Huddersfield Town player verdicts from narrow pre-season win over Barrow
Freddie Ladapo's second-half goal off Joe Taylor's cross was the difference in a 1-0 win over League Two opposition at Canalside
First half
Jacob Chapman — Virtual passenger again in a half Town dominated. Tended to play things short out from the back.
Neo Eccleston — Took on his favoured role as Town’s attacking right-back having played in the more conservative left-back role against Emley. Made an effective bursting run for one of Town’s best moves of the first half. Advanced positioning not just on the ball: he stayed up to help in the high press when Town’s attacking moves broke down.
Josh Feeney — Another very composed showing as Town’s right-sided centre-back. Went close to a second goal in as many games after getting his head to a back-post corner, but saw it blocked on the line. Dominated in the Town box on the sparing occasions Barrow got forward.
Sean Roughan — Played some useful balls over the top but the players on the end of them couldn’t quite get them to stick.
Jay Sway — Kept things nice and tidy at left-back and didn’t look out of place.
Antony Evans — Stood out for all the right reasons. Continued in a deeper playmaker role, but very mobile within that, constantly looking for space in all three thirds, using the full width of the pitch, and constantly demanding the ball. A busy hunter off the ball too. Great set piece delivery for Feeney’s header.
Ryan Ledson — Wore the captain’s armband. Stayed more central than Evans, in general, but used the ball well from those positions. Showed off his passing range as he created a couple of attacking opportunities for Ben Wiles in quick succession with an accurate whipped cross and a lovely though ball, and then found Evan’s run into space with a super first-time ball out to the right.
Peter Thomas — Had to find his feet a bit on the right wing after an uncertain start. Pressed well.
Ben Wiles — Pushed up to become a second striker alongside Charles at times. On other occasions would drop from that position to put himself in position to try and play one-twos off his teammates in a bid to try and get a run in behind the defence. Hit the crossbar with a header off the second phase from a half-cleared set piece.
Ruben Roosken — Struggled to get on the ball on the left wing in the early going. Came into the action a bit more as the game went on and got into some dangerous areas, but just couldn’t quite play that final ball.
Dion Charles — Showed intensity in the press in the early going. Hit the deck on nine minutes after getting caught on the ankle by the follow-through from a challenge but was alright — just a sore one. Struggled to find his touch and should have put away the rebound after Feeney’s header was blocked. Kept going and held the ball up well on a couple of moves.
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Second half
Jacob Chapman — Stayed between the sticks despite Lee Nicholls behind available from the bench. Had a bit more to do but nothing too testing.
Lasse Sorensen — Played a slightly more balanced role than at Emley, with he and Mickel Miller playing a bit more like conventional attacking full-backs. Nice ball for Marcus Harness to create a late chance for Joe Taylor.
George Iorpenda — Read the game really well to snuff out a couple of Barrow attacks early in the half. Calm and composed, and played a couple of well-weighted balls in behind the Barrow defence from his own half. Promising.
Murray Wallace — Got his first outing of pre-season, playing as the left-sided centre-back. Took over the captain’s armband from Ledson. Went off in a planned change with a few minutes to go having recently returned from injury.
Mickel Miller — On at left-back, rather than on the wing as he was at Emley. Got in for a one-on-one with the keeper with a run up the middle but rushed a tame shot straight at the keeper. Charged out with the ball off a Barrow set piece to create a counter-attacking opportunity that also ended up going straight at the keeper, this time from Ladapo.
David Kasumu — Looks to be competing with Ledson for that destroyer role in the heart of the Town midfield, as you would expect. A difficult player to judge in pre-season where the intensity is just that step lower than in competitive games. Kept his passing crisp and simple, leaving the creativity to others.
Herbie Kane — Got forward less than Evans did in the first half. Was turned around a couple of times by quick Barrow attacks, which did leave a bit of a gap for them to exploit. Great ball to find Miller’s run on that squandered one-v-one chance.
Marcus Harness — Played off the right wing, again with license to come into central areas, and caused Barrow problems. Intelligent movement when ever the ball was in his area of the pitch, with his little spin helping Taylor get in behind and set up the opener. Picked up a bit of a knock in a challenge late on but soon shook it off and went on to create an opening for Taylor that went unfinished.
Freddie Ladapo — Took on Wiles’ nine-and-a-half role. Headed home to make it 1-0. Shot straight at the keeper from the edge of the box off that counter that Miller created and headed over the bar off Harness’ cross shortly after.
Cameron Ashia — Played off the left wing. Busy as ever, if a little bit lacking in composure at times. Helped put the Barrow defender in two minds by lurking at the back post as Ladapo scored.
Joe Taylor — Drifted out to the right to get onto Harness’ ball and picked out Ladapo’s header at the back post. Looked sharp and keen again, hassling defenders well. Would still like to see Town making better use of his pace to help create chances for him. Got one with five minutes to go off Harness’ ball, but was let down by a first touch that just took it too close to the keeper.
Substitute: Dan Vost — Replaced Wallace for the final few minutes.