Huddersfield Town player ratings from 4-0 trouncing of Sheffield Wednesday
The Terriers were one of two poor sides throughout the first half but absolutely demolished their relegation rivals with a flurry of goals after the break
Lee Nicholls - 7
Didn’t have many big saves to make but did deal well with some potentially dangerous crosses into his box. Finally tested a minute before the final whistle, but pushed Mallik Wilks’ fierce effort away to ensure the clean sheet.
Matty Pearson - 7
Started at right-back with caretaker boss Jon Worthington opting to stay in a back four, though it did become a straightforward three when Brodie Spencer went forward up the other flank. Made up for Michal Helik’s absence at set pieces by heading home the opening goal.
Radinio Balker - 7
Made his full debut with Helik forced to sit this one out with the knock he picked up against QPR. Picked up a yellow card midway through the first half for a clumsy challenge, but otherwise put in a tidy performance.
Tom Lees - 7
Denied Ike Ugbo early on a very presentable chance by deflecting his effort over the bar. No problems against his former club.
Brodie Spencer - 8
Was moved over to left-back in preference to Ben Jackson. Was given plenty of freedom to get up the pitch and used it well without shirking his individual battle with Anthony Musaba, which he also carried out impressively. Very harshly booked early in the second half. Probably Town’s best player over the whole 90 minutes, even if others will rightly grab the headlines.
Alex Matos - 8
Won several impressive recovery tackles and carried the ball forward well, when he wasn’t getting kicked. Played a massive part in Town’s second goal with his determined work creating the opportunity to counter-attack. Still a bit rash with his tackling at times, though.
Jonathan Hogg - 7
Constantly nipping in to win loose balls between the lines. Played a lovely ball over the top for Sorba Thomas late in the first half that could have led to something more — then saw a much more speculative attempt to replicate that pay off with his long, quick free kick putting Thomas in to score.
Sorba Thomas - 8
The first of several examples of why player ratings are hard to do sometimes: are we judging it on the balance of the 90 minutes or on the strength of their impact on the game? Today, we’re going to lean towards the latter, given the magnitude of the game.
Had a frustrating first half in which nothing really came for him as he intended, despite his teammates’ best efforts to bring him into play. Looked more likely after the break and supplied an inch-perfect corner ball delivery for Pearson to head home before later adding Town’s third goal from a great run up the right. His press forced the Di’Shon Bernard error that allowed Josh Koroma his second goal.
Rhys Healey - 6
Played a hybrid number 10/number 9 role that saw him sometimes sitting behind Bojan Radulovic and sometimes pushing on to become a strike partner. Denied the visitors an opener by clearing Michael Ihiekwe’s looping header off the line — a massive moment at that point in the game, even if the scoreline now makes it feel like it wasn’t. Sadly was forced off with what looked like a groin injury.
Josh Koroma - 8
Largely anonymous throughout the first half, and too predictable for the Owls defence on the rare occasions he did get on the ball. Moved to centre-forward just before the hour after Radulovic was forced to go off, at which point it was off to the races. Took his first goal with great composure and added a second off an errant backpass after looking for a second like he might have blown the chance.
Bojan Radulovic - 5
The target of numerous speculative balls forward — and numerous over-robust aerial challenges from the opposition, including a stiff hand to the face that eventually forced him to go off unable to see straight.
Substitutes
Ben Wiles (for Healey 23) - A straight swap for the role Healey was playing. Moved into space well to give Town more presence and help build the attack. Looked a lot sharper than we saw from him in the first half of the season, claimed a good assist by playing in Koroma, and can hopefully kick on from here. 8
Brahima Diarra (for Radulovic 58) - Took over on the left wing with Koroma moving up front. Did a good job helping out defensively at the back. 6
Ben Jackson (for Balker 81) - Saw out the game at left-back with Pearson moving inside and Spencer going to the right. n/a
Unused subs: Giosue Bellagambi, Tom Edwards, Luke Daley, Conor Falls, Tom Iorpenda, Pat Jones.
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