Huddersfield Town player ratings as fleet of chances squandered but victory claimed at Leyton Orient
Michal Helik and Callum Marshall both got on the scoresheet in a 0-2 win but multiple other great chances went by the wayside in a weird game at Brisbane Road
Jacob Chapman - 7
Had to come off his line a couple of times in the first half to deal with balls over the top, and got it right each time. Saved well to stop Leyton Orient’s only real effort of the first half.
Tom Lees - 7
Back on the right of the three after his spell in the middle, which gave him more responsibility for getting forward. Tidy at both ends.
Michal Helik - 7
“We’ve got Michal Helik back,” was Michael Duff’s response to how to replace Matty Pearson’s goals. And sure enough, he put Town in the lead with a simple header off their first corner of the game. Solid at the back on the few occasions he needed to be. Booked for a cynical foul late on.
Nigel Lonwijk - 7
Dealt with his one on ones and quickly made up for his one moment of carelessness in the first half by recovering to make a tackle. Blocked a header on the line early in the second half as Town got off to a poor start to the second period. Probably our man of the match on the day.
Ollie Turton - 6
Replaced Brodie Spencer in the starting line-up after drawing praise from Michael Duff for his performance from the bench on Saturday. Played in a brilliant ball early on that both strikers made a mess of. Had a strong first half, little bit less so after the break.
Herbie Kane - 6
Had good spells and bad. Made plenty of challenges and interceptions in the first hour to try and keep Town on the front foot, but got a bit scrappy and heavy-footed late on. Did play in a lovely through ball for Ladapo in the last few minutes that the striker then messed up.
David Kasumu - 7
Did all the David Kasumu things we like, helping to break up Orient’s play and driving the ball forward well. Had a follow-up effort off a saved Ben Wiles shot stopped having created the chance for Wiles in the first place.
Mickel Miller - 7
Peach of a set piece deliver right on Michal Helik’s head as Town took the lead — the third game in a row Town have scored off a Miller set piece. Forced off with a nasty-looking injury after an Orient player fell onto him following a challenge.
Ben Wiles - 4
Worked hard but got his decisions wrong a lot in the first half — kept going in to Radulovic when he should have gone wide — and then blazed wide after exploiting a Steven Gerrard style slip on halfway to go one on one with the keeper.
Bojan Radulovic - 3
Made awfully hard work of his every touch whenever the ball came his way. Went down with some kind of issue late in the first half before shrugging it off.
Josh Koroma - 3
Started against his former club and again took a bit of time to warm up into the game before growing into it slightly. Had his blushes slightly spared for making a hash of a great Turton cross in the opening minutes, with the linesman flagging for offside. Won Town a penalty just after the hour that he took himself and again had saved — the second poor penalty in a row he has had stopped after Northampton. Looked determined to make amends before being subbed off.
Substitutes
Josh Ruffels (for Miller 46) - On for his first first-team appearance since the trip to Doncaster in early September. Showed few signs of rust with a solid performance at both ends. 6
Freddie Ladapo (for Radulovic 56) - Chose to blaze way off target off his first touch when he had the chance to release Wiles into the box instead. Still looks nothing like, and should have exploited a great Kane through ball only to completely fluff his shot. 3
Callum Marshall (for Koroma 76) - Partnered Ladapo for the closing stages. Got his reward for his determined closing down as he blocked the Orient keeper’s attempted clearance, with the rebound trickling into the net. Had to be the West Ham loanee who scored against Orient, didn’t it? Had an opening to help create a third but held onto it too long. 7
Jonathan Hogg (for Wiles 76) - Returned from injury and went in as the holding midfielder, with Kasumu moving forward a bit. n/a
Brodie Spencer (for Turton 76) - Straight swap at right wing-back. n/a
Unused substitutes: Chris Maxwell, Tom Iorpenda.
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