Huddersfield Town player ratings as second-half improvement produces win over Doncaster
This all would have looked very different at half time - but the Terriers got better and better in the second half as they claimed a late 2-0 victory
Owen Goodman - 5
Came off his line well to save Glen Middleton’s early one-v-one effort. Distribution poor, and was lucky George Broadbent shot wide after he gave a short pass away when some distance away from his goal.
Lynden Gooch - 6
Had precious few opportunities to get forward before the break, but looked more dangerous second half. Switched to left-back just after the hour.
Josh Feeney - 7
Made a vital block and interception apiece in the first half. Poked wide through a crowd of players off a Town corner. Solid throughout.
Joe Low - 6
Got pulled wide more than he would have liked to help out on the Town left and struggled on the ball at times. Nice and physical against Doncaster’s forward runners. Won nearly everything that came his way and made an important block to deny Billy Sharp late on.
Murray Wallace - 5
Twice gave Donny possession inside the Town half in the opening ten minutes. Good in the air but struggled in the ground battle with Luke Molyneux, and earned a yellow card for a desperate cynical foul midway through the first half. Poor opening 45 and would have got a lower mark had he not got a better handle on things second half before being subbed off.
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Ryan Ledson - 6
Birthday boy. Looked a little overmatched in midfield in the first half, but more assured and combative in the second to help Town get control of the game. Volleyed over the bar off a Herbie Kane corner early in the second half.
Herbie Kane - 7
Got caught up in being too intricate at the back in the first half, but was more typically expansive with his passing after the break, much to Town’s benefit.
Marcus Harness - 7
Lovely touch on his thigh to get around Senior and take on Town’s best effort of the first half, which was well saved. Got into some good positions in the opposition half - a rarity in the opening 45 minutes — but unable to find the final ball. Had another crack on the turn after the break that was again kept out. Kept working hard and produced a wonderful disguised pass for Ben Wiles as Town went ahead.
Leo Castledine - 7
Sensational recovery from a Town corner to get back and win a last-ditch sliding tackle on Joe Sbarra just as he was about to pull the trigger on the counter from a first-half corner, which may well have saved the game for Town given how they were playing at that point. Positive in possession, constantly trying to get play moving forward.
Ruben Roosken - 5
Should have recognised sooner that he needed to get back and help out Wallace more with his defensive duties. Better with his positioning in attack but unable to influence the game with his crossing.
Alfie May - 5
Barely got a touch in the first half as Town struggled to get out of their own half, and wasn’t given very much more to work with after the interval either. A very “not his fault” 5.
Substitutes
Lasse Sorensen (for Wallace 68) - Took over from Gooch at right-back. Dangerous cross with virtually his first touch. 6
Joe Taylor (for May 68) - Fantastic work to hold off his man and get into the box to earn Town their penalty, which he stepped up to convert himself. 7
Ben Wiles (for Castledine 68) - Kept his cool to finish after being played clean through on Thimothee Lo-Tutala. 7
Dion Charles (for Harness 89) - n/a
Unused substitutes: Lee Nicholls, Marcus McGuane, Cameron Ashia.
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While I’ve got you, just want to ask if you have two minutes and a few quid to spare for a very good cause. I’ll be taking part in the shorter 10-mile route for Walk for Denis in September, which culminates at Accu Stadium ahead of the League One clash with Burton Albion.
Organised by Huddersfield Town, the walk is raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society and the Huddersfield Town Foundation in memory of the late, great Denis Law.
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