lee Grant switched to 4-2-3-1 for the final 25 minutes.
Ryan Ledson - 4
Was drawn away from goalscorer Terence Vancooten by a second runner on the free kick into the box that produced the opener for Burton. Put a looping header onto the top of the crossbar from a Town corner later in the half. Poor with his balls into the box.
Cameron Humphreys - 4
Gave away the free kick from which Burton scored in the opening minutes, but went on to make several good recovery tackles. Forward passes not the best — he overhit a couple straight to the keeper a couple of times in the first half. Gave the ball away with a poor pass on the way to Burton’s second goal and was wandering in no man’s land instead of looking to pick up JJ McKiernan’s run into the box for Burton’s third.
Bali Mumba - 4
Made his debut at left wing-back. Poor with his touch and passing in the first 20 minutes as he got used to playing with his new teammates. Settled in a bit more after that but never looked a serious threat and was taken off on 65 minutes.
Will Alves - 5
Played Bojan Radulovic in for a chance on the break in the first two minutes. Found it difficult to find space as Burton paid him particularly close attention, but was able to use his skill to good effect when Town were able to find him. Excellent work rate off the ball and had nothing left to give by the time he went off on 80 minutes.
Alfie May - 7
Played at centre-forward in the front two. Got into a great unmarked position inside the box to receive Gooch’s cross and score an equaliser he could scarcely miss. Took a hefty kick to the ankle on a high challenge from Vancooten that saw the Burton man booked — arguably should have been a red. Put in a great cross for Radulovic early in the second half that the keeper did well to tip away before he could head it home.
Bojan Radulovic - 6
Had a chance in the first two minutes but was thwarted by the onrushing keeper. Injured his thumb in an awkward landing early on but stayed on the pitch. Superb again with his link-up play and played a crucial role in May’s equaliser, sending Gooch clear up the right wing to provide the cross. Took too heavy a touch after being put one-on-one with the keeper by May in the opening seconds of the second half. Had a header at the back post turned smartly over the bar with Town 2-1 down.
Substitutes
Mickel Miller (for Mumba 65) - Went on as a left winger in Town’s change of shape. Had no material impact on the game. 5
Lasse Sorensen (for Low 65) - Good cross for the Radulovic header that was tipped over the bar. Failed to block the cross for Burton’s third goal. 4
Marcus Harness (for Ledson 65) - Took over the central midfield role. Gave the ball away and then didn’t win a clean tackle in the build-up to Burton’s third goal and didn’t offer much as Town desperately needed to get back into the game. 4
Dion Charles (for Alves 80) - Went on at centre-forward as May took over at number 10. Took an awful touch from a promising Sorensen ball and mistimed his leap on an inviting Gooch cross. 3
Unused substitutes: Jak Alnwick, Josh Feeney, Cameron Ashia.
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