Huddersfield Town player ratings from EFL Trophy defeat at Doncaster

Danny Ward equalised early in the second period after Doncaster took a first-half lead, but the hosts claimed victory with a late penalty

Jacob Chapman - 5

Came off his line a little too tentatively when Ephraim Yeboah got in in the first half, made a good block, but then unable to get to the loose ball. Absolutely no chance on Joe Ironside’s penalty, which was buried into the top corner. Useful with his distribution at times.

Nigel Lonwijk - 6

Another slow start to the game in the first 15 minutes or so, which costs him a bit, but settled in and used his speed and physicality well to get Town out of trouble. Doesn’t always get it right with his passing but can be decent when he does. Just needs to find a bit more consistency in his game in general as he settles into the side.

Matty Pearson - 6

Captain for the night. Won his one-on-ones firmly and well, looked to others to work with the ball. Missed a very presentable-looking late header off Turton;s cross.

Josh Ruffels - 4

Struggled with some of Doncaster’s balls over the top and unaware of Ephraim Yeboah’s run as he went through to score the opener for Doncaster. Went down with knocks a couple of times, the second of which forced him off.

Ollie Turton - 6

Had some difficult moments in the first half and picked up a needless booking early in the second, but did provide the accurate low cross that gave Danny Ward his tap-in equaliser and looked more assured in the second half. Put a late header onto the roof of the net and put in a cross for Pearson at the death that the centre-back couldn’t steer in.

Cameron Ashia - 5

Making his senior debut in central midfield. Quiet start to the game but get into better and better positions and looked keen to make an impact with his runs and his work rate off the ball. Looks promising.

Tom Iorpenda - 7

The experienced head in the Town midfield at 19 years old. Played as the deep-lying player and was at the heart of their better moments, including making up a lot of the yardage and responsibly finding Turton on the right on the way to the equaliser. Looks at home in this role with his shielding, vision and ability to cover the ground — wouldn’t mind seeing him tried there again. Moved into a more attacking role after Jonathan Hogg came on, and should had been granted a penalty after Jack Senior bundled him down as he tried to get to a cross.

Dan Vost - 5

Another making his senior debut and will have benefited from getting the minutes. Rhymes with ‘most’, not ‘lost’, in case you wondered.

Jaheim Headley - 5

Ploughed rather a lonely furrow up the left side a lot of the time — needed more support from the midfield. His good touch to come inside got Town on the way to their equaliser, though, and he might well have got a late assist off his dinked cross had Iorpenda not been bundled down. Neither at his best nor his worst.

Peter Thomas - 4

Making his first senior outing for the club. Did great to exploit a poor Jay McGrath touch in the first half to take possession and sprint clean through on Donny keeper Ian Lawlor, only to shoot wide — a shame. His last really notable involvement in the game. Sympathetic to him.

Danny Ward - 5

Provided a good flick-on for Lonwijk’s run only for the Dutchman to slip as he tried to finish, and got himself into position to tap in the leveller. Hard to think of too much to write home about beyond that.

Substitutes

Jonathan Hogg (for Ashia 69) - Took over the defensive midfield role for the closing stages. 5

Ben Wiles (for Voss 69) - Played just behind Ward as a second striker of the midfield trio. Caught Jack Senior to give away the late penalty that won it for Donny. Looked determined to make up for it but damage already done. 3

Antony Evans (for Thomas 69) - Tried to offer a big more passing range, to mixed effect. 4

Lasse Sorensen (for Ruffels 74) - On in his customary wing-back role with Turton taking over at centre-back. Looked brighter than at the weekend but little time to make a real impact. 5

Unused substitutes: Lee Nicholls, Michal Helik, Mickel Miller

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