Huddersfield Town player ratings as second-half implosion undoes superb first half
Andre Breitenreiter's side were pretty well spot on for the first 45 minutes against West Brom, but Carlos Corberan's side ran roughshod after the break to take a 4-1 win
Lee Nicholls - 6
Little he could do on any of the first three goals with no real time to react to any of them, then was left wrong-footed on the fourth.
Matty Pearson - 4
Performed an interesting job in the Town back line as he was given the job of man-marking left winger Mikey Johnston, with the rest of the defence changing into a back four whenever that necessitated Pearson stepping out into or towards the midfield. Played a key part as Town took the lead, with his pressure forcing a rushed pass from which Huddersfield won the ball and scored. Poor after the break, though: he played Andreas Weimann onside as he went through to set up the equaliser and could have been more alert to Johnston’s run into the box as he applied the finish. Left a lot of space for Johnston on the fourth goal and never looked like stopping him as he closed in on goal.
Michal Helik - 6
Gave the opposition absolutely no quarter for playing the ball in the first half, getting in early and well whenever the opportunity presented itself. Given the runaround somewhat after the break, however, with Johnston in particular realising the centre-back does not like to be run at.
Tom Lees - 6
Claimed an assist after seizing on a wayward pass to Jed Wallace, forcing the Baggies forward into losing the ball before playing it to Delano Burgzorg to get through and score. Like his defensive colleagues, chose his moments really well for when to step out and when to drop off. Unfortunate to be caught out down the Town left after coming out to make a block, with Weimann getting into the space left behind.
Brodie Spencer - 7
Back at right wing-back. Got everything right in his duels both on the floor and in the air, and gave West Brom little opportunity to play in crosses from their left side. Shifted across to the left side as Andre Breitenreiter went to 4-4-2 midway through the second half, with the bulk of West Brom’s best openings coming on the other side.
Jack Rudoni - 5
Typically determined and hard-working performance in a role that suits him somewhat better. Crucial in the press in the first half as Town were so effective at stopping the visitors playing, but like the rest of his teammates, we didn’t see enough of him on the ball after the break. Made a great run into the box late on that Thomas did well to find, then did the hard part well to take it down and get past his man, but shot straight at the keeper when any other finish would have put it in.
Jonathan Hogg - 6
Back in the side after his suspension and looked very sharp first half, going into his individual battles early and well. Lost influence in the second half (far, far from the only one) as West Brom got to grips with the game and began to dominate.
David Kasumu - 6
Alternated with Hogg in joining Rudoni in pressing in what amounted to a front three or four off the ball, to good effect. Positional sense played a big part in limiting West Brom’s passing lanes out from the back, but was unable to keep that up after the break before being substituted.
Jaheim Headley - 5
Did a good, responsible job at left wing-back throughout the first half, but was given some problems by Tom Fellows after his second-half introduction from the bench before being substituted.
Sorba Thomas - 7
Started at centre-forward with a brief of leading the press and doing a lot of the work to allow Burgzorg to get into position for when Town did win the ball. As has often been the case this season, kept plugging away even with the game well beyond Town’s grasp and created numerous good openings for teammates that went unfinished.
Delano Burgzorg - 6
Classic Burgzorg performance in the first half: frustrating at times but also the one Town player with a bit of genuine flair, which he used to good effect to zig and then zag past Darnell Furlong before finishing with a left-footed strike. Even more up and down after the break. Should have added a second moments after the West Brom equaliser after doing well to win the ball from Okay Yokuslu to get one-on-one with the keeper, but rushed a shot straight at Alex Palmer. Put a ball across the face of goal for Danny Ward later on that went unfinished. Unnecessarily offside for what would have been a late consolation.
Substitutes
Josh Koroma (for Headley 65) - Sent on to play on the left wing just before West Brom scored their third goal. Did little of any note. 4
Danny Ward (for Kasumu 65) - Unable to connect with a Burgzorg ball across the face of goal, though the Dutchman’s intentions weren’t entirely clear and he did put quite some swazz on it. Put the ball in the net late on but the flag was already up against Burgzorg. Put a great chance straight at the keeper just after Rudoni had done likewise, then outmuscled later on when Thomas played a lovely ball in behind for him. 3
Radinio Balker (for Helik 76) - Sent on to get more minutes under his belt with the game already well beyond Town. n/a
Alex Matos (for Hogg 76) - As with Balker. n/a
Unused substitutes: Chris Maxwell, Ben Jackson, Brahima Diarra, Tom Iorpenda, Ben Wiles.
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