Huddersfield Town player verdicts as Jay Sway on scoresheet at Sheffield United
The Terriers' senior squad played the first hour and went off with the score at 1-1 before an academy side took over, with the Blades' first team running out 3-1 winners
First 62 minutes
Jak Alnwick (full 90) — Off his line well to deny Tom Cannon in a one-v-one. Read Callum O’Hare’s intentions to make a good stop with his feet on the half hour. Sent the wrong way by O’Hare’s penalty then had no chance off Sam McCallum’s 25-yard rocket to the top corner. Reassuring showing overall.
Ilias Bronkhorst — Played on the right of Town’s back three. Had his hands full with O’Hare, Jamal Baptiste, and Patrick Bamford looking to make overloads up his flank and didn’t always get the support he needed to deal with that. Had a running battle with Bamford, in particular, but stood up to him decently well. Got a little bit drawn into contesting physical battles at times when the ball looked like it was there to be won more cleanly — and I had literally just written that sentence when he brought down O’Hare inside the box to give away a penalty by doing exactly that. An important learning experience for him against Championship opposition.
Joe Low — Played in the middle of the back three. Put Romelle Donovan under pressure off the rebound from that Cannon one-v-one to force him to rush a shot over the bar. Looked controlled and composed even under pressure.
Sean Roughan — Busy afternoon at centre-back. Was beaten by Cannon early on to get clean through on Alnwick, but won all his key battles from there.
Lasse Sorensen — The target of a few long balls around the corner of the United box, and was this close to setting up a Sebine chance with one knockdown. Advanced position from wing-back left Bronkhorst a bit exposed, but that may have been a tactical instruction more than an individual choice.
David Kasumu — Continues to make a solid case for himself in central midfield. Got himself through the thirds with some neat exchanges off teammates, and was back well to deny Sheffield United on the edge of the Town box on a couple of occasions. Gave the ball away to let them in too easily at one point, though.
Marcus McGuane — Forced to receive the ball with his back to goal by the Blades press more than he might have liked, and ended up running into trouble once or twice as a result.
Jay Sway — Doing his first-team prospects no harm at all. Opened the scoring with a well-taken volley just three minutes in after getting into the box from left wing-back to receive George Sebine’s cross. Had another on-target effort tipped wide by a fine save. Helped to limit the threat down that side with United’s bigger threat coming off the opposite flank.
Marcus Harness — Played off the right of Town’s 3-4-3. Had limited opportunities to go on the attack but continually hassled the opposition and played some tidy balls to help get Town forward up the right.
George Sebine (to half time) — Great work up the right to get Town moving and then get to the byline to cut back for Sway to finish to make it 1-0. Had a good effort turned over the bar just a few minutes later. Picked up a knock ten minutes before the break but was able to continue until half time, when he was replaced by Sahil Bashir. Hopefully nothing serious, particularly after this bright showing.
Tom Iorpenda — Worked hard to win the ball and drive into the box to create an early chance for Sebine. A reliable outlet and proved a handful for Femi Seriki whenever he was on the ball up the Town left flank.
From 62 minutes
Jak Alnwick; Max Murray, Marlie Neil, Ian Togo, Dylan Tawodzera; Dan Vost, Jonathan Hogg; Sahil Bashir (from 46), Jamie Spencer, Zac Bowker; Michael Onyeka.
Unused substitutes: Francis Hurl, Nik Idemudia, Luke Schofield.