Huddersfield Town player ratings as Newcastle United U21s swept aside
The Terriers claimed a 6-2 victory over the Magpies youth team in their Vertu Trophy group stage opener
Lee Nicholls - 6
Very quiet day with little to do except pick the ball out of the net after being left helpless by Newcastle’s heavily deflected goal in the first half and beaten by an unstoppable top-corner finish in the second.
Lasse Sorensen - 7
A threat down the right hand side from the first minute. Good ball in for Leo Castledine to draw Town’s penalty.
Jack Whatmough - 7
Got up well to put a simple header into the net as Town took the lead early. Unfortunate that Newcastle’s goal deflected in off him. Solid block later on to stop Newcastle getting a second.
Murray Wallace - 6
Wore the captain’s armband. Routine day at the office with the game virtually one-way traffic.
Sean Roughan - 6
Ditto, except for the armband bit. Caught slightly upfield for Newcastle’s second goal.
David Kasumu - 6
Had an easy time of running the midfield against an inexperienced Newcastle side, but gave his full dedication nonetheless. Will be disappointed to have let Sean Neave get to the byline after getting back to cover inside the box.
Dan Vost - 7
Found space well away from the Newcastle midfield to help Town play through the middle.
Marcus Harness - 7
Sent the keeper the wrong way with his first-half penalty to claim his first goal for the club.
Leo Castledine - 8
Won Town their penalty as he was shoved over while receiving a Sorensen cross. Tried a couple of through balls into the box in the first half but they ended up going to nobody. Provided an instant response to Newcastle’s opener by putting away a simple finish off Joe Taylor’s ball across goal, then returned the favour by putting Taylor in to score Town’s fifth. Forced the own goal for number 6 with a dangerous ball across the box. Very convincing outing even considering the opposition.
Ruben Roosken - 7
Had a second-minute corner turned onto the roof of the net, then a few minutes later put in a perfect ball to pick out Whatmough’s header for the opener. Had a chance to take on a shot early doors but tried to pull it back to Taylor instead. Left it well
Joe Taylor - 8
Took a bit of a knock to the back midway through the first half but was able to continue. Got in behind the Newcastle defence a couple of times in the first half but was caught by a marginal offside in let down by final ball, before finally making it count as he set up Castledine’s goal on the stroke of half time. Struck twice in quick succession soon after the break, the first almost identical to his goal against Barnsley at the weekend and the second thanks to a nice cut inside his man before finishing on his left.
Substitutes
Will Alves (for Harness 53) - Played as the central number 10. Looked a little too desperate to make a first impression in his first ten minutes or so on the pitch as he kept trying ill-advised shots from range, but then settled down and looked better for it. Penetrated the Newcastle defence with ease — looks very handy with the ball at his feet. 6
Jay Sway (for Sorensen 53) - On at right-back. Let Dylan Charlton get away from him a bit too easily to score Newcastle’s second, but then made an impressive run to the edge of the Newcastle box and tested the keeper in a bid to make up for it. 6
Bojan Radulovic (for Taylor 57) - Quiet up top as Town stopped at six. 5
Cameron Ashia (for Roosken 57) - Pretty nondescript outing with the game already well won. 5
Josh Feeney (for Roughan 83) - n/a
Unused substitutes: Owen Goodman, Ben Wiles.
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