Huddersfield Town player verdicts as new Dutch signings shine in draw with Blackburn
Marcus Harness gave the Terriers a deserved first-half lead before Jake Garrett's long shot to the top corner gave Blackburn a 1-1 draw at Accu Stadium
Matty Young — Saved a free kick in the first half, and tipped over a looping header midway through the second after doing well to sort his feet out to change direction. Soundly beaten by an unstoppable hit to the top corner for the equaliser. Closed down a close-range effort to tip it wide of the post late on.
Radinio Balker — Played on the right of Town’s back three. Covered for a couple of teammates’ mistakes, and started a move early in the second half that Town should have scored from.
Jack Whatmough — Generally had a strong game in the middle of the defence with a couple of notably poor moments, including once again giving the ball away needlessly inside his own third.
Sean Roughan — Was half a second late to several Blackburn attacks in the first half, and again with an awful tackle late on — though we understand that side of the pitch is Blackburn’s strongest area. Took a piledriver of a shot right in the face in the second half but was all right once he shook the cobwebs off. Put a late header onto the foot of the post after doing well to get up to meet it.
Ilias Bronkhorst — Denied Blackburn a tap-in off a low ball across the face of goal with a fabulous last-ditch tackle early in the game. Showed the benefits of linking back up with his former Excelsior teammate Derensili Sanches Fernandes up the right side — they clearly have good chemistry together and made that side Town’s most dangerous area of the pitch by some way. Put two quality balls into the box in quick succession late in the first half, but Ashley Fletcher took a heavy touch on the first and the second just needed someone on the end of it.
Ryan Ledson — Bossed the midfield. Nothing too flashy but everything he did, he did well, and he claimed a superb assist with a first-time ball over the top for Marcus Harness to run onto.
David Kasumu — Another solid summer showing. Important in helping Town win the ball back quickly as they kept Blackburn under pressure for much of the first hour or so of the game. Moved over to the left flank on 71 minutes before being subbed off.
Lynden Gooch — Played at left wing-back. Looked defensively vulnerable for a spell in the first half as Blackburn kept getting in down that side, but was able to tighten things up a bit. Had his moments in attack, including taking the ball from his own half to get one on one with the keeper. Good free kick delivery as Roughan hit the post late on.
Derensili Sanches Fernandes — Captured the imagination with his work on the right of the front three. Dominated the flank, linked up well with Bronkhorst and Ledson, and looked a threat throughout the game. Really really promising stuff — excited to see more of him.
Ashley Fletcher — Gave us more of what we’ve seen from him so far this summer: a lot of nice, clever little touches and lay-offs on the edge of the opposition third before getting into the box to look for the finish. Played a part in the build-up to Town’s goal with a little touch back to Ledson to release Harness. Should have done better off Bronkhorst’s cross just before the break, really, with his first touch letting him down, but had done well to get himself free in the box.
Marcus Harness — Started on the left flank before moving over to the right for the closing stages, but actually got his goal from the right-hand channel after making a perfect run for Ledson to find. Great finish to put Town ahead, having earlier missed some rather easier ones. Played some nice stuff around the corner to Town up the pitch and was constantly on the hunt for loose balls and interceptions.
Substitutes
Joe Taylor (for Fletcher 71) - Hit the crossbar with an apparently deflected strike after getting free in the box from a corner. Looked to be in for a decent chance off Harness’ ball but hesitated slightly as if expecting the flag to go up.
Marcus McGuane (for Sanches Fernandes 71) - Slotted in alongside Ledson in central midfield.
Bali Mumba (for Kasumu 82) - Played on the left wing.
Jay Sway (for Harness 82) - Took over on the right wing.
Lasse Sorensen (for Bronkhorst 85) - Right wing-back. Bright performance in his few minutes on the pitch.
Unused substitutes: Jak Alnwick, Nik Tzanev, Joe Low, Marlie Neil, Ethan Brierley, Antony Evans, Tom Iorpenda.