Huddersfield Town player ratings as important win delivered over Sunderland
Marks out of ten as Matty Pearson's bundled finish is enough to provide victory at the John Smith's Stadium
Lee Nicholls - 7
Wore the captain’s armband with Jonathan Hogg benched and Michal Helik injured. Had little but routine work to do until the last minute of normal time, when he came off his line to pull off a brilliant save to deny Trai Hume one-on-one. Made certain a Tom Lees block went over the bar in injury time.
Matty Pearson - 7
Reverted to right-back as Jon Worthington switched back to the back four that played against Sheffield Wednesday. Put himself in the right place to bundle in the rebound off Jack Rudoni’s shot to give Town the lead. Worked hard to give Jack Clarke as little room and space as possible even if just to hold him up long enough for teammates to make the tackle.
Radinio Balker - 8
Back into the side after missing the weekend ill. Gave the Town defence a different dimension, allowing them to set up in a back three while on the ball that could play wide enough to cover the flanks, knowing Balker’s ability to get across the pitch quickly meant they weren’t left too exposed through the middle on the counter-attack. Did that to especially great effect to stop Nazariy Rusyn getting clean through on goal early in the second half — a great bit of defending. Had to go off on the hour but had more than done his part.
Tom Lees - 7
Made an important late block to turn a Patrick Roberts strike over the bar and turning a very dangerous cross over the bar in the final moments that Nicholls made sure cleared the crossbar.
Brodie Spencer - 7
Only growing in confidence now and looks happy to try and get past his man, often successfully. Strong and accurate in the tackle as we have come to expect.
Alex Matos - 7
Relatively quiet in the first half but came to the fore after the break, showing his trademark capability to get to loose balls quickly to make challenges. Also showed his trademark rashness as he picked up his latest yellow card for a late tackle midway through the second half — but overall played a very important part before his substitution.
David Kasumu - 7
Moved into his customary central midfield role having started at wing-back at the weekend. Put a presentable chance narrowly wide midway through the first half when he had more target to hit than he perhaps realised. Covered an awful lot of ground and made an awful lot of tackles.
Jack Rudoni - 7
Generally looked extremely sharp and alert throughout the first half. Forced a save out of Sunderland keeper Patterson with a well-worked set piece routine, with the rebound dropping to Pearson for Town to go ahead. Had a header cleared off the line in the second half. Did a lot of good work to support Pearson in defence, but did lose the thread of the game somewhat in attack after the break. Wasted a good 94th-minute chance to kill off the game, putting a tame shot straight at the keeper, but thankfully it didn’t matter.
Ben Wiles - 7
Was given a vote of confidence at number 10 having impressed in the role from the bench against Wednesday last time Town were at the John Smith’s Stadium. Good mobility to offer the option as the out ball but then look to join or overlap centre-forward Josh Koroma to get into the box. Made numerous good runs to that effect that teammates weren’t quite able to find. Worked hard off the ball.
Sorba Thomas - 7
Played on the left wing with Rudoni on the right. Provided several promising set piece deliveries and worked hard to be Town’s primary weapon on the counter-attack. Had to be selective with where he used his energy in the late stages of the game after looking to have grown a bit weary — understandably, after his big efforts on Saturday and earlier in this game.
Josh Koroma - 7
Continued as the starting centre-forward despite a sudden wealth of options with Delano Burgzorg, Bojan Radulovic and Danny Ward all among the subs. Played his part in Town’s clever set-piece routine as they went ahead, then hit the post from another free kick shortly after the break. Had license to drift wide knowing Rudoni and Wiles would fill in up the middle.
Substitutes
Yuta Nakayama (for Balker 61) - Went in as the left-sided centre-back. Stood up to runners well. 7
Jonathan Hogg (for Matos 74) - Brought renewed energy into midfield for the final stages. 6
Danny Ward (for Koroma 74) - Made his return from ten games out injured to see out the game up top. Put in a good shift off the ball. 6
Ben Jackson (for Spencer 80) - Again sent into action after Spencer went off with cramp. Still looks prone to getting run at and struggled badly against Patrick Roberts. Just looks very unsure of himself, which is dangerous in a defender. 3
Delano Burgzorg (for Wiles 80) - Another welcome return from injury. Played left wing with Thomas going to the right and Rudoni taking over from Wiles up the middle. Still has a lovely touch, and forced a good low save out of Patterson in injury time. 6
Unused subs: Chris Maxwell, Brahima Diarra, Pat Jones, Bojan Radulovic.
We want your ratings too! Head here to cast your votes.