Huddersfield Town ratings: Dreadful first half proves costly in FA Cup defeat at Bolton
Lee Grant's side did not turn up until the second half, when they were already 1-0 down, with Bojan Radulovic's equaliser then rendered meaningless as Bolton went back ahead
Lee Nicholls - 7
Kept his place despite Lee Grant having previously changed keepers in the cup. Forced into action a few times in the first half hour but was equal to it. Had already committed to his dive for a blocked Ibrahim Cissoko shot that landed back at the Bolton man’s feet to tap home. Similar story on the second goal as he was unable to recovery quickly enough from making a save. Distribution left something to be desired first half but set Town on their way to equalising after the break.
Lasse Sorensen - 6
Had his hands full on his flank with Cissoko and Richard Taylor, and didn’t get nearly enough support throughout the game. Picked his moments to get forward well, especially in the second half.
Josh Feeney - 7
Put his header off target from a corner in Town’s only real effort of the first half. Blocked Cissoko’s original effort on goal as Bolton went ahead, only to see it deflect back to Cissoko to score. Won his aerial battles well and played a lovely ball for Marcus Harness in the second half to help create a Town chance.
Joe Low - 6
Unable to get proper contact on the rebound from Nicholls’ save, allowing Taylor to steal in and nod home to restore Bolton’s lead. Did just enough to put off Kyle Dempsey from scoring what would otherwise have been a sitter. Booked for a necessary cynical foul late on.
Ruben Roosken - 8
The only Town outfielder to turn up whatsoever in the first half and continued to play well right to the end. Great recovery to make a last-ditch tackle to slow down Amario Cozier-Duberry’s counter-attack and then win another challenge inside the box early on. Threw himself in front of a shot to make a block that unfortunately led to Bolton taking the lead. Put the Bolton keeper into no-man’s land with his cross for Bojan Radulovic’s equaliser.
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Lynden Gooch - 4
Played in the first half. Went off at half time. Genuinely all we have to say.
Ryan Ledson - 3
Dropped in as the left-sided centre-back at times early on when Town were on the ball to allow Roosken to stay wide and Gooch to push forward. Went to more of a conventional midfield role midway through the first half as Grant (rightly) abandoned that idea. Too deep and too easy to get past in that role until half time. Booked for a cynical foul towards the end of the first half. Better after the break like the rest of his teammates, but still not enough.
Ben Wiles - 4
Much too easy to get past once again on the right wing. Offered absolutely nothing on or off the ball in the first half, which is not good enough, and if he had continued in that vain we’d have him far lower. Had a decent effort well saved shortly after the break and finally started to look interested from there — much more running, much more effort, and made a difference to Town’s play. His storming run into the box helped make space for Radulovic to score. Was taken off having put in 20 good minutes.
Marcus Harness - 5
Hard to influence the game from number 10 when your side rarely get forward, as it turns out. Far more able to do that in the second half as Town finally turned up to play the game, and got into space to help Town on their way to their equaliser. Had a couple of shots that went wide of the post. Hampered his own effectiveness by being wasteful with the ball at times.
Mickel Miller - 4
Got his first start for nearly three months as one of just two changes to last week’s starting line-up, both forced. Gets a bit of forgiveness for being rusty in light of that, and did provide a bit of an outlet in the first half, which is more than can be said for most.
Bojan Radulovic - 6
Preferred to Joe Taylor up top with Alfie May suspended. Had as little to work with as Taylor did last time Town played Bolton. Perhaps could have taken better advantage of a low Wiles cross early in the second half, but read Roosken’s cross perfectly to make it 1-1 just after the hour. Decent with his link-up play after the interval, once he actually had some other players around him. Has made a decent case to start the next league game.
Substitutes
Dan Vost (for Gooch 46) - Looked a more comfortable fit in central midfield. 5
Dion Charles (for Miller 66) - Actually took over Wiles’ role at inside-right. Slow to react to Town attacks at times and wasted the potential to go one-on-one with the keeper of Cameron Ashia’s ball. Nice ball to play in Joe Taylor in injury time, leading to a Town corner, but wasted a last-gasp chance to get the ball into the box by mis-hitting it out for a goal kick. 3
Cameron Ashia (for Wiles 66) - Replaced Miller on the left. Dynamic as ever. Put a powerful long shot not too far off target under heavy pressure, played a lovely ball in behind for Charles that the latter should have done better with, then another for Taylor that the keeper had to come out and clear away. Had a couple of shots saved at the near post. 6
Joe Taylor (for Harness 86) - n/a
Unused substitutes: Jacob Chapman, Owen Goodman, Radinio Balker, Sean Roughan, Jay Sway.
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